Hello all, I would like to invite those of you planning to attend the International Marine Conservation Congress in St. Johns, NL July 29-August 4 to participate in a focus group to be held prior to the conference. Details on the workshop follow below. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Many thanks, Raychelle Daniel http://conbio.org/mini-sites/imcc-2016/program-events/focus-groups/#2 IMCC 2016 Pre-meeting Focus Group: Understanding Alaskan Inuit food security and conservation through use Inuit homelands in Alaska for the Iñupaiq, St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Central Yup’ik and Cup’ik peoples includes the Arctic Ocean coastline from the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas southward to the Northern Bering Sea coastline at the Yukon and Kuskokwim River delta. The Alaskan Inuit understanding of food security encompasses complex and interlinked cultural and environmental systems. These systems are comprised of connections among the health of people, animals, and plants; the different states of land, sea, and air; and the cultural fabric held together by language, cultural expression, and social integrity. In Inuit systems it is impossible to disentangle some of these relationships; when we discuss an Inuit food security perspective, it is this interconnectivity and these relationships that we refer to. Conservation in Alaskan Inuit homelands often comes from the perspective of conservation that benefits the environment first, and ultimately the people that live there. We propose an alternate conservation paradigm that includes Inuit not only as a part of the environment within the ecosystem; but also as part of the solution to managing these Arctic ecosystems from within. Inuit knowledge and management practices are both a part of Alaskan Inuit food security, and would help move overall management of Arctic systems to better include whole knowledge, and make science matter. Expected Outcomes: In this workshop, representatives of the Inuit Circumpolar Council-Alaska (ICC-AK) and The Pew Charitable Trusts U.S. Arctic Program, members of the ICC-AK Food Security Project Advisory Committee will share the main concepts of conservation through use and the importance of applying a food security lens to management within the Arctic. We will highlight the complexities that the rapid changes associated with climate change occurring within the Arctic are bringing, and how Inuit knowledge and experience may help address management challenges. Inuit have followed traditional management practices, applying a food security lens, which has sustained the people and the environment for time immemorial. These practices demonstrate a strong value system focused on conservation through use, based on an Inuit food security lens (ICC-AK). Practices are built on principles such as “do not take more than what is needed.” These words impart multiple facets of understanding that include people take only what they can process, store and consume within their family or community. They also include lessons that include stewardship and sustainable practices; for example, always leaving enough for the continued respect for the ecosystem that it is a part of. During traditional bowhead whaling a cease-fire is called once the number of whales that can be processed within a given time is reached. This example demonstrates that the phrase “don’t take more than what is needed” is not based on arbitrary numbers and is aligned with conservation, respect, and socio-ecological beliefs. This management practice is used in the collection of all food sources and must consider not only how many people are required and available for the processing and storing of food but also the environmental conditions required for these steps. In sharing this information, concepts, and value system we hope to open up a dialogue with the focus group participants. The conversation will focus on bridging value systems. With the understanding that culture is part of the Arctic ecosystem, we hope to identify areas where shared conservation values may help advance Arctic ecosystem based management. Following the workshop, we will draft a white paper, those interested in participating should contact us. Format and Logistics The workshop will have several short, informal presentations to help build on our definitions presented in the abstract. We would prefer an open room with a round table style set-up that will allow for discussion. It will be a facilitated discussion, and we will prepare questions ahead of time. We would also like to share reading materials in advance of the workshop so that participants are prepared and ready to participate. Details include: · ID: FG34: Friday, July 29 (Half-day focus group in the morning) · Time: 8:30-12:30 · Pre-registration is required · Focus group fee: $36USD for non-students from developed countries; $24USD for students; $12USD for delegates from developing countries/SIDS · Location: Marine Institute 155 Ridge Road St. John's NL A1C 5R3 Organizers: · Carolina Behe, Inuit Circumpolar Council-Alaska; · Raychelle Daniel, The Pew Charitable Trusts · Denali Whiting, ICC-AK Food Security Advisory Committee; · Harry Brower, ICC-AK Food Security Project Contributing Author North Slope Borough Wildlife Department; · Qaiyaan Harcharek, ICC-AK Food Security Advisory Committee and North Slope Borough Wildlife Department; · Vera Metcalf, ICC-AK Food Security Project Contributing Author and Eskimo Walrus Commission; · Vivian Korthuis, ICC-AK Food Security Project Contributing Author and Association of Village Council Presidents; · Julie Raymond-Yakoubian, Kawerak Inc.