This dissertation study will examine how Cree hunters perceive and respond to environmental changes associated with resource development in the James Bay region of Quebec Province, Canada. The proposed study will focus on commercial forestry and sport hunting, factors identified by Cree hunters as directly affecting their continued harvest of wildlife, especially moose, a primary source of meat in many Cree communities. Analysis of these factors using anthropological and social impact assessment approaches will provide detailed information on how local systems are affected by and respond to large-scale regional environmental changes. Results will contribute to our understanding of the nature and scope of environmental changes in northern regions and the effects of such impacts on economic, social and cultural patterns of northern residents, particularly aboriginal peoples.
