"If the caribou die, then we die." These few words speak eloquently to the significance of caribou for northern peoples. They were spoken not by a wise old chief, but by a 13-year-old Dene youth in 2007 during a hearing regarding uranium exploration on the caribou wintering grounds.
Right now there is urgent, widespread concern about the future of the most central of species: caribou. Caribou and the North brings both the facts and the feelings of the current situation to a North American readership. The writers look at why we need to conserve the caribou, the threats that have faced caribou in the past, present, and future, and the actions that we can take. Also included is an appendix with up-to-date information on the range, movements, habitats, numbers, population trends, and key threats to caribou in North America.
Monte Hummel has served on the boards of many Canadian and international conservation societies, was co-founder of Pollution Probe, and became president of WWF Canada in 1985. He is the author of Wintergreen, Protecting Canada's Endangered Species, and Wild Hunters. He lives in Toronto.
Justina C. Ray is the director of Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. She is an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, and a Research Associate at the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at the Royal Ontario Museum. She lives in Toronto.
Robert Redford is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival.
Stephen Kakfwi is a Canadian politician and the ninth Premier of the Northwest Territories.
Robert Bateman, OC, OBC is a Canadian naturalist and painter, born in Toronto, Ontario.