Beluga whale stewardship and collaborative research practices among Indigenous peoples in the Arctic

Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) are an integral part of many Arctic Indigenous cultures and contribute to food security for communities from Greenland, across northern Canada Alaska Chukotka, Russia. Although the harvesting stewardship practices peoples vary among regions have shifted adapted over time, central principles respect beluga sharing harvest remained steadfast. In addition intra-community cooperation harvest, process use whales, rapid environmental change in has underscored need inter-regional communication as well collaboration with scientists managers sustain populations their cultural nutritional roles communities. Our paper, written by overlapping categories researchers, hunters, managers, first provides overview hunting collaborative research seven (Greenland; Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut, Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Canada; Alaska; Chukotka). Then we present a more detailed case study collaboration, examining recent management project that utilizes co-production knowledge address conservation depleted population Canada. We conclude sustaining traditional values, establishing efforts, equitable inclusion Knowledge, respectful meaningful collaborations researchers essential healthy who live depend upon them time social change.