Terms and Definitions

Basic Needs Level

In the context of the EMRLCA, the Basic Needs Level reflects the consumption or use by Crees; the marketing or trade for consumption or use in Eeyou Istchee; and marketing or trade by Crees of fur-bearing animals and pelts for personal economic needs.

Best Available Information

All existing information that is pertinent to assessing the status of a wildlife species, including scientific knowledge, community knowledge, and Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge that has been subjected to appropriate quality controls and can be obtained from literature sources or from the holders of the information.

Co-management (or Collaborative Management)

An institutional arrangement in which Government shares resource management responsibility with Indigenous entities and resource users, both of whom take an active part in designing, implementing, and enforcing management regulations established based on shared information and consultation with rights holders, and in line with their respective roles, responsibilities, and level of authority as established through legislation and Land Claims Agreements.

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC)

The COSEWIC is an independent advisory panel to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada that meets twice a year to assess the status of wildlife species at risk of extinction. Members are wildlife biology experts from academia, government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector responsible for designating wildlife species in danger of disappearing from Canada.

Cree Harvesting Rights

The reduction of wildlife into possession, including hunting, trapping, fishing, netting, egging, picking, collecting, gathering, spearing, killing, capturing, or taking by any means. It applies to terrestrial mammals, freshwater and anadromous fish, migratory birds, and marine mammals and grants the Cree beneficiaries the right to harvest any species of wildlife at any time and anywhere in the territory to meet their subsistence needs. The Cree also have the exclusive use of certain species like the beaver, bear, polar bear, and sturgeon.

Cree/Inuit Offshore Overlap Agreement

This agreement, signed in 2003 by the Crees and the Nunavik Inuit, confirms Cree and Inuit overlapping areas of use in the offshore area in James Bay and Hudson Bay. It also defines the overlap zone, where the Crees have joint ownership with the Nunavik Inuit of most of the islands.

Cree Trappers Association

In the context of the EMRLCA, the CTA acts as a consultative body for its members to the EMRWB with respect to Wildlife matters in relation to the EMR, including the control of and monitoring of harvesting pratices and techniques in the EMR and the allocation of Basic Needs Levels among the Crees.

Cree Zone

The Cree Zone covers the marine areas, islands, lands and waters in the southern section of Cree/Inuit Offshore Overlapping Interests Area within the boundary illustrated on the EMR map. In the Cree zone, the Crees have primary decision-making powers.

Defence of Life and Property

A situation where a polar bear has come into contact with humans, their property, or both, and actions are taken to preserve the life of one or more persons or when public safety and property are at stake.

Eeyou Marine Region (EMR)

The EMR covers an area of approximately 61,270 km² off the shore of eastern James Bay and southeastern Hudson Bay, as described in Chapter 4 of the EMRLCA. The EMR includes several islands, that represent roughly 1,650 km² of land mass, of which almost 1,050 km² are owned exclusively by the Crees.

Eeyou Marine Region Land Claims Agreement (EMRLCA)

A modern treaty between the Crees of Eeyou Istchee and the Governments of Canada and Nunavut. This agreement defines the Eeyou Marine Region, and settles land and resource rights for the Crees, Canada and Nunavut, over the islands and marine waters in this area. The EMRLCA was signed in 2010, and came into force in February 2012.

Endangered Species

As defined by the COSEWIC, a Special Concern Species is a wildlife species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.

Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Coordinating Committee (HFTCC)

The Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Coordinating Committee (HFTCC) acts as an advisory body to the federal and provincial governments and local and regional Native authorities on all hunting, fishing, and trapping matters. The HFTCC has been given the responsibility to review, manage, and in certain cases, supervise and regulate the regimes. It also participates with the responsible minister of Canada or Québec in the management of wildlife species in the territory, either through decisional or consultative recommendations as called for in each case.

Implementation Committee

Established pursuant to section 25.4 of the EMRLCA, the Implementation Committee is composed of four senior officials: one representing the Government of Nunavut, two representing the Cree Nation Government and one representing the Government of Canada. The Implementation Committee is an implementing body which monitors and reports on the implementation of the EMRLCA.

Institution of Public Government (IPG)

The Institutions of Public Government are boards established in order to manage the land and resources on land covered by a Land Claims Agreement. IPGs are committed to an overall policy of openness and transparency. Other IPGs include the EMRIRB, the EMRPC and the NMRWB.

Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ)

Inuit traditional knowledge; it encompasses all aspects of Inuit culture, including values, language, social organization, knowledge, life skills, perceptions and expectations.

Inuit Zone

The Inuit Zone covers the marine areas, islands, lands and waters in the northern section of Cree/Inuit Offshore Overlapping Interests Area within the boundary illustrated on the EMR map. In the Inuit zone, the Inuit have primary decision-making powers.

Invasive Species

Invasive species are animals or plants from another region of the world that don’t belong in their new environment. Invasive species can harm both the natural resources in an ecosystem as well as threaten human use of these resources. An invasive species can be introduced to a new area via the ballast water of oceangoing ships, intentional and accidental releases of aquaculture species, aquarium specimens or bait, and other means.

James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement (or JBNQA)

The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) is a legal agreement signed in 1975 by the government of Quebec, the government of Canada, Hydro-Québec and two of its subsidiaries, the Grand Council of the Crees of Quebec and the Northern Quebec Inuit Association. Described by many as the “first modern treaty,” the JBNQA redefined and framed land management as well as the relationship between the Quebecois state and the Indigenous peoples of the James Bay and Northern Quebec region.

