Indigenous Perspectives in Reducing Whale Harm in Shipping Practice

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Welcome to Indigenous Perspectives in Reducing Whale Harm in Shipping Practice

Theme:

Within the overall theme of preventing whale harm in shipping practice, this module considers the unique sense of care and connection within Indigenous perspectives to marine stewardship. Specifically, many Indigenous communities understand the sea and its creatures as a sacred resource of food and spiritual sustenance. This perception of the ocean as a provider does not come from economic extraction, but rather a deep reciprocity. In Indigenous philosophy, if one cares for the ocean, the ocean will take care of them. In this way, Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing foster approaches that prioritize relational care for marine ecosystems and their creatures.

Module Instructions:

In this module, you will engage with various Indigenous communities along Canada’s coasts and learn more about their unique connection to whales and the shipping routes that threaten them. 1. Click around the 5 highlighted locations of First Nation and Inuit communities.

2. Read about the shipping practices that risk whale health across Canada’s coasts.

3. Learn about the Indigenous traditional knowledge and collaborative efforts that work to protect whales in these areas.

4. Consider the connection to Indigenous culture that informs these practices.

5. Explore the sources provided in each card as well as the ‘Learn More Here’ section to meaningfully engage with the Indigenous research and advocacy programs that work to reduce whale harm in shipping practices!

Got it

Learn More Here

Explore these additional sources for more information on the theme of this module and the importance of engaging with Indigenous perspectives.

Module Theme and Instructions

Theme:

Module Instructions:

2. Read about the shipping practices that risk whale health across Canada’s coasts.

3. Learn about the Indigenous traditional knowledge and collaborative efforts that work to protect whales in these areas.

4. Consider the connection to Indigenous culture that informs these practices.

Module References

Beluga whale stewardship and collaborative research practices among Indigenous peoples in the Arctic | Polar Research. (n.d.). https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/5522/14090#:~:text=Beluga%20whales%20(Delphinapterus%20leucas)%20are,nutritional%20roles%20in%20Arctic%20communities

Haggert, A. (2020, February 25). Inuit communities consulted in plans for low-impact Arctic shipping routes. Canadian Geographic. https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/inuit-communities-consulted-in-plans-for-low-impact-arctic-shipping-routes/#:~:text=By%20Angelica%20Haggert,areas%20such%20as%20Walrus%20Island

CBC. (2020, May 31). A humpback whale is swimming in the St. Lawrence River in Montreal. CBC.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/humpback-whale-st-lawrence-1.5591877

Chion, C. et al. (2017). Underwater acoustic impacts of shipping management measures: Results from a social-ecological model of boat and whale movements in the St. Lawrence River Estuary (Canada). Ecological Modelling, 354, 72–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.03.014

Coastal First Nations. (2025, October 19). Marine Response and Shipping Safety | Coastal First Nations. https://coastalfirstnations.ca/initiatives/marine-response-and-shipping-safety/#:~:text=Coastal%20Nations%20have%20also%20been,people%20that%20depend%20on%20them

Dawson, J. et al. (2019). Infusing Inuit and local knowledge into the Low Impact Shipping Corridors: An adaptation to increased shipping activity and climate change in Arctic Canada. Environmental Science & Policy, 105, 19–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2019.11.013

Government of Canada. (2025, October 6). Expanding the Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness program. Transport Canada. https://tc.canada.ca/en/campaigns/protecting-our-coasts-oceans-protection-plan/stronger-partnerships-indigenous-coastal-communities/expanding-enhanced-maritime-situational-awareness-program

Giving whales the right of way over ships - WWF Arctic. (2025, January 24). WWF Arctic. https://www.arcticwwf.org/the-circle/stories/giving-whales-the-right-of-way-over-ships/

Hendricks, B et al. (2025). Quantifying vessel noise and acoustic habitat loss in marine soundscapes. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 219, 118150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118150

Iravani, R., Biagi, M., Laforest, S., Lee, K., Isaacman, L., Chen, Z., & An, C. (2025). Protecting shorelines in Canadian Indigenous communities: Environmental challenges, policy interventions, and mitigation technologies. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 219, 118310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118310

Keen, E., et al. (2023). Ship-strike forecast and mitigation for whales in Gitga’at First Nation territory. Endangered Species Research, 51, 31–58. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01244

The cultural and conservation significance of Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam Marine Protected Area (MPA), North West Territories, Canada. The Cultural and Conservation Significance of Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam Marine Protected Area (MPA), North West Territories, Canada | Open Case Studies. (n.d.). https://cases.open.ubc.ca/the-cultural-and-conservation-significance-of-anguniaqvia-niqiqyuam-marine-protected-area-mpa-north-west-territories-canada/

Traditional waters, modern threats: The Gitga’at’s Fight for Humpbacks – Clear Seas. (2024, September 27). Clear Seas - Clear Seas. https://clearseas.org/insights/traditional-waters-modern-threats-the-gitgaats-fight-for-humpbacks/#:~:text=The%20data%20gathered%20from%20the,communication%2C%20feeding%2C%20and%20socialization.&text=The%20goal%20of%20the%20SWAG,Gitga%27at%20First%20Nation%27s%20territory.&text=Although%20the%20population%20of%20humpback,threatened%20by%20commercial%20shipping%20activity.&text=Speed%20reduction%20measures%20and%20transit,vessel%20strikes%20within%20the%20region.&text=Additional%20partnerships%20with%20local%20nations,Knowledge%20in%20marine%20research%20practices.

Malahat Nation. (2019). WRITTEN SUBMISSION TO THE REVIEW PANEL. https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/documents/p80054/129374E.pdf

Mitigating Underwater Noise with Indigenous Knowledge – Clear Seas. (2025, January 21). Clear Seas - Clear Seas. https://clearseas.org/insights/mitigating-underwater-noise-with-indigenous-knowledge/#:~:text=We%20can%20look%20to%20the,vessels%20in%20their%20local%20waters

Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke. (2026, March 13). Public Documents - Kahnawà:ke. Kahnawà:Ke. https://kahnawake.com/public-documents/#policies

Oakley, L. (2025, September 19). Statement from the Gitga’at First Nation. Gitgaat First Nation. https://www.gitgaatnation.ca/post/statement-from-the-gitga-at-first-nation#:~:text=This%20tragedy%20is%20a%20stark,whale%20populations%20in%20the%20region

Polar bears and narwhal: wildlife viewing in Nunavut. (n.d.). Destination Canada. https://travel.destinationcanada.com/en-us/things-to-do/polar-bears-and-narwhal-wildlife-viewing-nunavut.