• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

University of Alberta CONTRIBUTIONS OF CREE KNOWLEDGE: NAKATEHTAMASOYAHK OTE NEKAN NITASKENAN (Caring for the Land for the Future) By: Karen A. Geertsema © A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science In Rural Sociology Department of Rural Economy Edmonton, Alberta Fall 2008 Library and Bibliotheque et 1*1 Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-47253-8 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-47253-8 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, prefer, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans loan, distribute and sell theses le monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non­ sur support microforme, papier, electronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation. reproduced without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a la loi canadienne Privacy Act some supporting sur la protection de la vie privee, forms may have been removed quelques formulaires secondaires from this thesis. ont ete enleves de cette these. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires in the document page count, aient inclus dans la pagination, their removal does not represent il n'y aura aucun contenu manquant. any loss of content from the thesis. •*• Canada University of Alberta Library Release Form Name of Author: Karen A. Geertsema Title of Thesis: Contributions ofCree Knowledge: Nakatehtamasoyahk Ote Nekan Nitaskenan (Caring for the Land for the Future) Degree: Master of Science Year this Degree Granted: 2008 Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Library to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private , scholarly, or scientific research purposes only. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis, and except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatever without the author's prior written permission. Karen A. Geertsema RPO Box 29001, Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6H 5Z6 University of Alberta Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research The undersigned certify that they have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research for acceptance, a thesis entitled Contributions Of Cree Knowledge: Nakatehtamasoyahk Ote Nekan Nitaskenan (Caring For The Land For The Future) submitted by Karen Geertsema in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Brepdta Pajrlee, Supervisor Debra DaviosbnDaA&< , Committee Member ' r. ' f. John Packins, Committee Member ^Val Napoleon, Committee Member Date: Mtf/jffS / dOOf -/- Dedication This thesis is dedicated to those very special people in my life who have taught me how to be a better person. To Bessie, who taught me that my only goal should be to become the best person that I can be, to my angel Toby, who showed me how to live from the heart, to Naomi who has taught me how to laugh, to Lance who showed me that integrity can be real, and to Shean, who has encouraged me to stand tall. Preamble This thesis is a testament to the warmth and support with which the people of the five Cree communities embraced me. Moreover, it is a result of the people within those communities who shared their wealth of ecological knowledge, their system of ecological monitoring, and their experiences in regard to the cumulative effects they have been experiencing as a result of land, resource and industrial development within their Traditional Territory. The most important aspect of this research for me was the opportunity to do research which would result in some applied value and benefit to these communities. It is my sincerest hope that this research will serve to encourage and support the applied use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) for achieving healthy sustainable socio- cultural and ecological systems. I thereby request that when this thesis is used by those other than the Cree people of this study, that it be used with a spirit of utmost respect and reciprocity for the invaluable knowledge, and expertise that the people of these communities have shared through their testimony. The reader of this thesis is provided two caveats, both in reference to terms used throughout this document. First any reference to the term Aboriginal within this thesis is for the purpose of: 1) In some instances the inclusion of all Aboriginal peoples in Canada, including Inuit, Metis and First Nations; and 2) Adhering to the referencing of First Nations as Aboriginal people within Canadian court rulings and the Canadian Constitution 1982. Otherwise, the Cree of the study area insist upon being referred to as First Nations rather than Aboriginal. Second, any reference to the term Traditional Use within this thesis is for the purpose of identifying, in a colloquial manner, a set of uses and practices which the Cree people of the study area historically and currently engage in, but which are by no means fixed, in fact they are both diverse and fluid. Appropriately, by no means is it the author's intent to reproduce and reinforce the tenets of the colonial imperative. Abstract Aboriginal peoples in many parts of the world have developed ways of monitoring, amassing information, understanding and making associations about the local ecosystems they depend upon for subsistence resources. Appropriately, using their Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and ecosystem monitoring expertise may facilitate sustainable ecological systems. Systematic ecosystem monitoring is incidental to the sustainability of local ecosystem integrity and health. In areas disturbed by significant industrial, land and resource development, the capacity to "monitor" changing ecosystem conditions is crucial. This research demonstrates how five Aboriginal (Cree) communities in northern Alberta, Canada incorporate "systematic" ecosystem monitoring elements to assess local ecosystem condition and changes. The systematic ecosystem monitoring elements are described, including the use of "cultural keystone species" as condition indicators, the diagnostic measures used, the temporal and spatial elements, and how Cree Land Based Experts interpret and make associations about the health offish, wildlife, plants, landscape habitat, water and air. This research reports on the observations of populations and condition of a number of cultural keystone species, hydrological yield and quality, and critical wildlife habitat affected by the cumulative effects of forestry, oil and gas, and a contaminant treatment facility development in the study area. The work also discusses the implications and ramifications to local Cree people to these changing ecological conditions. Finally, this research suggests how local Aboriginal peoples, their Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and their ecosystem monitoring expertise, can be of applied use within ecosystem management, and cumulative effects frameworks. Acknowledgements I gratefully acknowledge the support of the Sustainable Forest Management Network whose funding support made this research possible. I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude to the Chiefs, and community members of the Cree of Swan River, Driftpile, Sucker Creek and Kapawe'no, and the Sawridge Band who graciously shared their wealth of knowledge, wisdom and experiences with me. Special thanks to Edna Willier, Allen Willier, and Chief Leon Chalifoux. Thank you to my advisor Dr. Brenda Parlee whose wisdom guided me around those "pitfalls" a grad student need not stumble within, for being a boundless supply of cleaver ideas, and for seeing me through the writing of this thesis. I also wish to acknowledge three people who have inspired my passion and further study in Environmental and Aboriginal issues. To Dr. Jim Pojar, who taught me to keep my eyes grounded and upon the plants and soils beneath my feet, to Dr. Annie Booth, who introduced me to a number of struggles Aboriginal peoples have in regard to land and resources, and to Dr. Angele Smith who taught me that power is contested and embedded in landscapes. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the author of one of my favourite quotes which is: "From whose blood are my eyes crafted" (Harraway 1989). Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE 10 INTRODUCTION 1 1.0 Background 1 1.1 Study Site 3 1.2 Thesis Outline 4 1.3 Research Purpose and Objectives 6 1.4 Theoretical Significance of the Study 7 1.5 Research Design 9 CHAPTER TWO

Load more

  222

Copy Link