The UniversitY of Manitoba The skownan First Nation Model For Sustainable Development And Aboriginal StewardshiP By Karen S. E. Stock A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of PhilosoPhY Department of Environment and Geography 'WinniPeg, Canada March 2005 O Karen S. E. Stock THE UNTVERSITY OF M.{NITOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STIIDIBS coPYRrc#H.*ssroN The Skownan First Nation Model For Sustainable Development And Aboriginal Stewardship BY Karen S.E. Stock A Thesis/Practicum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree Doctor Of Philosophy Karen S.E. Stock O 2005 Permission has been granted to the Library of the University of Manitoba to lend or sell copies of this thesis/practicum, to the National Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or sell copies of the film, and to University Microfilms Inc. to publish an abstract of this thesis/practicum. This reproduction or copy of this thesis has been made available 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 wriften authorization from the copyright owner. The Skownan First Nation Model For Sustainable Development And Aboriginal Stewardship Abstract This dissertation defines the 'Skownan Model.' It is a model of sustainable Aboriginal land lresource development and management. There is increasing demand to find alternative solutions to natural resources allocation and management in Canada. Aboriginal communities play an increasingly more dominant role in these issues due to their special role in Canadian society. They have distinct historic developments, administrative bodies and legal frameworks that are different from other rural communities in Canada. Managing natural areas to maintain bio-diversity and ecological integrity while gaining economic retums from renewable resources is increasingly challenging in a global economy. The main objective of this research was to develop the 'Skownan Model' in order to engage in devising strategies pertaining to anticipated land and resource developments within Skownan's traditional land-use territory. The model presents a synthesis of the theories of sustainable development and Aboriginal worldview. Sustainable development is founded in the philosophy of using resources to meet present and future needs. Fundamental to Aboriginal worldviews is the spiritual core of human existence on earth in close relationship to the land with all its resources. In the view of Skownan First Nation, if the land is cared for it will always provide. The Skownan Model at its core involves using protected area status as a legal vehicle to ensure sustainable use of traditional lands. This dissertation contains a number of research components that buid the model. The research and the researcher are part of the research process. This is part of advocacy research. In the Canadian context advocacy research often supports Aboriginal communities Following a traditional land-use study, an environmental impact assessment, participation in the Clean Environment Hearings in the fall of L997, an archaeological survey and active involvement in the 'Action Plan for Manitoba's Network of Protected Areas', Skownan First Nation was successful in redirecting the proposed resource extraction plan to one of resource protection. Skownan First Nation managed to achieve modification of the external development plans to more appropriately accommodate its needs and values. Establishing a solid foundation of scientific information was fundamental to this process. This dissertation summanzes a number of research projects that were conducted over the years and illustrates the developments in chronological order. The community-based research process led to the development of 'The Skownan First Nation Model for Sustainable Development and Aboriginal Stewardship' (in short the Skownan Model). Skownan First Nation has made important contributions to sustainable development with multiple natural resources developments in the Skownan Resource Area. The establishment of the Skownan Fur Block, development of the Chitek and Inland Lake Fisheries, the establishment of the Chitek Lake Wood Bison Herd and the Chitek Lake Interim Protected Area are analyzed. 