Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) and Genomics in the Community (MAGIC): Setting the Stage for the Co-Development of Genomics Tools in an Iconic Arctic Mammal

Muskox (Ovibos moschatus), or Umingmak (in Inuktitut), is a critical component of the terrestrial Arctic ecosystem. In many regions, muskoxen are key to Inuit food security and important to cultural identity, whilst also providing economic opportunity. Although muskox populations in Greenland and part of Canada appear to be thriving, others are experiencing an uncertain future. A comprehensive understanding of factors driving demographic change, including Indigenous and western science-based knowledge of muskox biology and the Arctic ecosystem in which it lives, is necessary to safeguard populations in the crosshairs of climate change. The inclusion of genomic (or DNA-based) tools into management is predicated on Inuit needs and the amenability of such tools for co-development with Indigenous and scientific partners. The Muskox and Genomics in the Community (MAGIC) workshop was held in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut in January 2024, providing a cross-cultural grounding for discussion on the co-development of genomic tools for muskox conservation and management. Outcomes included forging opportunities for co-learning and knowledge exchange around genomics science and Inuit traditional ecological knowledge, identification of relevant species for whole genome sequencing, documentation of knowledge gaps in muskox biology, and laying conceptual foundations for the co-development of genomics tools based on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ).