Tagish and Nares Cisco: Elders Observations, Western Science and Resiliency Within a Socio-Ecological System

MAY, 2019

Carcross/Tagish Renewable Resources Council Tagish and Nares Cisco: Elders Observations, Western Science and Resiliency Within a Socio-Ecological System

Contents Background/Context...... 2 What we know...... 4 Social...... 8 Resiliency and Community...... 10 Conclusion...... 11 References...... 12

Photo credits: Fritz Mueller Photography, Karlie Knight, Don Toews, and Environmental Dynamics Inc. Background/Context:

Least cisco are members of the whitefish family The seasonal gathering and numbers of cisco Traditional values and practices emphasize of cisco habitat, illustrates how Game Mother that are common in the ’s lakes and along with the top predator, lake trout and the connection of all beings, animals and gave birth to all of the animals and taught them rivers. Within the Yukon’s southern lakes, they other fish, birds and animals in the Nares and humans. All things are interrelated and part where and how to live. She also explained that are widely distributed and found in Marsh Lake, Tagish Rivers and related wetlands reflects the of the ecosystem or community. Rather than they would need to give themselves to the , , Little , ecological importance for the entire Southern consider a management system with a focus humans so that they could survive; and that Tagish and Nares Rivers. The /Tagish Lakes. Together, these social and ecological on cisco in isolation; a socio-ecological system the humans would be thankful and respectful First Nation people have a long relationship interrelationships are the main components will be presented as a framework for bridging because of that gift (Henderson 2007). with these fish they call herring. of what is called a complex socio-ecological traditional values and western science. Looking fishery system. at fish, wildlife, habitat and people through The story of ‘How Crow got Water’, tells of how Cisco are a small fish, however, their place within this socio-ecological lens, as a community, can Crow manages to get some water, that had fish the ecosystem is one of great importance. They Elders have seen changes in the cisco over time build more resiliency around cisco given the in it, and he proceeds to drop the water (with are a major food source for the important lake and have raised concerns that the populations drastic changes taking place today. some fish), into different lakes, creeks and rivers trout and have a special role to play within the have declined substantially over the long term as he flies above (Sidney 2007). social structure of the Carcross/Tagish people. of more than 50 years. Their observations The habitat and behavior of cisco supports an Cisco are of great importance to the whole around the decline of cisco in the Nares and intimate relationship with the people who are These stories allude to an understanding that Marsh, Bennett and Tagish aquatic ecosystems Tagish Rivers were the impetus for three years also a part of that community. Traditional stories all creatures and plants and water form part of as one of the main prey for forage species. of research initiated by the Carcross/Tagish teach that the existence of fish and animals an integrated ecosystem that was thoughtfully Renewable Resources Council. To gain a better throughout the land is a purposeful result of created. This relationship is well represented in and holistic understanding of the cisco, this actions of powerful beings from long ago. The the cisco research that was conducted. research has included gathering traditional, Game Mother story, set in Carcross, the heart local, and scientific knowledge.

THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN IN LARGE PART TO ADDRESS THE LONGSTANDING CONCERNS OF ELDER ART JOHNS REGARDING THE LONG TERM DECLINE OF NARES RIVER CISCO POPULATIONS POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A TAILINGS POND BREACH AT THE ARCTIC MINES SITE DURING THE 1960’S. 3 Fritz Mueller Photography I remember when I was a kid, in “Carcross there used to be so much herrings there. It was just black, because on that train bridge, we’d go on the train bridge and it was just like a black blanket right across, it was just thick. Really, really lots of herrings.”

Annie Auston, CTFN elder.