111 Acknowledgements I thank my advisor and committee members, Professors Dr. Peter Kulchyski fNative Studies), Dr. Bonnie Hallman (Environment and Geography) and Dr. Paul Hackett (Community Health Sciences), Dr. Claudia Notzke (Faculty of Management, University of Lethbridge) for their advice and encouragement for bringing this work to completion. The contributions of my committee members are gratefully acknowledged. I would like to thank Dr. Pamela Hawranik (Graduate Studies) for chairing the oral defence. I especially thank the people of Skownan (formerly Waterhen) First Nation for making this study possible. Special thanks are extended to former Chief Harvey Nepinak and to the late Dr. Harvey Payne (Natural Resources Consultant to First Nations) for their inspirations, insights, and discussions throughout this study. I would like to thank Dr. Virginia Petch (Consultant Archaeologist) for her contributions to the archaeological component of this research. The two weeks at Chitek Lake are unforgettable memories. Special thanks go to Raymand Marion (elder and traditional land user) for his insights and advice 'in the bush.' Thank you to the 'Chitek Lake Wood Bison' who would always let me see them when I went out to find them. Being in close proximity to wild bison is a powerful experience. I also would like to mention the late Gordon Moosetail from Pine Creek First Nation (a neighbouring community) with whom I spent much research time 'in the bush' in order to gain some understand in the 'Aboriginal way of life.' The times spent on the land in all seasons weÍe amazing. It has shaped me in a different way than I could have ever imagined. It was also Gordon and his family who introduced me to the spiritual aspects in First Nation culture. Thank you to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for providing me with the 'University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship' and for the Department of Environment and Geography with the teaching opportunities. Special thanks go to 'Natural Resources lv Consulting to First Nations' for helping me to fund this work. The research grants from Manitoba Heritage Grants Advisory Council, Northern Lights Heritage Services, and the 'Wood Skownan Bison Ranch for the archaeological survey are much appreciated. Much appreciated are the funding contributions from the lntemational lnstitute of Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Vision Seekers Process thanks to Neil Ford and Chris Loewen. I would like to thank Trudy Baureiss and Aggie Roberecki (Administrative Assistants), Mary Anna, Pat Gutoski, and Valerie Smith (Office Assistants) for the expert handling of all administrative matters. I would like to extend my thanks to Doug Fast (Cartographic Technician) and David Mosscrop (Systems Analyst, Center for Earth Observation) for helping me out with all the 'little' and 'big' computer things. I would like to thank my family, friends and pets for their patience and understanding for not spending time with them while I was either in the field or spending endless hours on the computer. A warm and heartfelt gratitude is extended to Rev. Richard MacKenzie and his wife Sandi, Rev. Sylvia Johnson-Lennius and Rev. Warren Lennius, other members of the Spiritualist Fellowship Church of Winnipeg, Bev Mutrey (WarrenChapal Consultants), Dr. Gorden Sims (Center for Natural Medicine), Bev Rayburn (The Sound Center), Michael O'Brien and other members from the JKA Karate Club Charleswood, Susan Sears (The Sanctuary), The Arntzen Family (Ham Lake, Minnesota), Ellen Schulz (daily e-mails from Germany) and Master Susan (in Dharma) with helping me through the hard times of dealing with the sudden loss of my husband Dr. Harvey Payne. Without your help I would not have been able to finish this dissertation. A special thank you to my longhaired white Turkish Angora cat 'Dr. Little Boy' for keeping me company. This dissertation is dedicated to the people of Skownan First Nation and the Chitek Lake Wood Bison. ln loving memory ot Dr. Harvey Payne vi The Skownan First Nation Model For Sustainable Development And Aboriginal Stewardship Table of Contents Abstract Acknowledgements Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Chapter I 1.1 lntroduction I 1.2 The Skownan Model 5 1.3 The Skownan Research Process T2 T,4 Advocacy Research and Role of the Researcher t7 1.5 Geographic Situation 22 1.6 Physical and Human Geography of the Waterhen/ Chitek Lake Area 23 Chapter II 2.1 Introduction to Sustainable Development 28 2.2 Sustainable Development in Relation to Skownan First Nation 29 2.3 Aboriginal Worldview )¿ L.an/1 Sustainable Development in Comparison to Aboriginal Worldview and Stewardship 36 2.5 Natural Resources and Aboriginal Peoples in Manitoba 40 2.6 Summary of Chapter Two 46 vii Chapter III 3.1 Introduction to Land Protection in Canada and Manitoba 48 J.L The Concept of Wilderness and the Protection of V/ildemess 50 aa J.J Canada's Role in lnternational Conservation Agencies 52 5.+ Endangered Spaces Campaign in Canada 55 3.5 Aboriginal Issues in Relation to Protected Areas 57 3.6 Manitoba's Commitment to the Endangered Spaces Campaign 62