Saskatchewan
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SASKATCHEWAN For metadata associated with mapping products found in the following reports, please refer to Annex 2: Metadata Information for Maps in ATK Summary Reports for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta. Boreal Caribou ATK from Big Island First Nation Intro: This info collected for Environs Canada titled “Gathering Traditional Ecological Knowledge for Enviroment Canada’s National Boreal Caribou Recovery Stategy and Recovery Planning Process” was done by Archie Sundown. The process taken by the interviewer was first to select the elders and hunters and people who had knowledge of the boreal caribou, with that done, tobacco was purchased to be given to each interviewee before each was to share their thoughts and whatever dealings they had with caribou. In total nine individuals were interviewed over a 15 day period. Habitat use: For the Boreal Caribou the type of plants they rely on are called caribou moss, plankton, twigs. They feed on the same as what moose would eat. As for the features of the land, they prefer to feed and stay in Muskeg and tree covered areas. Population Trends: From the response and feedback I get from the interviews, they haven’t seen much decline or increase in numbers of caribou in the Northern Part or surrounding areas of the Big Island Lake Cree Territory. As for the survival of calves it’s assumed it is the same as there is no strong increase of Caribou being seen around this area. To get to see the caribou at their habitat, one has to travel further up north of the reserve to see them. Threats: From talking to people, the most dominant threat to caribou would be the encroachment of roads, land clearing and development of gas wells and thereby driving them up further North. And shorter growing seasons also effects the growth of what they feed on, this probably is due to climate change. Habitat Change: The changes is habitat is caused by the presence of Oil & Gas industry, these land clearing and road building has regulated the caribou to search further north for shelter and food. Predation: There is an increase both in population of Boreal Caribou and predators reports of seeing more wolves, bears and especially deer are being heard by people that travel those areas and hunt there, abundance of prey such as deer is evident in the high number of vehicle collision with these animals. There is no certain numbers of Boreal Caribou accounted for on the Big Island Lake Cree Nation, there is the odd one every few years seen in the vicinity but no large herd has ever been seen. As for the people to depend on it for sustenance is very low as people hunt moos and deer for their use. For a person to encounter boreal caribou one has to go further north of the reserve around the bombing range. Overharvesting: In our area there is no sign of overharvesting of Boreal Caribou. As for protecting and conserving Boreal Caribou, the elders think the population of Boreal Caribou is at a number where there is no significant difference in increase or decrease in the herd population. As a result of this study, there seems to be no significant impact the caribou has on the people of Big Island Lake. As the people don’t rely on caribou as a food source. Gathering Traditional Ecological Knowledge for Environment Canada’s National Boreal Caribou Recovery Strategy and Recovery Planning Process. I.Introduction A. Barry Opekokew collected the information with a total of 20 traditional land users and elders from the 3 surrounding communities including Canoe Lake Cree First Nation, Jans Bay, Cole Bay B. Questionnaires provided a solid case for identification of sensitive sites and habitat of the Boreal woodland caribou and implementing onto a provided map. C. Most of the interviews were done in the Cree language and translated by Barry Opekokew into the report. II. Mapping Exercise: Winter, summer and calving grounds were identified in 3 primary areas: A. The first one being in the north area of Canoe Lake from parker lake and grubb lake areas extending into the air weapons range all within lowlands and muskegs. This area is protecting itself with limited access, the sighting of a large herd early this year attests to the herd survival skills. The sighting was on the highway 903 around the kilometer 135 mark. There is a significant change at different times because they are easy to harvest right off the road by the traffic from Dillon and local that use the road to go south to meadow lake. The herd is somewhat distinguishable, We would call them the Bombing range herd. B. Secondly toward the East side of Canoe Lake and north of Amyotte Lake lies a muskeg that is south of the canoe river, this area holds a different herd