What we know: “We could fill a 2 pound lard pail in less than 5 minutes” Mark Wedge, CTFN elder. Cisco used to come into the Tagish River and In order to begin to identify the number of fish, These locations, narrows in watercourses, are Areas that would largely remain ice-free were Natasaheeni (Nares River at Carcross) in large or current abundance of cisco in the Tagish popular places for a number of creatures. also very important for people and animals over numbers. Cisco were so plentiful at times that and Nares systems, a sampling program was These places tend to be the easiest places to the winter and spring. These are often at lake kids were only allowed to bring home a certain undertaken by biologists for three years using cross, so therefore, they often form a part of outlets and important habitats for all whitefish amount to eat. This was to make sure they nets aimed at catching all sizes. In 2016, close travel routes for animals and people. They also species, including cisco. would respect the cisco and not waste them. to 500 cisco were captured which started the create places where fish are “funneled” as they data set from which to look at their abundance, move through the lake system, which facilitates There was a general sense that cisco are still The most common place to catch them was age, sex and size and in particular whether gathering. They are often places where around, just not in the narrows in the same from the Carcross and Tagish bridges. More there was evidence of successful spawning and watercourses are joined. Since watercourses, historic concentrations anymore. The cisco are Elders recall fishing them from Carcross, reproduction taking place. In 2017, the research were integral to travel in the area, they are also seen in all lakes (especially Bennett and Tagish), however this could have been the result of continued with over 200 cisco captured in total places where people gathered. These factors sometimes at the south end of Bennett Lake, where they were living when they were young over the spring/summer and fall. In 2018, close mean that Tagish River and Natasaheeni are One Mile Rapids. The regular appearances in rather than where the fish were. The elders all to 500 were captured again in two different places where people and cisco naturally come Bennett Lake seem more recent. explained that multiple kids would be fishing locations. together because of their natural travel routes at any given time, and that it would take only a bring them both there. 4 short time to fill their buckets. 5 CISCO WERE MORE ABUNDANT AND DIVERSE The trout that we’ve been catching, they got herring in their bellies. So they’re AT TAGISH, IN TERMS OF “finding them. And I see, you know when they ball up, herring ball you can see when AGE AND SIZE, AS WELL AS there’s no wind, there’s ripples on the surface of the water, on the lake.” LOCATIONAL DISTRIBUTION Rick Halliday OVER THE AREA AND SEASON.

This bears to question what may have changed Traditional and local knowledge indicates that Cisco were more abundant and diverse at from 2.1 to 2.9 m along the length of the set. in the environment of the narrows that makes it cisco could be found in the narrows all year Tagish, in terms of age and size, as well as During an interview, Art Johns mentions large less of a place of congregation. The Elders have round, but that they were particularly abundant locational distribution over the area and aggregations near a little island in the Tagish a number of theories of why there are fewer in the late summer as they seemed to be season. Over the three years of research, River, “they accumulated on this first little cisco today. These include: a 1960s tailings moving south into Tagish and Bennett Lakes. at both locations, least cisco ranging from island, we used to cut hay up there and that’s breach in a creek that flows into Bennett (at The large number of cisco would last about a 0 to 5 years of age were captured, with the where I used to catch those little herring”, Tin Cup Creek); the Whitehorse dam, changes week. majority in the range of 1 to 3 years old. This Art Johns, CTFN elder. in the construction of the bridges (used to be quick maturity and short lifespan for cisco, with wood; pilings were positioned differently and During this time of abundance, people only a few fish making it to 4, 5 or 6 six years The field studies noted a movement of older were closer to the water); and changes in water remember catching cisco of all sizes and that is very interesting when thinking of their major cisco through the Tagish River during early levels and temperatures. some would have eggs. Mark Wedge described predators lake trout and lake whitefish which summer; later in the summer, the captures in that, “some of them had eggs in them. grow and mature slowly reaching lifespans Tagish were dominated by younger cisco. The Sometimes bright orange, and sometimes dark of 40 plus years. An older lake trout would elders felt that the cisco captured in Tagish red. We would eat them.” Despite seemingly witness approximately 10 generations of cisco are the same fish as the ones in Natasaheeni, depleted numbers, the current sampling on one life cycle. This illustrates the importance that may explain the age differences as the fish research also captured all sizes and age classes of healthy cisco populations and how it is perhaps move south as they progress through of cisco including ripe spawning fish and young important to look at the two species together their life cycle. Generally, the research did not of the year fry in both locations. and not separately. find much variation in the different genetic types of cisco between the Tagish and Carcross Sampling in the Tagish River & Natasaheeni areas. This suggests the cisco moving through (Nares River at Carcross) successfully captured the Tagish River in early summer may be the spawning cisco in September of 2017 and same as those found in the Nares River later 2018. All of these were ripe (i.e. running eggs during the summer. However, there was some About 15 years ago I saw them at or milt) with considerable portions captured in indication that genetic diversity at Carcross was Natasaheeni found to be spent (i.e. recently lower than at Tagish. “Christmas time. This was a surprise. spawned). In Tagish, the locations where We were never looking for them at spawning cisco were captured were relatively Christmas time.” shallow (<3m), along the river margin and in areas with a sand/gravel substrate free of plants. HOWEVER, THERE WAS SOME Edna Helm, CTFN elder. The most notable aggregation of spawning fish INDICATION THAT GENETIC was along an inside bend of the Tagish river where a large gravel/sand bar extended out DIVERSITY AT CARCROSS WAS into the main channel; water depth ranged LOWER THAN AT TAGISH. 7 Social

