It is because of situations like this that we are warned by our elders to maintain complete control of raw land use information. To reveal Indigenous Knowledge is to relinquish power. Avoiding this is vital if the relationship between science and Indigenous Knowledge is to be beneficial and just. After all, baseline studies are often the first step in industrial development, providing the 'before' aspect of a 'before and after' scenario. We must be aware of development plans and proposals as we carry out the Northern Ecosystem Initiative.
Aboriginal people have the most to lose and have already lost a lot.
We are the ones who bear the burden of long-term impacts. Yet we do recognize the potential usefulness of having baseline data. We know that without it, accurate environmental impact assessment is impossible. We have lived through this with the military low-level flying program in Goose Bay. We are not saying that Indigenous Knowledge and Western science can never work together.