2011 Edition
Inside:
Gratitude is the
Best Attitude
Canadian Forest Service
International Model Forest
Network: Burgos, Spain
International Collaboration with
Araucarias del Alto Malleco
Learning from our Elders
A Hunting We Will Go
Alley Cropping: The
Possibilities are Growing
Sturgeon River Plains Bison
Stewards 2010 Projects
Saskatchewan Junior
Forest Ranger Program
Envirothon 2010 in
Eston, Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan
River Delta
North Central
Enterprise Region
Saskatchewan Forestry
Association
SIAST in cooperation with
Cumberland College
University of
Saskatchewan
MNGD Program
A Newsletter of the
Prince Albert Model Forest
Prince Albert Model Forest Executive
Dr. Mark Johnston
Saskatchewan
Research Council
President,
Prince Albert Model Forest
In his current position with
the Saskatchewan Research
Council, Mark is carrying
out research on the impacts
of climate change on boreal
forests, and on the vulnerability
of the forest sector in Canada
to climate change. He is also
working on approaches to
how carbon credits can be
integrated into sustainable
forest management. He is
the scientific authority for the
forestry-based carbon credit
trade between Saskatchewan
Environment and the provincial
electrical utility SaskPower.
He is a member of the
National Forest Carbon Sinks
Committee, and is active in
a number of national and
provincial committees pursuing
the development of a forestbased carbon credit trading
system. He is also active in
working with landowners in
promoting agroforestry as a
sustainable land-use system
for the Prairies.
Cliff Buettner
Prince Albert Grand Council
Vice-President,
Prince Albert Model Forest
Cliff is currently the Program
Manager for Forestry for
the Prince Albert Grand
Council. His work involves
coordinating resource
programs, fire suppression
activities, and developing
harvest plans. He has been
with the Prince Albert Model
Forest in various capacities
since its inception.
A graduate from the
Renewable Resources
Program at the Saskatchewan
Institute of Applied Science
and Technology, Cliff began
his career as a conservation
officer with Saskatchewan
Environment and advanced
to a district manager working
as a Fire Specialist with the
Fire Management Forest
Protection branch in several
northern Saskatchewan
communities.
Michael Bendzsak
Larry Stanley
Secretary,
Prince Albert Model Forest
Treasurer,
Prince Albert Model Forest
Michael is a registered
professional forester with the
Association of Saskatchewan
Forestry Professionals,
who he represents at the
Prince Albert Model Forest.
He currently works with the
Saskatchewan Research
Council, where his primary
focus is forest management/
silviculture and the Island
Forests are the landbase
where he mostly practices.
Located at the southern
boreal transition near
Prince Albert, the Island
Forests present unique
social, land use and climate
change challenges. He is
interested in incorporating
these challenges into forest
management. Michael also
has an interest in the growth
of managed forest stands
and their contribution to fibre
yields, disease control and
climate change adaptation.
Larry has a professional
and academic background
in forest management
and natural resources
sustainability. As a strong
supporter of the Canadian
and International Model
Forest Networks’ Forest
Communities Program,
Larry is exploring issues
and opportunities affecting
how forest dependent
communities and industries
adapt to sector economic and
climate changes.
Association of Saskatchewan
Forestry Professionals
Ministry of Environment
Energy and Resources
A BIG Thank You to our
“natural photographer”
Hamilton Greenwood,
program head for the Natural
Resource Technology
programs at SIAST Woodland
Campus, for his beautiful
pictures that grace the
pages of our Forest Times
magazine.
Inside:
2
Prince Albert Model Forest Executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Sturgeon River Plains Bison Stewards 2010 Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Gratitude is the Best Attitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Saskatchewan Junior Forest Ranger Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Canadian Forest Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Envirothon 2010 in Eston, Saskatchewan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
International Model Forest Network 2011 Global Forum . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The Saskatchewan River Delta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Interns Further International Collaboration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
North Central Enterprise Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Learning from our Elders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Saskatchewan Forestry Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
A Hunting We Will Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SIAST in cooperation with Cumberland College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Alley Cropping: The Possibilities are Growing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
University of Saskatchewan MNGD Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Gratitude is the Best Attitude
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about gratitude. Gratitude for
having the opportunity to work with the team of people who
are our Model Forest staff, our partners and board members
and our national Model Forest network.