As part of the community, or socio-ecological Cisco have always been important socially system, cisco interact with many other living and culturally to Carcross/Tagish First Nation things. The cisco are part of the food system of people. Many have fond memories of jigging animals, birds, other fish and humans. Maturity for cisco while the adults fished for lake trout. data suggests that cisco in the Southern Lakes The kids would jig with a stick, string and treble mature very quickly; nearly all 2 year olds were hook (or multiple hooks on one line). The very sexually mature and would spawn that year. A young children were taught by the older kids. It portion of the 1 year olds were also sexually was seen as a great time to being together the mature suggesting that a portion of the kids in the community, a time when kids could population reproduces for the first time at the learn from their older cousins and siblings. end of their second growing season. This low When asked if he was taught by anyone to longevity and rapid rate of maturation supports fish the herring, Jim James explained,No, “ their ecological role as a prey species. I watched everybody go over there and fish, hey? Cut a pole off about 6/8 feet or something Cisco were prepared from fresh by frying or Adding in climatic changes, water level The high reproductive capacity of cisco and tie a string on the end, and jig hook, that’s occasionally dried or canned. The kids found fluctuations, changes in water quality, increased characterized by early maturity at 1-2 years of all they used.” them very tasty. Very few were used for animal number of docks, and boat traffic, there are age and complete turnover of the population food. The kids would also sell them to the many pressures facing all living beings in these within 3 years allows for relatively high levels The role of cisco as prey to other fish, particularly Mathew Watson Store in Carcross or the Tagish rivers today. It is not necessarily surprising that of mortality including harvest without risk to lake trout, was noted as the youth would be Trading Post in Tagish for bait. there are visibly fewer cisco congregating and the population. Lake trout represent the other catching cisco from the bridges while the migrating through the narrows. The dramatic end of the spectrum with very low reproductive adults would be fishing the lake trout. Others There has been a noted decrease in cisco apparent decline in cisco at Nares River, capacity characterized by slow growth and late noted that the birds would always be nearby. numbers. And there has also been a decrease based on traditional and local knowledge and sexual maturity at 10-12 years of age when they Regardless if it is a bird eating a small cisco fry in the fishing for cisco. The changes in fishing the recent technical studies is notable and spawn for the first time, and then for another or a large lake trout eating an adult cisco, their activities are likely the result of multiple factors concerning. 20-30 years (living to an age of 30-40 years). role is one of interconnectedness. including socio-cultural changes. The youth are This life history of lake trout makes them highly participating less in fishing in general. Kids are vulnerable to mortality and overharvest. Lake engaged in different activities in the summer, THE DRAMATIC APPARENT trout predation probably represents the single while parents are working. most important source of mortality for cisco. DECLINE IN CISCO AT This interaction between predator and prey Mostly kids caught the herring, The bridges are higher, making fishing more NARES RIVER, BASED with completely different life histories is one “the adults would get trout. It was challenging. Fishing off a bridge with people ON TRADITIONAL AND that happens throughout their entire life cycle of various expertise and temperaments can and their entire range. a joy to be out there.” result in strong fishing line getting tangled and LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND discarded which is a threat to birds, animals Les Johns, CTFN elder. THE RECENT TECHNICAL and fish. The bridges are also made of different STUDIES IS NOTABLE AND materials that don’t collect as much algae as they did before. This could have been a source CONCERNING. of food for cisco resulting in them schooling around the bridge and being observed by 8 more people. 9 Resiliency and Community:

The traditional knowledge highlighted the role Not stated specifically in the figure above, of cisco in more than just the ecosystem. They however, present in the system are the above played an important socio-cultural role; they mentioned cultural, community, habitat and are part of the community. Their abundance youth perspectives. at certain times brought people together and taught lessons about respect and taking only This approach honors the traditional values, but what was needed; leaving some for the other also provides insight into integration that will fish and some to carry on their life cycle. work towards ecological resiliency. Resiliency is the ability of an ecosystem to maintain key Considering cisco within a socio-ecological functions and processes in the face of stress system addresses all aspects of a fishery and or pressure, by resisting and then adapting most importantly feature humans, social to change (Holling, 1973). By integrating structures, and political processes as part of management practices that consider all aspects nature and not separate from it (see figure of the system, the cisco are more able to be 1; adapted from Virapongse et al. 2016). resilient if one process becomes damaging. Conclusion:

