Answers to some frequently asked questions about ATK and its assessment process.

COSEWIC Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge subcommittee (ATK subcommittee), its role in the assessment process, and ATK itself

• What if Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK) disagrees with other information used in the COSEWIC assessment process?
  Since the perspective from ATK holders can be different from a science perspective, there is the potential for ATK information to differ from other information used in the COSEWIC assessment process. However, having both perspectives will undoubtedly provide a better vision or understanding of the wildlife species and why it may be at risk.
• How can an Aboriginal person or community contribute to the assessment of species by COSEWIC?
  There are a great number of species in Canada and COSEWIC has already assessed a number of them. As of June 2013, COSEWIC has determined that 676 wildlife species (or wildlife species units i.e. subspecies, populations, designatable units) are at risk. At any given time, a limited number of species or species units are in the process of being assessed, see Status Reports in progress. If you hold ATK that is relevant to COSEWIC’s assessment criteria, you can contact the ATK Subcommittee by sending an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please include your name, contact information, and the species you are referring to.
• Who is on the ATK Subcommittee? Who do they represent?
  National Aboriginal Organizations (Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council, Native Women’s Association of Canada, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Congress of Aboriginal Peoples) are asked to provide nominations to the Minister of Environment. The ATK Subcommittee members are appointed by the Minister, as is the case with COSEWIC members, to speak independently of their organizations. ATK SC members are selected for their expertise about ATK and wildlife, and do not represent their organization, employer, Aboriginal group or the geographic area from which they come.
  Two Co-chairs of the ATK Subcommittee are selected by the Subcommittee members from within its membership. The ATK SC Co-chairs are also nominated by the Minister to COSEWIC. To see a current list of ATK Subcommittee members.
• How does the ATK Subcommittee ensure that information from Aboriginal sources is made available to COSEWIC?
  The ATK Subcommittee reviews each species that COSEWIC will be assessing. Due to limited resources and availability of ATK, only a portion of those species will have extensive efforts for the inclusion of ATK. In the ATK process, the ATK Subcommittee will first search for publically available documented ATK that is suitable and relevant to the COSEWIC assessment process. The ATK Subcommittee may consider further pursuit of non-documented and non-publically available ATK as resources permit.
• Why is ATK included in species assessments?
  The inclusion of ATK in species assessment is required under the Species at Risk Act, and is a recognition of the importance of the complex and unique knowledge systems held by Aboriginal Peoples. Bringing together ATK and science knowledge benefits species by increasing the knowledge we have about a species which allows a more accurate COSEWIC assessment.
• What are "Designatable Units"?
  See the page “Status Reports - Guidelines for Recognizing Designatable Units”
• Why assess individual species and not ecosystems?
  Aboriginal Peoples have a holistic perspective regarding species conservation and the ecosystems in which they live. However, currently the Species at Risk Act only allows for the assessment of species and not ecosystems.
• Who brings forth ATK to COSEWIC?
  There are 31 votes on COSEWIC. While there is only 1 ATK Subcommittee vote on COSEWIC, it is the ATK Subcommittee’s job to ensure that the best available ATK is brought to the table for consideration. Furthermore, COSEWIC functions and votes using the collective body of available information – ATK, science, and community knowledge.
• How do I access a COSEWIC Status Report for a species?
  You can find COSEWIC Status Reports on the Species at Risk Act (SARA) registry then click on “Assessments”. Only reports for completed assessments are provided.
• What role can Aboriginal Elders and ATK Holders play?
  Aboriginal Elders and ATK Holders may have information that would benefit COSEWIC’s understanding of a particular species, their habitats or ecosystems, and threats. The COSEWIC ATK Subcommittee encourages community efforts to gather, preserve, and record ATK. For species undergoing a COSEWIC assessment, or if there are species which a community is concerned about, then the community may wish to share that ATK for the benefit of a species. The ATK Subcommittee can be reached by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• How is ATK used by COSEWIC?
  To assess whether a species is at risk of becoming extinct or extirpated from Canada, COSEWIC uses species information gathered from various sources such as ATK, science and community knowledge. Only the ATK pertaining to population size and trends, distribution range and trends, biology and threats are used in the COSEWIC Status Report. The ATK Subcommittee is the gatekeeper of all ATK and ensures that no information related to spiritual or cultural use of a species is shared in the COSEWIC Status Report. (see COSEWIC assessment process)
• How is ATK reviewed by the ATK Subcommittee?
  In the COSEWIC assessment process, ATK is reviewed by the ATK Subcommittee to ensure that only ATK that is relevant to the COSEWIC assessment process is included. ATK is also reviewed to ensure that it is properly and accurately integrated into and cited in COSEWIC Status Reports.
• How can I propose a species to assess?
  COSEWIC considers unsolicited status reports from any member of the public when accompanied by an application for wildlife species assessment. For more information see preparing status reports.
• How were the COSEWIC ATK Process and Protocol Guidelines produced?
  The guidelines were produced by the ATK Subcommittee with support from the COSEWIC Secretariat, and are based on a series of workshops with Aboriginal Elders and ATK Holders held in 2009 and 2010 from across Canada. The guidelines document is considered to be a living document and will be expanded, updated or revised as needed and serves to guide how COSEWIC will access and integrate ATK gathered from knowledge holders and elders in collaboration with their communities.
• Does COSEWIC have a duty to consult?
  COSEWIC is a non-government, independent body that provides a recommendation on species status. There is no formal requirement under the Species at Risk Act for COSEWIC to carry out consultation as part of its assessment process.
• Is ATK treated equally to science?
  The Species at Risk Act states that: 15(2) COSEWIC must carry out its functions on the basis of the best available information on the biological status of a species, including scientific knowledge, community knowledge and aboriginal traditional knowledge.
• How can I attend an ATK Subcommittee meeting?
  The ATK Subcommittee meets one or more times per year. When meeting locations and dates are confirmed, they are posted on COSEWIC’s “COSEWIC news and events” webpage. To attend as an observer, you must receive permission from one of the ATK Subcommittee Co-chairs. You can request permission by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• Why is there no ATK in a particular Status Report?
  ATK may not have been available for inclusion into the Status Report at the time of production, or it was determined by the ATK Subcommittee that the ATK which was available was not pertinent to the COSEWIC Assessment Criteria.
• How can I get involved in the COSEWIC Assessment process?
  If you are an Aboriginal person with expertise in ATK, biology or ecology, you can express your interest to the ATK Subcommittee Co-chairs by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also review the COSEWIC website as periodically there are calls for contractors to produce a Status Report and for calls to become members of COSEWIC and members of a species specialist subcommittee.