Science and Research committee  It can be done in different ways. I'm going to ask my colleagues to answer that. Ms. Johnson, can you provide any examples in relation to caribou?

Science and Research committee  Thank you for your question. I think the two systems are complementary. As Ms. Henri mentioned, indigenous science is based primarily on observations that people have made over generations. The sharing of knowledge is primarily done orally. Western scientific knowledge is based on academic studies, statistics and probabilities.

Science and Research committee  Again, it depends a bit on where—

Science and Research committee  It depends on where in Canada. Again, if we look in the Arctic, there are co-management boards that have a very important role in the decision-making process.

Science and Research committee  It's not consistent across Canada. You're right.

Science and Research committee  Okay. Maybe I'll go back a little bit. Environment and Climate Change Canada has been working collaboratively to collect indigenous knowledge for quite some time. It was done on the part of western-trained scientists for some time. Then, over time, we got people who are more expert, like Dr.

Science and Research committee  The department would, yes. Our group provides science advice to be considered by the recovery team for species at risk.

Science and Research committee  There are probably people better placed than I am to do this assessment. We're working on several of the key species to provide science advice that is also considered indigenous knowledge. I don't know the specifics of the answer.

Science and Research committee  I don't know the stats by heart. We have research scientists who are non-indigenous who work on indigenous knowledge. We have scientists and staff who are indigenous who also work on it. We have just created a new indigenous science division within the science and technology branch that is a group of probably around 10 people.

Science and Research committee  Excuse me?

Science and Research committee  The way I see it, there are different processes by which indigenous groups are at the table. When I see indigenous knowledge, it's not consultation. They're building the research and providing the evidence, and that informs a decision. When there's a decision, there's a process for consultation about the decision.

Science and Research committee  I think I'm more aware of the one that we do on caribou, for example. I'm talking about caribou and polar bears because I do have the expertise on both sides of me. I think they're involved at the beginning, in the design of research and in the priorities. Often they have a role in the decision-making process as well.

Science and Research committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, for this invitation to speak about the use of indigenous traditional knowledge in addition to western science in federal government policy. I want to take this opportunity to recognize that I am speaking today on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin people.

Science and Research committee  Thank you, Chair. I would say that using traditional knowledge and western science enables us to provide more comprehensive science advice and information on topics. We would use the perspective of western science along with knowledge gathered through and with indigenous communities so that people who make policy and make decisions consider that knowledge as they implement the decisions they have to make.