The Elders have highlighted the social and is connected, therefore, something that might ecological importance of cisco in the Tagish be happening in other parts of the traditional and Nares Rivers. They have also observed territory might be influencing what has been figure 1. Political and Economic Conditions changes in the number of cisco from past. observed in the Tagish and Nares Rivers. We also know that the people, fish, wildlife and habitat in the Southern Lakes are facing a The concept of ecological resiliency and the Social-Ecological System time of unprecedented change and increased socio-ecological system provides a means pressure. Typical management systems are no for facilitating inter-relationships between longer adequate to deal with these changes traditional knowledge and western science. and all the interrelationships and connections Looking holistically at fish, wildlife, habitat and Social Processes Ecological Processes people through the lens of socio-ecological • Demography • Nutrient cycling that science and traditional knowledge have systems can build the necessary resiliency • Livlihood activities Integration • Species interactions identified in this report. • Technology • Management practices • Evolution required to maintain the stability of the • Adaptation The three years of study by the C/TRRC, EDI ecosystem and the survival of keystone species Human Components Ecological Components • Resource use and C/TFN have provided a set of baseline like lake trout. • Individuals • Individuals • Communities • Soil information around the cisco’s age, sex, length, • Institutions • Atmosphere spawning areas, genetic characteristics and The work completed and presented here migration patterns. There is also an increasing by the C/TRRC provides a starting point amount of research and focus around the for understanding Tagish and Nares cisco. science of the Southern Lake’s lake trout as the By continuing to explore cisco through the Community dominant predator in the ecosystem. which relationships with people, fish, wildlife and are is linked to cisco as the major prey species. habitat we will paint a more robust picture The bodies of water in the Carcross/Tagish that can lead to increased, and desperately 10 Large-Scale Biochemical Conditions traditional territory are very large and all water required, resiliency. 11 References: Auston, Annie. 2019. Interview regarding Cisco, James, Charlie. 2019. Interview concerning Cisco, April 9th. Interviewed by Jen Herkes and Seki April 8th. Interviewed by Jen Herkes. Giardino. James, Jim. 2019. Interview concerning cisco, April EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. (2017). Tagish 12th. Interviewed by Jen Herkes. River and Nares River Least Cisco Assessment, Prepared for the Carcross Tagish Renewable Johns, Art. 2019. Interview concerning cisco, April Resources Council. 51pp 12th. Interviewed by Jen Herkes and Seki Giardino, Reta Johns present. EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. (2017). Tagish River and Nares River Least Cisco Assessment (Year Johns, Les. 2019. Interview concerning cisco, April 2), Prepared for the Carcross Tagish Renewable 15th. Interviewed by Jen Herkes and Seki Giardino, Resources Council. 35pp Mark Wedge present.

EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. (2017). Tagish Knight, Karlie, (2018). Carcross/Tagish First Nation River and Nares River Least Cisco Assessment (Year - Southern Lakes Least Cisco Research Project. 3), Prepared for the Carcross Tagish Renewable Powerpoint Presentation. Resources Council. 35pp Larsen, Matthew (2004). Basic Life History of Cisco Gual, L and Noorgard, R, (2008). Bridging (Coregonus sardinella) within Marsh and Tagish Ecological and Social Systems Coevolution; A Lakes, Prepared for the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Review and Proposal. Ecological Economics. Enhancement Trust. 57pp Vol. 69. p.707-717 Sidney, Angela (2007). How Grow Got Water Halliday, Rick. 2019. Interview concerning cisco, (Versions one and two). In My Old People’s Stories: April 11th. Interviewed by Jen Herkes. A Legacy for Yukon First Nations, Part II: Tagish Narrators. Yukon Tourism and Culture, Cultural Helm, Edna. 2019. Interview concerning cisco, Services Branch, Occasional Papers in Yukon April 16th. Interviewed by Jen Herkes and Leslie History 5(2): 257-256. Hamson. Virapongse, A., Brooks, S.J., Metcalf, E.C., Henderson, Patsy. 2007. Animal Mother Story. In Zedalis, M., Gosz, J., Kliskey, A.D., & Alessa, L. My Old People’s Stories: A Legacy for Yukon First (2016). A social-ecological systems approach Nations, Part II: Tagish Narrators. Yukon Tourism for environmental management. Journal of and Culture, Cultural Services Branch, Occasional environmental management, 178, 83-91. Papers in Yukon History 5(2): 219-223. Wedge, Mark. 2019. Interview concerning cisco, Holling, C.S. (1973). Resilience and Stability of April 15th. Interviewed by Jen Herkes and Seki Ecological Systems. Institute of Resource Ecology, Giardino, Les Johns present. University of , Vancouver, Canada 4. p.1-23.

Suggested Reference for this Publication:

Carcross/Tagish Renewable Resources Council, D. Zimmermann and J. Herkes (2019). Tagish and Nares 12 Cisco: Elders Observations, Western Science and Resiliency Within a Socio-Ecological System.