080121-08MN006-Sabina Hackett River Project Proposal ... - NIRB

5. Description of Traditional Knowledge5.1 IntroductionSabina is committed to balance decisions with best management practices, scientific principlesand traditional knowledge.The Hackett River project lies in the traditional territory of the Copper Inuit of the WestKitikmeot. There are two major regional traditional knowledge projects in existence that coverthis area, the Naonaiyaotit Traditional Knowledge Project (NTKP) and the Tuktu Nogak Project(TNP). These projects belong to the Inuit, as represented by the KIA (Kitikmeot InuitAssociation).The study area for the NTKP is some 750,000 km 2 . The approach was regional, and informationwas collected at 1:250,000 scale. The Tuktu Nogak Project is more specific, and focused oncaribou within the Bathurst Inlet area. Although regional in scope, the information in the NTKPis extensive and detailed. However, Sabina requires site specific information for planningdecisions.There are two phases planned for the assessment of traditional knowledge (TK) for the HackettRiver Project. The first phase is a compilation report of the existing traditional knowledge, fromthe NTKP, Tuktu Nogak and other sources. The second phase will be the application andintegration of this knowledge with that collected by biologists and scientists for project planningand environmental assessment.Phase 1 of the planned program will not include the NTKP and TNP databases at this time.Sabina has requested permission from the KIA to access the databases several times in 2007. Atthe time of writing this Project Proposal, it is assumed that the Hackett River traditionalknowledge program may have to proceed without being able to utilize the valuable informationcontained within the NTKP and TNP. Hence, phase 1 of the program will likely consist ofobtaining information from personnel interviews, and utilizing any other traditional knowledgethat is publicly available.5.2 Methods5.2.1 DatabasesIf permission is granted to Sabina for access to the GIS databases, the first activity that wouldtake place is editing the TNP database. The TNP has not gone through the same kind of editingof transcripts and verification of placenames that has been completed for the NTKP. In order forthe two databases to be used in conjunction, those tasks must be carried out.5.2.2 Other TKThere are older studies that pre-date the databases with information on land, fish and wildlifefrom the past that will have applicability for the Hackett River area and will be researched.January 2008 Hackett River Project – Project Proposal Sabina Silver CorporationReport Version B.1 5–1 Rescan Environmental Services Ltd. (Proj. #833-2)