Kischi Sipi Namao Committee Namao (Lake Sturgeon) Stewardship Plan June 2016 PREFACE In 2012, Manitoba Hydro (MH), Keeyask Hydropower Limited Partnership (KHLP), Tataskweyak Cree Nation (TCN), War Lake First Nation (WLFN), York Factory First Nation (YFFN), Fox Lake Cree Nation (FLCN), and Shamattawa First Nation (SFN) entered into the Lower Nelson River Lake Sturgeon Stewardship Agreement (2012). All of the parties to that Agreement recognized that Lake Sturgeon in the Nelson River had been adversely affected by a number of factors and had a common interest in protecting the stock. The Agreement set out objectives for defining and carrying out projects to monitor and increase knowledge of Lake Sturgeon and ultimately to conserve and enhance populations. To meet the objectives of the Agreement, the signatory parties agreed to form, and participate in, the Lower Nelson River Sturgeon Stewardship Committee, which ultimately was renamed the Kischi Sipi Namao Committee (KSNC). The Committee is seen as being complimentary to other Lake Sturgeon co- management activities within the Province. The Committee’s focus includes the Lake Sturgeon populations inhabiting the lower Nelson system from Kelsey Generating Station (GS) to Hudson Bay including tributaries, and the Hayes River system including the Hayes, Gods, and Echoing rivers. The first core activity listed within the Terms of Reference for the Kischi Sipi Namao Committee is to develop a Sturgeon Stewardship Plan that sets overall research, monitoring and enhancement measures, objectives, and strategies for protection and enhancement in the lower Nelson River for the immediate (1-3 years), medium (3-5 years) and long term (greater than 5 years) future. The objective of the plan is to provide guidance and to set priorities for the Committee. A workshop and meetings were held to develop the plan by consensus of Committee members. This document presents the Kischi Sipi Namao Committee Stewardship Plan. KSNC Stewardship Plan i June 2016 SUMMARY Pursuant to its Terms of Reference, the Kischi Sipi Namao Committee initiated a process in fall, 2014 to develop a Stewardship Plan for Lake Sturgeon inhabiting the lower Nelson River system from Kelsey GS to Hudson Bay including tributaries, and the Hayes River system including the Hayes, Gods and Echoing rivers. The Plan’s foundation was formulated during a workshop with broad community participation held at the Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre in Thompson, Manitoba on February 24- 26, 2015. In attendance were KSNC members and/or advisors from FLCN, SFN, TCN, WLFN, and YFFN, along with invited community members including elders, resource users and youth. Representatives from MH, KHLP, Manitoba Sustainable Development (MSD) and the Nelson River Sturgeon Board (NRSB) also participated. Guests shared their expertise in sturgeon populations and recovery. The objectives of the workshop were to: Exchange traditional and scientific knowledge of Lake Sturgeon; Develop a plan for committee priorities and activities going forward; Broaden community involvement and determine community priorities in sturgeon stewardship; and Map out approaches to stewardship that are agreeable to the communities and jurisdictions involved. Follow-up meetings were held on December 1, 2015 and February 2, 2016 to further develop a common vision, goals and conservation strategies. This KSNC Stewardship Plan is based on the ideas and priorities put forth at the workshop and the two follow-up meetings. The Plan has also drawn on existing literature that focuses on both scientific and aboriginal knowledge. The Plan is seen as a living document that will be revised as the committee focuses its efforts. The Plan is divided into four distinct sections: A review of existing information on Lake Sturgeon, including a general description of the species, its life history needs and its historical and current status and use in the lower Nelson and Hayes rivers; An overall vision, goals and priorities for the KSNC; A description of the strategies that the KSNC envisions for achieving the goals; and A description of how the Plan will be implemented on an ongoing basis. June 2016 ii KSNC Stewardship Plan BACKGROUND Nelson River Lake Sturgeon are currently listed as “Endangered” by the Committee on the Status of Wildlife in Canada, while Lake Sturgeon inhabiting the Hayes River system have been designated as part of the Southern Hudson/James Bay populations and are listed as “Special Concern”. No decision has been made with regard to listing Nelson River Lake Sturgeon under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act. The species is currently under review and another assessment is expected to be completed in 2016. As part of a recovery potential assessment conducted for Lake Sturgeon in 2010, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada divided the Nelson River into six Lake Sturgeon Management Units, four of which are encompassed by the area of concern for the KSNC: Kelsey GS to Kettle GS; Long Spruce Reservoir; Limestone Reservoir; and Limestone GS to Hudson Bay. Based on available data and expert opinion, the status of Lake Sturgeon in the reservoirs was considered “critical” as relatively few Lake Sturgeon were known to be present. The status of Lake Sturgeon from Kelsey GS to Kettle GS was deemed to be “cautious” with an unknown trajectory. The status of Lake Sturgeon downstream of Limestone GS was considered “healthy” with an unknown trajectory. The recovery potential assessment set a long-term recovery goal of protecting and maintaining healthy, viable populations of Lake Sturgeon in the Nelson River. The KSNC’s Stewardship Plan is seen as complimentary to this goal and will place emphasis on undertakings that will lead to the success of Lake Sturgeon conservation measures implemented by the KSNC and other organizations. KSNC VISION Members of the KSNC raised several themes when discussing their vision for Lake Sturgeon Stewardship including knowledge, stakeholders, action, community, family, resources, opportunities, spirituality, responsibility, survival, and health. There was also a desire to ensure that Lake Sturgeon could complete their life cycle within the Nelson River. The committee will take a community-oriented, proactive, approach in implementing stewardship activities. The overall vision can be summed up by the following slogan and tagline: “Working together to conserve sturgeon for future generations” “Mamawi Ahtoshehmitowin - Namao Kakekeh” or “Working together, sturgeon forever” KSNC Stewardship Plan iii June 2016 PRIORITIES As part of their consultation process, the KSNC established the following priorities for achieving their vision: Gathering Information – Community/Traditional Knowledge; Sharing Our Message – Educating our communities; Bringing Communities Together – Building cohesiveness; Engaging Youth – Educating and involving the sturgeon stewards of the future; Conserving and Enhancing the Lake Sturgeon Population; and Increasing KSNC Functionality. These priorities were used to establish short and long term goals for the KSNC Stewardship Plan. GOALS Short-term goals to be achieved with three years include: To gather information and develop a message To spread our message To increase functionality of KSNC Medium-term goals to be achieved within the next five years include: To bring communities together To engage youth The long-term goal of the KSNC is: To achieve community commitment to sturgeon conservation. STRATEGIES The initial emphasis of the KSNC Stewardship Plan will be on sharing information and education. As information is generated and disseminated the KSNC will advocate for measures that directly help to conserve and enhance stocks. It has been suggested by members of the KSNC that a “coproduction” approach be considered for implementation of the Stewardship Plan. Such an approach brings together local and traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge and transforms community members from being mere participants June 2016 iv KSNC Stewardship Plan to leading the generation of information for implementation and evaluation. This is an approach that the committee will explore as it selects, develops and implements its stewardship strategies. It is also an approach that the KSNC can advocate for in research and monitoring activities conducted by other groups and organizations. The KSNC will focus on the following strategies, in order of priority, during the course of this Stewardship Plan. It is expected that these strategies will be used as a guide to select programs for implementation in annual work plans. Several of the strategies, focusing on traditional knowledge, information sharing and youth, are overlapping. 1. GATHER INFORMATION AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOP A CONSERVATION MESSAGE The KSNC will: Gather Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge on Lake Sturgeon from elders, resource users, youth and community members; Compile existing research, studies and reports to establish a comprehensive repository of information on Lake Sturgeon; Strive to remain informed on the most up-to-date monitoring and research results from the Nelson River; Develop a message with regard to conservation of lower Nelson River Lake Sturgeon; and Advocate for research and monitoring to be undertaken by other groups to expand our understanding of Lake Sturgeon in the Nelson River. 2. SHARE OUR MESSAGE The KSNC will: Use a variety of media such as a website, brochures, pamphlets, posters, promotional items, and a calendar, and will organize events