I consider it an honour and a privilege to be engaged with such interesting people and
projects—people with real heart, wanting to work together for the greater good of their
communities, their youth, and the health of the planet.
As I write this, many of the members of the Canadian Model Forest Network are
preparing to attend the International Model Forest’s Global Forum held every three years
to bring together members of Model Forests from around the world to one location;
this year, Burgos, Spain. The Global Forum is a chance for Model Forests to share
knowledge, review accomplishments, find solutions for common challenges and create
strategic plans.
Most importantly, it is a chance to build relationships with our international colleagues.
The Prince Albert Model Forest continues to build upon a collaborative relationship
begun in 2003 at a previous Global Forum with Vilhelmina, Sweden; Europe’s first Model
Forest. This year, a group of Circumboreal Model Forests, including ours, will be meeting
to build a collaborative research strategy further growing our international linkages.
Although 2011/2012 marks the final year of our five year Forest Community Program
core funding from the Canadian Forest Service, I am confident in the power of this
partnership and our accomplishments as a team that we will find a way to continue for
many years ahead.
Susan Carr
General Manager,
Prince Albert Model Forest
PAMF Board of
Directors and Observers:
h
a
i
b
j
k
c
l
d
n
m
e
f
o
g
a: Mika Carriere, b: Shannon
Poppy, c: Noland Henderson,
d: Larry Stanley, e: Sindy
Nicholson, f: Lusi Wells,
g: Alex Juorio, h: Susan Carr,
i: Cody Gieni, j: Cliff Buettner,
k: Alfred Gamble, l: Keith
Dodge, m: Gord Olson, n: Gord
Vaadeland, o: Jonathan Theaker
3
Canadian Forest Service
Michael Newman, a man who puts forestry first!
Michael Newman is the Saskatchewan Liaison Manager
with the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) department of
Natural Resources Canada; their mission is to promote
the sustainable development of Canada’s forests and the
competitiveness of the Canadian forest sector. In 1978,
Mike earned his B.Sc. in Forestry from the University of
Alberta and in 1985 he began his career with the CFS.
Since its inception in 1992, Mike has dedicated his time
and effort to support the Prince Albert Model Forest
(PAMF) throughout its years of growth. Today, times are
changing and with the First Nations Forestry program
that ended on March 31st, 2011 our partner Mike will
be leaving Saskatchewan and heading to the Northern
Forestry Centre in Edmonton, Alberta to take on new
roles with the CFS.
The PAMF is thankful for the support, guidance and good
humor that Mike has offered our non-profit organization
in his years of service in Saskatchewan. To look back,
we asked Mike to answer a few questions about his
past experiences, achievements and work that he has
completed in our province.
Q: As the Saskatchewan Liaison
Manager what are your main
responsibilities?
For the past ten years my major responsibilities were
managing the First Nations Forestry Program in
Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the Model Forest
and then Forest Communities Program also in both
Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan CFS office:
Mike Newman, Kelly Gaudet and Gerald Brahniuk
4
Q: What is the First Nations Forestry
Program and what activities do you
feel have made a major difference for
both Saskatchewan and Manitoba?
The First Nations Forestry Program (FNFP), which ended
March 31st, 2011, was a national program that was created
to assist First Nations in developing forest management,
business development and skills training. I managed the
FNFP in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba for the past
fifteen years and I was fortunate to have seen many great
projects completed in both provinces.
In Saskatchewan some of the more successful programs
have been in youth training: the Meadow Lake Tribal Council
with the School to Work projects and the Prince Albert
Grand Council with the Junior Forest Ranger project.
In Manitoba, one of the success stories has been the Local
Wood for Local Houses project in which local sawmills
produce lumber for housing in Berens River, Swan
Lake and Pukatawagon. Another success was the more
formalized Standing Tree to Standing House curriculum
developed by the Frontiers Foundation.
Q: How do you support the Forest
Communities Program in both
Model Forest’s in Saskatchewan
and Manitoba?
