Moose tracking app brings Indigenous knowledge and modern technology together

In an effort to merge traditional Anishinaabehunting knowledge with modern technology, a Sudbury biologist is working with First Nations to equip them with a new smartphone app to help monitorOntario's declining moose population.

"That will allow land users to go out and record moose sightings and harvest and other additional information Indigenous knowledge so that they can record population trends throughtime," said Jesse Popp, wildlife specialist with the Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre and biology professor at Laurentian University.

"So essentially it's a means for intermingling tradition and technology."

People in First Nations who are out on the land to hunt, trap, gather medicinal plants or other purposes can use the app to count the moose they see or harvest. It also enablesthem to upload pictures, audio, and text related to the moose's condition or other vital information.

"We work with communities to develop autonomous moose monitoring tools so they can see exactly what's going with moose in their traditional territory," said Popp, who's a member ofWiikwemkong Unceded Territory.

Moose in decline

The province's moose population has declined by about 20 per cent over the past decade, according to the Ontario Environmental Commissioner.

Poppwants to look into factors causing that drop by"integrating Indigenous knowledge from land users and elders who could potentially have some really important insight into things that western science has previously overlooked."

The app was developed in collaboration with the Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre, TrailmarkSystems, and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg(also known as the Ojibways of Pic River First Nation), where community members are currently using the app.

The plan is to expand the app to other Anishinabek Nation communities in Ontario, and modify it to each community's needs. Poppbelieves the initiative can be a model for futureendeavours between First Nations and the science community.

'We have so much to offer'

"Time and time again, Indigenous knowledge has proven very important to modern science, so it's a priority in my research to show other researchers how valuable Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are," she said.

"Being part of a culture that has this utmost respect for nature made me want to bring it all together."

Poppcites Indigenous knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants influencing pharmacological development as a major example. She hopes a continued acknowledgement of those contributions will inspire more Indigenous people to pursue science as a career.

"I think it's really great to see cultural inclusivityin science. Indigenous knowledge and western science together can really make a substantial contribution to modern science," she said.

"And with more people recognizing this and considering Indigenous knowledge in their research, perhaps we'll begin to see more Indigenous people in the sciences, which is great, because we have so much to offer."