Wall Porcupines (Erethizon.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum, Ojibway; gaag) in the First Nations Communities of Black River and Hollow Water: Using Traditional Knowledge of Wildlife in Sustainable Forest Management by Monique Wall A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of MASTER OF ENVIRONMENT Department of Environment and Geography Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources University of Manitoba Winnipeg Copyright @ 2007 by Monique Wall THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA FACULTY OF GTj!?UATE STTIDIES COPYRIGHT PERMISSION Porcupines (Erethizort dorsatum, Ojibway: gaag) in the First Nations Communities of Black River and Hollow Water: Using Traditional Knowledge of Wildlife in Sustainable Forest Management BY Monique Wall A ThesislPracticum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree MASTER OF ENVIRONMENT Monique Wall @ 2007 Permission has been granted to the University of Manitoba Libraries to lend a copy of this thesis/practicum, to Library and Archives Canada (LAC) to lend a copy of this thesis/practicum, and to LAC's agent (UMUProQuest) to microfilm, sell copies and to publish an abstract of this thesis/practicum. This reproduction or copy of this thesis has been made availabte by authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research, and may only be reproduced and copied as permitted by copyright laws or with express rvritten authorization from the copyright owner. Dedication To my mom, you believed in me when I could not, you saw my dreams when I did not, you were always there for me. To Sebastien and Zenaide, you are rny inspilation and as I finish this academic thesis I want you to know that I persevered so that I may one day encourage you to persevele in the lives that you will choose. Mes petits, vous etes mes aûìours a toujours. To Susie, thanks for being there for me. And to my wonderful husband, Dameon, you have been rny strength and supported me in so many ways. Thank you Abstract Based on concefirs raised by community representatives from Black River and Hollow Water First Nations,about a local absence of North Arnerican porcupine (Eretlizon dorsatum) this project set out to determine the cultural value of the animal, the causes of its decline and the feasibility of involving local youth in potential reintroduction efforts. During the summer of 2004 Elders were interuiewed on the cultural and historical aspects of porcupine, and students assisted in gathering data at the Ecosite level to identify potential areas of reintroduction. In 2005 a porcupine-rnonitoring program involving youth in Wisconsin was assessed for applicability in Black River and Hollow Water. Based on the interviews with Elders, the reintroduction of porcupine is not advised at this time. However, the potential for youth involvement in any future wildlife or ecosystem monitoring progïams appears strong within the communities. Acknowledgements A special thank you to Manitoba Hydro for their generous fuirding. Recognition for the support provided by Manitoba Model Forest, the Elders who shared their time and wisdom, Rene Barker and Gerald Hany for helping me get to know the communities, Waneeta Bjork for her enthusiasm and to the other youth that participated in field research. Thank you to the committee members Dr. Dave Walker, Dr. Rick Baydack and Dr. Rick Riewe. iii Table of Contents Abstlact Dedication Acknowledgrnents Table of Contents ................iv Chapter 1 - Literature Revieq. ..............1 l. 1 lntroduction ........ 1.2.2 Status I.2.3 Description ........ 1.2.4 Quills for Defense 1V 2.l lntroduction 21 11 2.2 Geo graphy.............. LI 2.3 Clirnate 21 11 2.4 Physiography LL 2.5 Soils 22 2.6 Yegetation 2.7 Communities 23 2.1 .l Black River First Nation 23 2.7.2Hollow Water First Nation 24 2.8 Treaty Five 25 2.9 Future Land Use Considerations .......... ...............,26 Chapter 3 - Elder Interr¿iews - Black River and Hollow'Water First Nations 3. I hrtroduction,........ 28 3.2 Method 28 3.3 Black River Elders Share Their Porcupine Stories 30 3.3.4 Impotlance of Porcupine as a Food Source ............... JJ 3.3.5 Role of Porcupines in Ceremonies and Teachings 35 3. 3. 6 Porcupine Food Source Preferences,................. J/ 3. 3. 7 Population Decline of Porcupines ..................... JI 3.3. 8 Porcupine Predatolt,............ 38 3.3.9 Other Wildlife Population Fluctuations ................ 39 3.3. I 0 Changing Habitat 40 3.3.1 1 Elders Share their Trapping Perspective ........... 45 3.3.13 Relocating Porcupine 50 3.3.l4Involving Youth in a Porcupine Recovery Project ................51 3.3.l5SuggestedAreasforRelocation............ ................51 3.4. Hollow Water Elders Share Their Stories About Porcupine .................,52 3.4.1 Importance as a Food Source ...........55 3.4.2 Role of Porcupines in Ceremonies and Teachings ..................56 3.4.3 Porcupine Food Source Preference .......57 3.4.4 Population Decline of Porcupines ...-.------.-- ...,..,..,58 3.4.5 Porcupine Predators,............ ................. 59 3.4.6 Other Wildlife Population Fluctuations of Interest ................. 59 3.4.1 Changing Habitat 61 3.4.8 The Future of the Forest 64 3.4.9 Elders Share their Trapping Perspective........... ......67 3.4.10 Contributing Factors to the Decline of Porcupine ..................74 3.4.1I Retum of the Porcupine -....................75 3.4.l2Involving Youth in a Porcupine Reçovery Project ,................16 3.4.I3SuggestedAreasforRelocation............ ................77 3.5 Discussion 77 Chapter 4 - Value of Community-based Monitoring and Youth Involvement - A Case Study and Summary of Ecosite Data Gathering with Local Youth,..........................84 4.1 Introduction ,........ ............. 84 4.2Methods - .........85 vi 4.2.1 Ecosite Sampling Methods ....................85 4.2.2 Case study - Sandhills Outdoor Skills Center, Porcupine Monitoring Project,..... ................. 88 4.3 Ecosite Sampling Results ...................88 4.4 Case Study: Observations from SOSC ................,89 4.5 Discussion............ ..............90 4.5.1 Value of Involving Youth in Monitoring Porcupines ............. 90 4.5.2 Could a Project like the Sandhills Porcupine Monitoring Project be Done Along the Eastside of Lake Winnipeg? ..................92 4.5.3 Potential for Youth Involvement in Black River and Hollow Water First Nations .............. .....................96 4.5.4Practical Approaches to Monitoring Porcupine............,...........97 4.7 Conclusion 101 103 t04 106 109 110 110 111 v11 5.4 Return of the Porcuorne II2 5.4.1 Relocation Issues and Suggestions ....114 5.4.2 Recommendations for Suitable Habitat Areas Il7 5.4.3 Natural Reoooulation lI7 5.5 Conclusion.......... ........... 118 viii Appendix University of Manitoba Ethics Approval Certificate r29 Interview Consent Form 130 Poster - Have you seen porcupine or signs of polcupin 131 Table 1. Schedule of Interr¡iews with Elders from Black River and Hollow Water First Nations in 2004 r32 Location of Black River and Hollow Water in Manitoba 133 Student-friendly Ecosite Key A 134 Student-friendly Ecosite Key 8........ 135 Student-friendly Data Sheet - Mainplot 1,............... 136 Student-friendly Data Sheet - Mainplot 2................ r37 Table 2.BlackRiver and Hollow Water First Nations Ecosites Sampled with Associated Vegetation Types fi'om the Forest Ecosystem Classification for Manitoba Field Guide 1 995.......,... -.. 1 3 8 Ecosite Descriptor s E2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 17, 20, 2I, 22, and 24 ............... 1 3 9 Figure 1. Trapping data of polcupine predators for the Lac du Bonnet tranoins area. I49 Figure 2. Trapping data of porcupine predators for the Hollow Water Tratrnins area 149 Figure 3. Trapping data of porcupine predators for the 'Whiteshell tranoins area. 150 Figure 4. Provincial trapping data for porcupine predators.............151 Figure 5. Provincial trapping data with only lynx and fisher. ,.......,151 1X Photo 1. Boreal forest near Hollow Water that was sampled to determine Ecosite classification. 152 Photo 2. Porcupine perspective of a spruce tree ........... ...................I52 Photo 3. Student field researcher setting up plot 10 x 10 metres before Ecosite data gathering in Hollow Water.,..................153 Photo 4. Rough Ride. Student riding all-terrain vehicle down Commuter Rd. near Black River ..................153 Photo 5. Sandhills Biologist and Program Coordinator, Dick Thiel using wand to identify if porcupine in trap has a Passive lntegrated Transponder 9PIT) tag to identify the animal or whether it is a new porcupine to the study.......... ..............:.... .,..............154 Photo 6. Porcupine in Sandhills being released from trap after it has been identified with the use of PIT tags............ .....I54 Photo 7. Biologist Dick Thiql spray paints porcupine so that it will not be trapped accidentally................ .....155 Photo 8. A good day in the field. Students and Dick make their way back to the Sandhills Outdoor Skills Center to process the data and return the equipment............. ,........155 The Ex-arboreal sons from Howard Kaplan 156 Chapten I - n Íterature Review 1.L {ntroduction Starting with an understanding of the basics of porcupine biology and knowledge of contemporary research, this thesis combined concepts of Traditional Knowledge with interviews of community Elders and application of the Ecosite framework