I have been managing the Forest Communities Program in
Saskatchewan for the past ten years with the Prince Albert
Model Forest (PAMF) and in Manitoba for the past three
years with the Manitoba Model Forest. I have been on the
board for the PAMF since 1993, first as a representative for
the Canadian Institute of Forestry (until 2001) and then as
the new CFS representative.
My responsibility as the CFS representative was to
observe and administer CFS funding for the PAMF until
it changed from the Model Forest Program to the Forest
Communities Program in 2007. I helped develop the
PAMF’s proposal to the Forest Communities Program and
steered the proposal so that many of the facets of the new
program would be incorporated in the new direction.
I have been managing CFS funding for the Manitoba Model
Forest for the past three years and it is very interesting
to see the similarity in the programs but yet the different
styles of management and the different groups and
participation levels. The challenge in the future will be to
help the various communities maintain their viability.
participating in the past five years. The JFR project is
unique because it has been supported by FNFP, the Forest
Communities Program and by each Model Forest in both
Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Linking with other funding
groups ensured there was ongoing support for this project.
The Forest Communities Program and the proposed new
initiative in Aboriginal forestry will continue to be managed
by the Northern Forestry Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.
Clients in Saskatchewan and Manitoba will continue to
access CFS expertise and advice from staff working from
this regional centre.
Q: In all your past work experiences
with the Canadian Forest Service what
are you most proud of?
Saskatchewan Envirothon 2010: Mike teaching youth about forestry.
In 2001, the Forest 2020 Plantation Demonstration and
Assessment Initiative started. This was a pilot project that
established hybrid poplar plantations across Canada.
I managed a team that established plantations on First
Nation lands in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
In Saskatchewan, I was most proud of the establishment
of the hybrid poplar plantations at Beardies, Sturgeon
Lake, Mistiwasis and James Smith. With our team of four
people we located the areas, did the site preparation,
planted them using First Nation crews, then started the
vegetation management. During the first two or three years,
vegetation management was very critical and we faced
a lot of challenges, but now after eight years many of the
plantations are quite impressive. I think that will be one of
the legacies I will leave behind that I am most proud of.
2009 Sturgeon Lake Junior Forest Rangers tree planting.
Q: In the future, where do you see
yourself and what do you want to
accomplish?
In the future my position will operate from Edmonton,
which entails a personal move. In a way, this is going
back to where I started my career. I took my forestry
training in Edmonton at the University of Alberta and
worked as a summer student at the Northern Forestry
Centre back in 1974.
Mike onsite at the Sturgeon Lake Forest 2020 Plantation
Another project that I am proud to have been involved in is
the Junior Forest Ranger (JFR) project. In Saskatchewan,
it has grown from one community with eleven participants
to nine communities with over three hundred youth
To finish my career I would like to help promote a regional
JFR project throughout the prairies. I am also trying to
link the JFR project more closely to the mining sector,
where there are currently more employment opportunities.
My responsibilities and role within the CFS will change,
but I expect I will frequently be in Prince Albert to work
with the Forest Communities Program and in Aboriginal
forestry, which will enable me to maintain my contacts in
Saskatchewan. I have really enjoyed working and living in
Prince Albert for the past 25 years and am looking forward
to taking on new challenges in Edmonton.
5
International Model Forest Network
2011 Global Forum – Burgos, Spain
The International Model Forest Network (IMFN) is a global community of Model Forests that
focus on the social, cultural and economic needs of local communities, with the common goal
of sustainable management of forest-based landscapes and natural resources.
Every three years the IMFN holds a Global Forum, which
is primarily a business meeting where Model Forests share
knowledge, review their accomplishments, problem solve
and create strategic plans for the years ahead.
current international partners from Sweden and Chile and
also to generate new partnerships and engage themselves
with other like-mandated organizations to exchange
knowledge on new perspectives on ecosystem and
landscape-level approaches to sustainable management.
In returning from their international travels we asked each
PAMF representative to share some of their thoughts about
their experiences in Burgos, Spain:
Our President, Mark Johnston, as Canadian Model
Forest Network representative to the International
Network, was in attendance and led the circumboreal
initiative workshop to develop a collaborative research
work plan with Sweden, Russia, Poland and a number of
the Canadian Model Forests.
