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The Wapusk Management Board Volume 5, Number 1, 2012 The Wapusk National Park Management Board was established in 1996 to consider matters relating to the planning, management and operation of the park, and to make recommendations on these matters to Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada. The ten member board is made up of representatives of Government of Canada; WAPUSK NEWS Province of Manitoba; Town of Churchill; Fox Lake Cree Nation; and THE VOICE OF WAPUSK NATIONAL PARK York Factory First Nation. The work of the Board reflects the philosophy, expressed in the Wapusk Park Establishment Agreement, that people are Keepers of the Land. Maintaining a Remote Wildlife Research Parks Canada Parks See past issues of Wapusk News Camp in Wapusk National Park on-line at www.parkscanada.gc.ca/wapusk Murray Gillespie Wapusk News is produced by Youth educator, Photographer and Parks Canada and the Wapusk Field Biologist Management Board. Wapusk Management Board Member, Province of Manitoba Representative Wapusk National Park (NP), We want to hear from you! managed by Parks Canada, was created in 1996. This wilderness park, Parks Canada and The Wapusk Management Board part of a national system, represents would appreciate any comments about this issue of the Hudson-James Lowlands natural Wapusk News, or suggestions for future issues. region. Located between the town of Churchill and the Nelson River, Your name:___________________________________ Chesterfield Inlet Wapusk NP is remote and only Your phone number or e:mail:______________________ Rankin Inlet accessible by helicopter or snow Whale Cove machine. Your comments:________________________________ Parks Canada’s mandate is to protect Arviat Murray Gillespie ___________________________________________ Hudson Bay and present Canada’s historic and NUNAVIT Lambair Twin Otter at Nester One research station, June, 1974 natural heritage. Within Wapusk NP, ___________________________________________ MANITOBA Prince of Wales Fort scientific research plays an important National Historic Site part in protecting the park’s purpose was to support the study numbers of polar bears near the camp ___________________________________________ Churchill ecological integrity. There are four of Canada geese that nested along resulted in a decision to install radio WAPUSK NATIONAL York Factory small isolated field camps in the park the Hudson Bay coast. The camp communication between the camp ___________________________________________ National Historic Site PARK that support research and monitoring consisted of a military Quonset and Churchill. The camp needed a York Factory hut with an electric fence to keep call sign, and the name “Nester One” ___________________________________________ Bird activities. Researchers spend weeks Gillam wandering polar bears out. At that was born (Nester referring to the York Landing and even months at these remote ___________________________________________ Thompson camps, so the facilities must be time, Churchill was an important focus on nesting Canada geese in the completely self-contained. aviation hub for the north. Lambair area). ___________________________________________ maintained a fleet of aircraft at the By the late 1970s, the availability MANITOBA The birth of “Nester One” ONTARIO Churchill airport, and provided of aircraft in Churchill was not Send your feedback to: Scientific research in the area goes reliable transportation for resupply of dependable, so other means of Wapusk National Park of Canada back a long way. In 1969, long before many remote camps such as this. The transport were needed. In May 1978, P.O. Box 127, Churchill, MB, R0B 0E0 Wapusk NP was created, a research famous de Havilland single-engine Telephone: 204-675-8863 station was established just south Otter and Twin Otter bush planes continued on page 2... You are also invited to bring your comments to the Parks of Cape Churchill by a consortium were the mainstay of these supply Canada Visitor Centre in Churchill, Manitoba, or send us an of wildlife agencies including the missions. In 1973, concern about high e:mail at: [email protected] Winnipeg 0 km 250 Province of Manitoba. Its main 16 Aussi disponible en français snow monitoring and permafrost. The Randy Naismith Jr. Darcy Wastesicoot John T. Williams important research done at Nester One could not have been undertaken Fox Lake Cree Nation York Factory First Nation Government of Canada without Clifford’s commitment and Representative Representative Representative perseverance. As a former Province of Manitoba Conservation employee Randy Naismith Jr. is a member of responsible for taking care of the Fox Lake Cree Nation (FLCN) and camp, it has been a joy to work with currently works as an