A Forum for Natural, Cultural and Social Studies VOLUME 1 - Number 2 Parks Canada, Western Region FALL 1993 Place Names and Myths of Gwaii Haanas C./. Taylor The Western Region's Gwaii lumbia Museum. Neary attempted to Haanas Ethnography project has consolidate the notes and maps made by focused on the cultural environ­ Charles F. Newcombe. We assisted this ment of the southern Haida. His­ project for one year and received a manu­ torically, two groups of Haida script that lists 500 Haida place names lived in the Gwaii Haanas area: along with historical and ethnographical the Kunghit, centred at Skun'gwai notes made for each site by Newcombe. (Ninstints), and another group The manuscript is currently being revised centred in the Laskeek Bay area. by linguist Dr. John Enrico to render the Although these two groups were place names as accurate as possible and to distinguished linguistically and add further place name data, which he has culturally, they merged during collected from elders in Old Massett. This the latter 19th century as disease revised copy will be incorporated with brought about the abandonment the most up-to-date geographical and ar­ of all the southern towns and vil­ chaeological information and included on lages. Eventually the survivors the GIS system currently being imple­ coalesced with other Haida groups mented at the Gwaii Haanas office in at Skidegate, which is now the prin­ Queen CharlotteCity. Eventually it is cipal town of the southern Haida. hoped to produce a series of inter­ The project has incorporated the pretive maps illustrating the cul­ aims and concerns of the Haida who, tural features of the area. through the Council of the Haida Nation, Related to the place names are equal partners with Parks Canada in study, John Enrico is rework­ the research and conservation of Gwaii ing some of the Haida myths Haanas. In particular Guujaaw, who is collected by James Swanton. also a member of the Gwaii Haanas Man­ Working from the original agement Board, has been a major partici­ a rendering of spoken Haida, pant in the design and implementation of Kunghit he is translating the texts this project. The Queen Charlotte Islands Haida according to his own un­ Museum is another key participant, coor­ who was surpassed knowledge of dinating the retrieval and archiving of one of the the language. The re­ materials collected for the project and man­ last chiefs of published Haida myths aging the research contracts. Skun'gwai, and texts will form an To date the project has endeavoured J.R. Swanton essential background to retrieve a broad spectrum of ethno­ and Charles for the cultural land­ graphic data relating to the southern ar­ Newcombe. They scape of Gwaii chipelago including songs, stories, recorded Haida Haanas. There are genealogies and cultural geography. An place names, language numerous story important initiative has been the Haida and stories and recon­ towns or mythical place name study. Place names, and the structed the world of the places throughout traditional information attached to them, Haida through maps and de­ the islands, but are a significant aspect of any cultural scriptive essays. Further work some of the most landscape, and in Gwaii Haanas, with its in this area was completed by important are in strong associations to Haida history and David Ellis and Solomon Wilson in Gwaii Haanas. So traditions, the place name study is espe­ the 1970s. More recently an ethno­ many places relate cially critical. Important work was car­ graphic place name study was initiated ried out in the 19th century by Tom Price, by Kevin Neary of the Royal British Co­ (continued on page 6) EDITORIAL Lv^YTcTvM]^ The response to our inaugural issue of Research Links is most hearten­ ARTICLES ing. Our initial mailing list was intentionally short; in addition to the 225 1 Place Names and Myths of Gwaii copies distributed within Parks Canada, it included 173 people whom we Haanas 3 Canadian AttitudesTowardsour National believed would be interested in receiving a copy. Of those 173,82 (47%) Parks of you returned our sheet saying yes you wanted to continue receiving 4 Identifying Stressed Wapiti and Moose future issues of Research Links, only one asked to be deleted from the 5 Uncovering the Past at the Bar U Ranch 10 Individual-Based Models of Ecological mailing list, and there were 52 additions. Systems 11 Using Satellite Imagery Analysis to Depict Coastal Ecosystems Your comments indicated you "like the look" of this publication, 12 Shrub Layer Dynamics: Elk Island remarking on its "well written articles", and applauding the initiative National Park "since so much good research in government never sees the light of day". 