Aklavik Hunters & Trappers Committee

The Aklavik Hunters & Trappers Committee (AHTC) has been a leader in environmental stewardship and knowledge sharing in the Canadian North for over 40 years. Established in 1982, AHTC works to preserve traditional hunting and trapping practices while ensuring sustainable wildlife management.

The AHTC actively collaborates with researchers across disciplines and borders, fostering partnerships with organizations such as Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Inuvialuit Game Council, and Germany's Alfred-Wegener Institute. These collaborations have produced significant contributions, including Delta Worlds (2021) and the ongoing Inuvialuit Settlement Region Beluga Monitoring Data Report. The AHTC co-develops scientific projects that integrate Indigenous knowledge and supports local training programs, ensuring community involvement and capacity-building.

In addition to research, AHTC leads initiatives like the Beaver Management Program, "Ghost Gear" clean-ups, and efforts to establish a Bowhead Committee for future harvesting licensing. These projects address pressing local challenges while safeguarding important cultural traditions.

AHTC shares Inuvialuit knowledge broadly, engaging in media interviews on climate change, harvesting practices, and land-animal relationships. Their work educates global audiences on the importance of Indigenous stewardship in understanding and addressing Arctic environmental change.

Polar Knowledge Canada recognizes the AHTC's outstanding contributions to community-driven research, knowledge exchange, and wildlife conservation. Their work has advanced the understanding of a changing Arctic while empowering local communities to sustain their cultural and environmental heritage.

Through the Northern Science Award and Centenary Medal, Polar Knowledge Canada celebrates the AHTC's enduring impact on the Canadian North and its Peoples.