Environmental such a dedicated and talented man. Resources Liaison for FLCN. He is Today, Clifford works at the Churchill an active participant in numerous Northern Studies Centre, using his working groups including the vast range of skills and knowledge to Aquatics Working Group, Mammal maintain a long list of equipment and Working Group and Environmental to keep the many mechanical systems Studies Working Group. He is also operating at the Centre. He still a member of the Fox Lake Resource makes trips into Wapusk NP, hauling Management Board. camp supplies and fuel drums for a Randy takes part in numerous number of camps. outdoor activities including hunting, Murray Gillespie Clifford Paddock preparing his bologna lunch while hauling freight in April, 2009 Nester One field camp has changed fishing and trapping, and also considerably over the last 40 years enjoys playing hockey. He began his Darcy Wastesicoot is a member Wildlife conservation and and it continues to support a wide term as a member of the Wapusk of York Factory First Nation and management has been a lifelong Lindy Lee, a Churchill resident, long and amicable relationship with range of research (including its Management Board, representing Fox has represented York Factory First commitment for John T. Williams. left the town with a D9 Caterpillar Clifford. initial core focus on nesting Canada Lake Cree Nation, in January 2012. Nation on the Wapusk Management From 1999 to 2012 he has served pulling two large sleighs of supplies, Hauling everything from aircraft fuel geese) and provides a secure site for Board since 2008. He has worked as as Director of several Manitoba and headed east for Nester One. to heating oil to groceries, toilet paper university students and Parks Canada Community Liaison for York Factory and national not-for-profit, Returning to Churchill after 30 and building supplies (including the staff to monitor and study this Future Development Program, and non-governmental conservation hours of struggling and shovelling kitchen sink) in all kinds of weather important ecosystem. While there currently is employed by Manitoba organizations, including the his Cat out of snow banks, Lindy was Clifford’s trademark. Most of are many challenges to operating and Hydro, Aboriginal Relations, Manitoba Wildlife Federation, the said he would never do that again, these trips Clifford made alone, often supplying a camp like Nester One, Mitigation Department. Canadian Wildlife Federation, Fish so now the research team needed to Futures and the Manitoba Habitat leaving at night and returning before the work done there is important Darcy enjoys outdoor activities find another way to supply the camp. Heritage Corporation. In 2009, sunup in order to have the best snow and staying there is an opportunity including hunting and fishing and The solution was Clifford Paddock, a he received the Manitoba Wildlife conditions for travel. Prior to the of a lifetime. Although the facilities holds hunting guide certification knowledgeable local resident with a Federation Outdoor Heritage Award. advent of global positioning system have been modernized, the nearest through the Canadian Tourism legendary Bombardier-tracked snow John, who lives in Winnipeg, is technology, navigation was by “dead neighbour is still more than 20 Human Resource Council. He is machine. Clifford, then an employee semi-retired from his career as an reckoning”, or by trying to use the kilometers away, and perhaps best of active in his community teaching of the Churchill Rocket Range, independent businessman. He began sun or the distant glare of lights all, there is still no cell phone service traditional life skills to young people was familiar with operating heavy his term as Government of Canada from Churchill to find one’s way or Internet access. at the annual “Goose Camp”, and equipment in all kinds of weather representative on the Wapusk across the snow-covered tundra. An has interests in promoting and situations and was hired to haul Management Board in December inexperienced traveller could easily developing resource based economic supplies to Nester One. Thus began a 2011. become disoriented and lost, but development opportunities for Clifford always found his way. The members of the York Factory First back of the Bombardier was always Nation. Through his personal well stocked with spare parts, jerry interests and work with the First cans of gas, tools, a sleeping bag and Nation, Darcy works to bridge the of course, bologna and rye bread to be traditional Aboriginal life and the cooked on the Coleman stove he kept modern Canadian economy and in the back of the machine. society. Over the decades, Nester One has supported studies by numerous students and scientists on many subjects

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