13 Contaminated Sites: Yesterday's solution/Today's Problem More than one of you asked if we will be seeking external contributions, 14 The Fight With Kicking Horse River- und and some of you indicated an interest in submitting an article or two. To der Fluss siegte doch! this we reply "Yes, yes"! For each issue we look for articles that are related to science and park management and the many issues that surround it. We DEPARTMENTS are receptive to short responses to past articles or to comments that may 8 Natural Region This section introduces all the new provoke dialog on any related topic. We are also looking for an external Ecosystem ManagementSpecialists in the academic advisor who is interested in volunteering as a member of our Western Region, Parks Canada. Research Links Editorial Board. 14 Reports This is a brief listing of reports focused on Western Region's Archaeological In this issue we are pleased to introduce the new Ecosystem Manage­ Resources. ment Specialists, and an interesting article from Dr. McCauley (from the 15 Podium University of Calgary) on the possible application of Individual-Based A place for researchers and resource man­ Models in resource management. We will continue to strive to earn your agers to analyze and debate current envi­ ronmental policies and approaches. In praise, and to be an excellent source of current and relevant information. this Podium article Paul Galbraith intro­ duces the need for an eco-centric out- side-in view of parks and protected areas. The establishment of regional or even global goals is the main substance of his argument. Patricia Benson 16 Meetings of Interest Editor A list of upcoming conferences, meetings and workshops which focuses on issues Parks Canada relevant to research and resource Western Region management in Western Region. Printed on rqcycled paper using vegetable based ink. SUBMISSIONS WELCOME! Parks Canada aims to produce Research Link three times annually. We welcome submissions from people working within and outside Parks Canada Articles can be drawn from reports, presentations, material submitted to other pub­ Research Links was developed prior to the restructuring lications, or written from scratch. The next issue of the federal government announced by will appear in mid-January, and the submission deadline is November 5. Prime Minister Kim Campbell on June 29,1993. Under the restructuring, WRITE TO... For more information or a free copy of the programs administered by: Sport Canada, Research Links, contact: Multiculturalism and Citizenship, Parks Canada, Secretary of State, Editor, Research Links, #520, 220 - 4 Ave. S.E., P.O. Box 2989, Station M, Calgary, Alberta, T2P and Registrar General become part of the Canadian Heritage portfolio. 3H8. The Canadian Parks Service has also returned to our FRANCOPHONES! former and popular name "Parks Canada". Le texte de cette publication est of fert en francais. Vous pouvez l'obtenir en ecrivant a l'adresse ci- dessus. >: Canadian Attitudes Towards our National Parks by Sylvanna Hegmatm with excerpts from a recent Angus Reid Group report In early 1993, Parks Canada, Western Of the WR Strategic Plan objectives, When asked which cost-recovery Region (WR) commissioned the Angus "identifying and responding to future options for campgrounds should be con­ Reid Group, a well-known market re­ threats to park resources both within and sidered by Parks Canada, "closing sec­ search firm with experience in conduct­ outside of national parks boundaries", tions of campgrounds that are not suffi­ ing public opinion studies, to fill informa­ "promoting the benefits of environmen­ ciently used", "charging campers for spe­ tion gaps and allow managers to consider tal protection" and "managing the impact cific services in the campgrounds such as the views of the Canadian public. of visitors on national parks to ensure the the use of firewood or showers" and The study consisted of two phases. protection of the parks" were rated as the "charging higher camping fees" were the The first was a telephone interview to top three priorities. most popular. "Closing campgrounds recruit respondents and gather baseline information. The second was a self com­ pleted questionnaire that was mailed to all qualified participants. A total of 3719 telephone interviews were conducted across Canada; from which 2403 Canadians agreed to com­ plete the mailback survey. A total of 801 surveys were mailed in Alberta, 800 in British Columbia, 362 in Ontario, 263 in Quebec, 92 in the Atlantic provinces and 85 in Manitoba/Saskatchewan. A total of 1365 completed question­ naires were returned in May 1993, giving an overall response rate of 57%. This is considered excellent for a survey of the general public. RESULT HIGHLIGHTS Figure t: Support/Resistance to Revenue Generation Options Parks Management Canadians overwhelmingly state that Respondents were also asked to rate and relying on private campgrounds out­ the main priority of Parks Canada is to their level of support for a number of side of the parks" was the least popular. "preserve and protect the natural envi­ revenue generation ideas.