approximately between Canoe Lake and Ile a la crosse winter snowmobile trail. This herd is vulnerable during the winter because of the use of the snowmobile trail passing through the muskegs. They are distinguishable by being very wild , They would need to be protected further. We can call them the snowmobile trail herd. C. Thirdly, we have the big muskeg south of the keeley river along the highway 965, this is a area for calving, and both winter and summer grounds, this area the elders call the Durocher lake muskegs herd. They are vulnerable near the road but that past couple decades have seem to push them further in, A very large muskeg with some highlands provide a big territory for this herd. III.Habitat Use Basically in the black spruce and tamarack areas of the muskegs, lots of bog, fens, Labrador tea, and lichens along with willow and alder and white birch. They seem to use the lichen and low muskeg vegetation in the winter and summer months. Always in wet areas in summer, but there are little islands of jack pine that they will occupy in winter. IV.Population Trends and threats The woodland caribou in all areas of canoe lake have fluctuated but more significantly to low numbers, The elder population interviewed said there was a lot more caribou in the early 70’s to earlier times before the roads. They would see caribou from outside the cabins at keeley river. The calves have a hard time to survive now. The basic threat that is immediate is man or man made disturbances such as ski doo trails, roads, logging, even the jets that fly by because we are next to the Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range. The wolves would be the next predators that would be a threat to the calves, and the high snow winters are easier for the wolves to catch a adult caribou(s). People can easily overharvest any given herd at anytime especially in the rut season of August. The climate change is also been different from the times when the elders were younger, a bit of the natural change like forest fires make the change for caribou look elsewhere for food and habitat. V. Traditional practises The stories told about rules are basically take what you need which was usually one animal per family, but when people were sent out to hunt for 2 or 3 families then a number of around 3 or 4 were harvested for food. Under the old ways of conservation from the elders point of view would maybe help in the conservation and protection of the caribou. The meat of choice is moose meat. VI. Concerns and comments. A. Control the wolves, they seem to be coming closer to the community this year, watch for diseases that we may not know about, they must have or get some diseases , It would be beneficial to the herds if some sort of study or research was done. With proper management we can assist these herds to have a fighting chance to increase. Have this yearly to go in and research the caribou, one that would be beneficial to the government and us local people would be a study of the caribou within the Air Weapons Range. One interview stated there was lots of sign in the south side of the AWR when they were hunting a couple years ago. Lots of access into the habitat is dangerous, it is good they reclaim the roads right after logging but it is in the winter that is open because of atv’s and snowmobiles. Maybe different policies for the provincial government that allow reclaimed areas to be less accessible. Of course the air activity in the spring is a major concern from the AWR, the increase in the noise is bad for the calves because they are just born. The northern people harvest every caribou they see that use the highway 903 north. One elder stated that we should try this thing he seen on tv where they monitored the actions of some caribou by radio collars, while another says just leave them alone. English River First Nation: English River First Nation, ATK Summary Report English River First Nation, Saskatchewan: Boreal Caribou Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (March, 2011) Cree River Wollaston Lake 434426 42 27 4140 46 37 3230 Cree Lake36 48 8 34 9 49 59 50 Cree Lake Richardson 57 6 5556 60 61 53 58 68 52 Stony Narrows 79 Clearwater 3 Sandy Lake Highrock-Key 18 1 Turnor Lake 19 La Loche WestLa Loche 76 63 Birch Narrows First Nation Turnor Lake Lac La Loche Birch Narrows First Nation Garson Lake Frobisher Lake Porter Lake East Side Athabasca River Steephill-Foster May Lake Flatstone Lake 25 Indian Village 24George Lake Paull Lake Brabant Lake Little Flatstone Lake 23 Peter Pond Lake Churchill Lake Legend F Buffalo River Dene NationDillon Local Road Brabant Lake Shagwenaw Lake Keith Lake PatuanakDipper Lake Principal Highway Caribou Use Buffalo Narrows English River First Nation Hepburn LakeSecondary Highway !.