Strike the Drum–Holders of the Scientific Method and Inuit Traditional Knowledge Dance Together: Innovative Approaches to Bring Narwhal Tusk Discoveries to a Wide, Public, and Participating Audience

An innovative approach merging the scientific method and traditional knowledge (TK) has led to new discoveries about the narwhal tusk, reaching 100 million readers, viewers and listeners in the mass and public media, and has connected policy-holders, educational leaders, and the curious minds of children worldwide. Examples in educational policy include the cross-cultural study of narwhal tusk function which connected graduate students in evolutionary biology with Inuit elders to describe tusk evolution. Participation of the principal investigator in IPY Peoples and Oceans Days, linked thousands of children and students around the world to an educational discussion about the narwhal and its legendary tusk, igniting a new generation of scientists. Examples in organizational policy development include an Inuit elder representing opinions of narwhal populations at the Inuit Circumpolar Conference that differed from scientific reports. Voices of hunters have been expressed and supported by this research, in scientific papers, conferences, and web forums such as ELOKA. Examples of communication in the mass and public media include featured articles in newspapers, magazines and professional journals, four documentary films, and 16 radio programs. A discussion of scientific discovery and linkage to a broader audience will be reviewed using this research model and dissemination approach.

This IPY investigation combining TK and science, demonstrates the usefulness for the full inclusion of elders and hunters to the scientific process. Their collaboration as authors on scientific papers, and participation in myriad forums suggests a pathway for future studies. Inuit community involvement from over 60 elders and hunters interviewed from 6 High Arctic communities of northeastern Nunavut and northwestern Greenland have given the Inuit an active role and a sense of ownership in the scientific discoveries generated from this work. Inuit children have painted the shipping equipment boxes, hunters have assisted in creating scientific outposts and acquiring rare specimens, and Inuit spokespersons have volunteered their insights and garnered community support to assist this study. With over 70 scientists from 23 institutions representing seven countries around the world, this work exemplifies a potential model for science to link findings with policy development across a wide and disparate group of educators, organizational leaders, children, and the public at large.