Joint Inuit / Cree Zone (“Joint Zone”)

The Joint Inuit/Cree Zone covers the marine areas, islands, lands and waters in the middle section of Cree/Inuit Offshore Overlapping Interests Area within the boundary illustrated on the EMR map. In the Joint Inuit/Cree Zone, the Cree and Inuit share resource use and decision-making abilities.

Knowledge Co‐production

Research that is conducted collaboratively, inclusively, and in a respectful and engaged manner—from the identification of research needs to study design, data collection, interpretation, and even application—with the idea of creating actionable science and benefits to the partners involved. It can be formally stated as the contribution of multiple knowledge sources and perspectives from different stakeholders with the goal of co-creating knowledge and information to inform fisheries management and conservation.

Land Claims Agreement

Modern treaties that define the ongoing legal, political, and economic relationships between Aboriginal parties, the federal government and the provincial or territorial governments who are signatories to these agreements.

Local Nunavimmi Umajulirijiit Katujjiqatigiinninga (LNUK)

LNUKs are responsible for the management of harvesting by their members (Inuit); they act as consultative bodies on wildlife matters, can make recommendations about wildlife management measures to the Regional Nunavimmi Umajulirijiit Katujjiqatigiinninga (RNUK) and are responsible for the management of harvest allocations made by the RNUK at the community level when harvest limitations are established.

Management Plan

A wildlife management plan is a document used by to outline and implement steps for increasing, preserving, or managing wildlife on a given territory. Taking full account of the existing wildlife, jurisdictional requirements, and the objectives and goals of the manager, the management plan usually contains maps, descriptive documents, and records of progress and change.

Non-Quota Limitations (NQL)

A limitation of any kind, except a total allowable take, and may include a limitation on the season of harvest, sex of wildlife, size of wildlife, age of wildlife or method of harvest.

Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement (NILCA)

The Governments of Canada and Nunavut and Makivik Corporation, an organization that represents about 10,000 Inuit in Nunavik, signed the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement, which came into effect in July 2007. The NILCA addresses the use, management and ownership of Nunavut land and resources in James Bay, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, as well as a portion of northern Labrador and an offshore area adjacent to Labrador.

Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board

The NMRWB is the main instrument of wildlife management in the Nunavik Marine Region, which is adjacent to the Eeyou Marine Region. The NMRWB aims to consider both western science and traditional Inuit knowledge, or Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) when making wildlife management decisions. The NMRWB is an institution of public government that was created and operates under the Nunavik Inuit Land Claim Agreement (NILCA).

Overlap Area or Overlap Zone

An area of overlapping resource use by both the Crees of Eeyou Istchee and the Nunavik Inuit, within the EMR. The Overlap Zone was defined in the Cree/Inuit Offshore Overlap Agreement signed in 2003 by both parties to address their interests. It is comprised of the Cree Zone, the Joint Cree/Inuit Zone and the Inuit Zone.

Principles of Conservation

In the context of the EMRCLA, it id defined as the maintenance of the natural balance of ecological systems within the EMR; the maintenance of vital, healthy Wildlife populations, including maintaining such populations to sustain the Harvesting needs as defined in Part III; the protection of Wildlife habitat; and the restoration and revitalization of depleted populations of Wildlife and Wildlife habitat.

Public Hearing

Public hearings are typically organized as a way to gather public opinions and concerns on political issues before a legislature, agency, or organization makes a decision or takes action.

Regional Nunavimmi Umajulirijiit Katujjiqatigiinninga (RNUK)

Regional hunters, fishermen and trapping association of Nunavik. RNUK’s mandate is limited to matters affecting the NMR. Among its responsibilities, the RNUK acts as a consultative body on all wildlife matters in the NMR, can recommend management measures to the NMRWB on behalf of LNUKs and is responsible for the allocation of harvest among the LNUKs when harvest limitations are established.

Research

The EMRWB has defined “research” as studies and works designed to advance scientific and traditional knowledge related to wildlife, its habitat, the factors affecting wildlife and habitat, as well as the harvesting activities in the coastal and offshore areas of the EMR.

Special Concern

As defined by the COSEWIC, a Special Concern Species is a wildlife species that may become threatened or endangered because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.

Species at Risk (SAR)

A wildlife species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats. It may be listed as extirpated, endangered, threatened, or a species of special concern.

Sustainable Harvest

A method of harvest or use of a resource that considers the limits of its natural growth and regeneration, so that the resource is maintained over time and available to meet the needs of future generations.

Threatened Species

As defined by the COSEWIC, a Threatened Species is a wildlife species that is likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction.

Total Allowable Take (TAT)

The EMRLCA defines the TAT as the amount of wildlife that can be legally harvested. In the context of this management plan, a TAT includes all types of harvest including subsistence, defense of life and property, sport hunt or any other type of harvest.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (or Traditional knowledge)

Traditional knowledge is a cumulative body of knowledge, know-how, practices, and representations maintained and developed by the peoples over a long period of time. This encompasses spiritual relationships, historical and present relationships with the natural environment, and the use of natural resources. It is generally expressed in oral form and passed on from generation to generation by storytelling and practical teaching.

Wildlife Habitat

In ecology, the term habitat summarizes the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ecological niche.

Wildlife Management

Wildlife management attempts to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people using the best available information.