Delta Days 2016 – Summary Report
April 5-7th, 2016
Saskatoon, SK
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Delta Day was originally conceived as a day to celebrate life and research in northern inland deltas,
hosted by the School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS) at the University of Saskatchewan.
Building on previous years’ successes, as well as connections built through multi-stakeholder
research projects like the Delta Dialogue Network, this year’s Delta Days took place on April 5-7th,
2016, with the first two days held at Wanuskewin Heritage Park, and the third day at the University
of Saskatchewan. In total, two
universities, one industry
organization, three government
agencies (provincial, territorial, and
federal), one environmental nongovernmental organization, fifteen
Métis and First Nations
organizations, and three
community organizations were
represented. The group was made
up of youth, elders, community
Day 1 of Delta Days
leaders, researchers, decisionmakers, and other stakeholders involved with deltas and delta communities.
Thanks largely to the generous support and guidance provided by numerous organizations and
individuals, Delta Days 2016 surpassed our expectations and goals. We would like to extend
heartfelt gratitude to those who were a part of bringing this event to fruition.
Delta Days Goals
There were two primary goals for Delta Days this year. First, we wanted to build connections
between three inland deltas, including the Peace-Athabasca Delta (Alberta), Slave River and Delta
(NWT), and Saskatchewan River Delta (Saskatchewan/Manitoba). Inland deltas are regions of
significant cultural and biological importance, yet are experiencing rapid change associated with
climate change, upstream development, and regulation. While the three deltas are distinct in many
ways, they are also facing similar challenges. By building connections among those dealing with
these challenges, we hoped to share experiences and lessons learned. Second, we wanted to identify
the main concerns for deltas and delta communities, in order to better communicate these issues
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more broadly. We hoped to create a collective voice to direct the attention of policy and decision
makers to the future of these regions.
There were four components to this
event. First, a number of ceremonies were
held before, during, and at the end of the
event to honour the appropriate
protocols of the attending Indigenous
groups, as well as the territories of the
First Nations and Métis whose land on
which the event took place.
Second, the main component of Delta
Days combined presentations, large and
Room where opening ceremonies were held at Wanuskewin
small group discussions, and interactive group activities. Presentations were focused on three main
topics, including watershed planning, community-based monitoring, and youth engagement. These
topics were chosen because they represent existing efforts taking place in all three deltas that
community members wanted to share. Representatives from each delta were given an opportunity
to present on the topic at hand, focusing on what lessons or experiences they wanted to share with
the other delta communities. Presentations were followed by reflections from elders, and questions.
Following each discussion topic, participants were asked to reflect on a key question (e.g. “what
action do you want to see in your delta?”). These reflections were captured on “post-it” notes
designed by our partners in the
Department of Art and Art
history, and were made to look
like elements from the deltas,
such as water, stones, grasses,
and branches. These post-it’s
were then assembled on to a
large mural, providing a visual
and interactive means to convey
ideas and issues expressed by the
participants. In addition, an
Mural created during Delta Days
attending artist captured
discussion themes throughout the day, and presented them in a drawing to further visualize
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important issues (see below).
Drawing by artist Nicole Paul
The third component of Delta Days was youth involvement. Based on previous work with delta
communities, the involvement of youth as the next generation of delta stewards is a priority. Youth
ranging from 15 to 21 years old attended the event. While they took part in many of the main group
activities, they also took part in
several separate youth-focused
activities. For example, they
were led in a series of art
activities related to delta
themes, such as fish scale art
and working with clay, and
participated in traditional
games. At the Gabriel Dumont
Institute, they taught finger
weaving. They were also taken
Fish scale art created by one of the youth participants
on a tour of the University and
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the Aquatic Toxicology Research Centre, and took part in an otolith dating activity. During the youth
engagement presentations, several students co-presented to the larger group.
Finally, engagement with the broader public was another priority for Delta Days. There were two
events that were targeted towards this goal. A panel presentation on the topic of “opportunities and
challenges for traditional
knowledge and western
science” was held at Gordon
Oakes Red Bear Centre, and
was met with a full house.
Community and scientist copresenters from each delta
spoke to their experiences,
followed by a larger group
question and answer session.
An evening public event also
took place at the Broadway
Panel on Day 3
Theatre, with a screening of the documentary film “Saskatchewan River Delta”. The film maker
introduced the film, and both researchers and residents from the Saskatchewan River Delta took
