Goose Watch 2025 will begin this spring! Stay tuned to our social media for updates!

Use SIKU to take photos and videos of your goose harvest and observations, including nesting, hatching, and molting to help share knowledge between northern communities about the timing of the spring goose migration.

How do I get started with SIKU? 

The SIKU app is a free download from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. Then, open the app and follow the steps to create an Account. Make sure to add your community.

Download the SIKU mobile app

Create an Account

Add your Community

How do I make a Goose Post?

SIKU works without an internet connection, so you can make posts when you are on the land. Learn how to make a Goose Post

Can I win a prize if I saw a goose but didn’t harvest it?

Goose harvest posts on SIKU qualify for the Community Prizes. Both goose observation posts about nests, tracks, molting etc., and harvest posts are eligible for the Grand Prizes.

How do I tag my community?

To qualify for a Goose Watch prize, your Goose Post must be tagged with your Indigenous community in Canada. Learn how to add a community tag to your post.

To ensure your community is tagged every time you make a post, set it as a default tag

Can posts be made in town?

Posts located within town do NOT qualify for prizes.

SIKU works without an internet connection and automatically records your GPS location, so it is best to make posts while you are out on the land. If you took a photo or video on the land but didn’t create your post until you were back in town, you can edit your post’s location.

How are the Grand Prize Winners chosen?

The Grand Prize winners are chosen by random draw from all eligible Goose Posts made on SIKU during the challenge period.

How do I know if I won?

A SIKU administrator will comment on your Goose Post on SIKU to declare you a winner, and will send you a private SIKU message with instructions about how to claim your prize.

When are winners announced?

Winners will be announced as geese arrive in each community. The Grand Prize winners will be announced at the end of the Goose Watch Challenge.

Click here to see past winners!

Who can enter?

All residents 19 years of age or older of Inuit Nunangat and James Bay, including Omushkego and Eeyou Istchee Cree communities, as well as Nitassinan communities in Labrador are eligible to win a prize.

A full list of eligible communities is below.

Omushkego Region

  • Attawapiskat
  • Chapleau Cree First Nation
  • Fort Albany
  • Kashechewan
  • Missanabie Cree First Nation
  • Moose Factory
  • Moosonee
  • Peawanuck
  • Taykwa Tagamou Nation

Nunavut

  • Arctic Bay
  • Arviat
  • Baker Lake
  • Cambridge Bay
  • Chesterfield Inlet
  • Clyde River
  • Coral Harbour
  • Gjoa Haven
  • Grise Fiord
  • Iglulik
  • Iqaluit
  • Kimmirut
  • Kinngait
  • Kugaaruk
  • Kugluktuk
  • Naujaat
  • Pangnirtung
  • Pond Inlet
  • Qikiqtarjuak
  • Rankin Inlet
  • Resolute Bay
  • Sanikiluaq
  • Sanirajak
  • Taloyoak
  • Whale Cove

Inuvialuit Settlement Region

  • Aklavik
  • Inuvik
  • Paulatuk
  • Sachs Harbour
  • Tuktoyaktuk
  • Ulukhaktok

Eeyou Istchee

  • Eastmain
  • Chisasibi
  • Mistissini
  • Nemaska
  • Ouje-Bougoumou
  • Waskaganish
  • Waswanipi
  • Wemindji
  • Whapmagoostui

Nunavik

  • Akulivik
  • Aupaluk
  • Inukjuak
  • Ivujivik
  • Kangiqsualujjuaq
  • Kangiqsujuaq
  • Kangirsuk
  • Kuujjuaq
  • Kuujjuaraapik 
  • Puvirnituq
  • Quaqtaq
  • Salluit
  • Tasiujaq
  • Umiujaq

Nunatsiavut

  • Hopedale
  • Makkovik
  • Nain
  • North West River
  • Postville
  • Rigolet

Nitassinan

  • Natuashish
  • Sheshatshiu
Can I use a goose photo from a previous year?

Qualifying Goose Posts must be made using photos or video taken on the land during Goose Watch. See Full Terms and Conditions

I need help – who do I talk to?

Please contact us if you have additional questions or to claim your prize.

Can you tell me more about SIKU?

SIKU, the Indigenous Knowledge Social Network, is a mobile app made by and for Indigenous communities. SIKU is developed by the Arctic Eider Society (AES), an Indigenous-led nonprofit organization based in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut. AES does not own the data that users post on SIKU.

Still have Questions?

Avian Flu

Avian flu – also known as “bird flu” – is a contagious viral infection that can affect both farm and wild birds including migrating ducks and geese. You can help document sick birds by making observations on SIKU and marking the bird as sick in the Unusual section of the post, but touching dead or sick birds is not recommended. Learn more about Avian flu and how to safely harvest game meat. Follow all public health guidelines and never put yourself in danger to make a post for the SIKU Goose Watch challenge.

Full Terms & Conditions


Making an Impact

Between 2020 – 2024, SIKU users from 62 communities helped track the spring goose migration, making over 4600 goose posts!


Track the Migration

The SIKU Goose Map shows where geese have been spotted so far this year in real time. Prepare for the spring harvest by checking how close the geese are to your community. Watch for egg picking posts later in the spring to see the timing of this year’s egg harvest.


View last year’s winners!

Goose Watch is brought to you by the Arctic Eider Society, an Inuit-led charity established in 2011, and developer of SIKU: The Indigenous Knowledge Social Network. SIKU is a web and mobile platform that provides tools and services for Indigenous communities to lead their own research and monitoring programs.

The North West Company is a leading retailer to underserved rural communities and urban neighbourhood markets. Their stores, including Northern stores, offer a broad range of products and services with an emphasis on food. The North West Company has been a major supporter of the Goose Watch Challenge since 2021.

Uvagut TV is Canada’s first national Inuktut television channel – broadcasting movies, documentaries, cultural programs, current affairs shows, interviews with elders, and five hours of daily kids shows. They are currently available in over 610,000 homes across Canada.

Qualifying Requirements

  1. Goose Posts must be made between during Goose Watch
  2. All posts must be unique observations – no duplicates
  3. All posts must be real, relevant, and reliable – no fake posts or old photos
  4. You must be 19 or older to win

Terms and Conditions

  • Winners from communities without Northern stores will receive an alternate equivalent prize.
  • Goose Watch posts may be used by SIKU and partners, such as Uvagut TV, for the purposes of sharing knowledge and to promote the Goose Watch on social media, television and other channels. Winning posts may be shared widely in the press and on social media.
  • Participants may be subject to additional terms and conditions and winners will be determined at the sole discretion of the Arctic Eider Society.
  • The Arctic Eider Society reserves the right to disqualify any posts or contestants at their sole discretion and without providing a reason or notice. Users agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of the SIKU platform, including respect for Indigenous knowledge, rights and integrity.

Waiver

By participating in the Goose Watch Challenge and using SIKU, you acknowledge that you are doing so at your own risk on a volunteer basis, and agree to waive all rights to claims, litigation or other actions related to these platforms, tools and services.