Ethno-ornithology, or the study of the relationships between birds and humans, encompasses traditional ecological knowledge of bird distribution, abundance, and behaviour, as well as knowledge of the cultural and social importance of birds to humans.
Ethno-ornithology contributes to the growing use of indigenous environmental knowledge (IEK) in conservation, management, and scientific research. In northern Canada and Alaska, IEK can provide critical information for co-management of wildlife and habitats, for land-use planning, and for community climate change adaptation and mitigation.
An important component of ethno-ornithology, and of ethno-biology in general, is the compilation of indigenous names for animals. Examining commonalities in names and cultural knowledge among disparate language groups can help to provide baseline information on the historic distribution, abundance, and phenology of birds and other animals. This information can pre-date that of western science and provide valuable insights into longer term trends in natural ecosystems.
The goal of this student-led project was to compile a database of bird names and ethnographic information from a variety of indigenous language groups in Yukon and Alaska. Language groups examined included Koyukon, Tanacross, Lower Tanana, Inuvialuktun, and Southern Tutchone / Tagish / Inland Tlingit, and others.
The results of this project were presented at the Yukon Biodiversity Form in 2015, and to the Yukon University Board of Governors in fall 2015.
Project Team:
Jared Gonet, B.Sc. in Northern Environmental and Conservation Sciences student, Yukon University/University of Alberta
Dr. Kathryn Aitken, School of Science, Yukon University and Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta
Norman Alexander Easton, Instructor, Anthropology, Archaeology, Northern Studies, School of Liberal Arts, Yukon University
Project Funder: This research was funded by Yukon University’s Scholarly Activity Grant program. (formerly Yukon College Research Fund)