part in the discussion afterwards.
Next steps: Maintaining the momentum
When Delta Days drew to a close, it was clear that the event was a starting point for a much broader
movement towards taking action on key concerns. There are a number of ways in which we intend
to follow through on maintaining this momentum, though others will likely develop organically
from the connections that have been made.
Building Bridges between Deltas: The Traveling Display
One way in which we intend to communicate and build upon key messages from Delta Days is
through a visual and interactive representation of these ideas. To this end, we partnered with the
Department of Art and Art History and Department of Drama to create a traveling display. We will
be using the ideas from the mural that was created during Delta Days as a starting point for this
display. While it is still in the early stages of planning, it is our intention to bring the display to both
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delta communities and
political capitals. Its purpose
will be to engage and educate
people about the importance
and challenges faced by deltas
and delta communities, using
different types of media,
information, and materials.
The display will likely be
designed over the course of the
summer, built in the fall, and
then travel during the winter
Mapping exercise that will inform the traveling display
of 2016.
Summary Report
We are currently working with several graduate students who attended Delta Days to summarize
the presentations, conversations, and overall themes from the event in a plain language report. This
report will be publically available, and will be sent to all of the organizations that were represented
at Delta Days. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of June 2016.
Art Legacy Project
Critical to the success of Delta
Days was the involvement of
youth in a variety of art projects
using both traditional and
contemporary approaches. The
University of Saskatchewan’s
Department of Art and Art
History collaborated with SENS
to offer a youth workshop using
clay, felting and fish scale art
(taught by Nancy Hager, artist
and educator from the Na Cho
Youth participant working with clay
Nyak Dun First Nation). Art Department students, Elizabeth Babyn, Jessica Morgun, Samra Sheikh,
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and staff, Todd Lyons, worked with faculty member, Susan Shantz, and SENS student, Sarah Baines,
to design and teach the art workshops.
Following the event, art students and Professor Shantz created Legacy Artwork as a symbolic piece
to be given to the partner communities and institutions. It incorporates art pieces and materials
from the youth workshop, the delta logo designed by Michela Carriere of the Saskatchewan River
Delta and symbols identified by community members as important to the deltas: muskrat, moose,
ducks, and plants such as blueberries, cranberries, Labrador tea and horsetail. Provincial flowers
for Manitoba and Saskatchewan (prairie crocus and prairie lily) as well as Alberta (wild rose) and
Northwest Territories (mountain avens) are also included to refer to the areas where the delta
communities live.
Social Media
Michela Carriere, a resident from Cumberland House, has created a Facebook group called "Delta
Action". The purpose of the page is to "collaborate, share knowledge, raise awareness and start
building a new hope for our deltas". It already features videos, links, updates, and other helpful
resources - https://www.facebook.com/Delta-Action-226569484371189/ .
Proposed Youth Exchange
Teachers at the Charlebois Community School in Cumberland House, SK are currently working to
put together a proposal for a youth exchange to reconnect students that met during Delta Days. This
exchange would bring a group of Charlebois students to the Peace-Athabasca Delta in Alberta, so
that students could continue to learn first-hand about what is happening in deltas similar to their
own. Plans for this exchange are still in the early stages of development, though they are aiming to
hold it in September 2016.
Video
With the support of the University’s Media Access & Production department, a video of Delta Days
is currently being edited. The film will document the course of the event, and will also include
reflections from interviews with some of the participants. The video will be made available on the
Delta Dialogue Network website, and will be sent to all of the participants as well.
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Sponsors:

Aquatic Toxicology Research Facility, University of Saskatchewan

Aboriginal Initiatives, University of Saskatchewan

Broadway Theatre

Cabela’s

College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan

CP Rail Partnership Program in Aboriginal Development

Department of Art and Art History, University of Saskatchewan

Department of Drama, University of Saskatchewan

Gabriel Dumont Institute - Publishing

Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan

Government of Northwest Territories

Interdisciplinary Centre for Culture and Creativity

International Centre for Northern Governance and Development, University of
Saskatchewan

Nancy Hager, Yukon Traditional Art

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Office of Community Engagement and Outreach, University of Saskatchewan

Office of the Treaty Commissioner

Parks Canada

School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan

School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

University Conference Fund, University of Saskatchewan

University of Saskatchewan

Walter Duncan Gordon Foundation
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