1. Meaningful Engagement of Indigenous Peoples in EIAs: A perspective from the NSB Department of Wildlife Management
Robert Suydam, Ph.D.
Senior Wildlife Biologist
North Slope Borough
Department of Wildlife Management

2. Background/Context
Conduct EIA (EIS, EA, etc.) for a variety of projects
Most prominent are development
BOEM, NOAA/NMFS, BLM, USFWS, etc.
NEPA process: Scoping, draft EIS, Public Hearing, Record of Decision
Focus on EIAs in the marine with possible impact on bowheads and bowhead hunters

3. Indigenous Knowledge
Example of scientific and IK (TK, TEK, etc.) knowledge about bowhead whales
Sensitivity to human industrial sounds

4. History
1980s and 1990s: Great deal of concern about offshore oil and gas activity
Scientific knowledge was limited
IK was broad and deep, based on generations of observations
Science/managers did not know how integrate IK into science or the decision-making process

5. Trust and Respect Lack of trust and respect
Lack of understanding about IK by agencies and scientists
IK not incorporated in decisions
Iñupiat people frustrated because they said the same things over and over and over
Great deal of risk to bowheads and hunters
Agencies did not listen…..initially.

6. NSB and AEWC Hired scientists to review studies and assess impacts
Ensure industry studies were designed correctly
Worked with
Congress to change
the laws and force
agencies to listen
Pressured agencies
and industry for
decades

7. Bowheads Very Sensitive to Human Sounds
Hunters very quiet on the ice
Whales can detect and react to faint human sounds
Traditionally,
even people in the
villages a long
ways from the ice
edge were quiet

8. Bowheads Sensitivity to Sound
1980s and 1990s:
Hunters said whales sensitive to human sounds when whales were 20 to 30 miles away.
Scientists said whales were sensitive to seismic sounds when 2 to 5 miles away.

9. Science verifying IK
By the late 1990s and 2000s, scientific understanding was “catching” up to IK.
Bowheads responded to sounds:
Seismic—near total avoidance to ~12 miles with substantial impacts to ~18 miles
Drilling—near total avoidance 9-15 miles
Northstar Development Island—whales were responding to sounds at very low levels (below background sound levels)

10. Agencies Responded
IK and science saying the same things, agencies are incorporating knowledge into decisions
Stipulations to protect bowheads and fall bowhead hunting: e.g., time and area closures (CAA between AEWC and Industry)
Additional research and monitoring required

11. Lessons Learned Indigenous people
Intimate understanding of the environment, often better than science
Voice of the resources
Take action into their own hands to force agencies to incorporate IK into EIAs
IK and science strong when used together
Agencies did respond, but needed to be lead or pushed
Some agencies now try to actively integrate IK

12. Quyanaqpak