6
The 2011 IMFN Global Forum took place in Burgos, Spain
(March 25th –26th) and prior to the forum participants had
the opportunity to attend the International Symposium
on Ecosystem and Landscape-level Approaches to
Sustainability (March 22nd –24th). More than fifty Model
Forests from around the world and over three hundred
members from all regions of the IMFN were present:
Canada, Ibero-America, Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean,
Northern Europe and Russia.
Susan Carr,
PAMF General Manager:
I was personally overwhelmed by the
warmth shared among this global
family, all of us linked by a strong
commitment to do the best we can for
our communities around the world.
Susan & Leonardo Duran There were a couple of new potential
areas for collaboration we discovered
during our week of networking: We learned that Kodagu
Model Forest in India is very interested in exchange with
our Sturgeon River Plains Bison Stewards since they
deal with a similar situation of coexistence with large
uncontrolled mammals. In their case, the challenge is living
with wild elephants.
The Prince Albert Model Forest (PAMF) was proud to have
board member representation at both events. These likeminded individuals had the opportunity to connect with our
The Canadian Network contingent also met to explore
further collaboration with the African Network which was
impressively represented at the Forum. I was impressed
by something the African network’s director Dr. Diaw
Chimere said:
“We need to have a long-term sustainable group
in order to build capacity. Many industries and
managers have disappeared but the Model Forests
can outlive any single project and absorb the shocks
of funding shortages and other challenges facing
these communities.”
Martel from Spain’s Urbión Model Forest and with Kaley
Lapachelle who ties into the Ibero-American Network
through the Tropical Agronomics centre for Research and
Teaching—or, in Spanish, the Centro Agronómico Tropical
de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE). Initial discussions
between both parties were positive and I believe that
exchanges between us would be very beneficial.
Now, as hosts to the Canadian Model Forest Network’s
Annual General Meeting, we came home with a list of
other international participants who are keen to join us in
PAMF in June: from Chile, Sweden, India and Africa. We
look forward to that event at Elk Ridge Conference Resort
June 21st–24th, 2011.
Michael Bendzak,
PAMF Secretary and member of
the Association of Saskatchewan
Forestry Professionals:
I traveled to Burgos with my wife
Julie and our one-year-old daughter
Edye. The forum was an excellent
opportunity to gain insight to a
global community of people working together to improve
conditions within their local forests.
Christian (Alto Malleco MF), Sonia Martel (Urbion MF),
Gisele Martin (Clayoquet MF) and Gord (PAMF)
Needless to say, our daughter’s happy smiles were
warmly met and were excellent conversation starters. I’ll
never forget a banquet where a group of people from the
Cameroon Model Forest started to sing in harmony and
dance over their appreciation: “Model Forests we are one,
we are together.” One of the ladies picked our daughter up
and she happily joined the celebrations. I think attending
an international gathering such as this with a baby helps
remind us why forest conservation is important and helps
us find common ground.
Gord Vaadeland, PAMF board member,
Sturgeon River Bison Stewards (SRPBS):
During our time in Spain we have made great strides in
establishing new connections with other Model Forests
worldwide, such as the creation of a synopsis paper that
focuses on the parallels of the projects between the India,
Kodagu Model Forest and the SRPBS, which we are
hoping to present at the Canadian Model Forest Meeting
in June 2011.
There is also interest regarding potential opportunities
around cultural and ecotourism. I have spoken with Sonia
Susan, Mark and Gord with representatives from the Alto Malleco Model Forest
in Chile and Vilhelmena Model Forest in Sweden.
The strength of the International Model Forest Network
lies in the Model Forests themselves. For the Prince Albert
Model Forest, we will continue to evolve and support
our international partners in sharing knowledge about
Indigenous People, Ecological Goods and Services,
Governance and Landscape Planning. We see that
building relationships that allow for a broad range of
stakeholders to work with together over a long period of
time is a great investment for our future.
7
Interns Further International
Collaboration with Araucarias del Alto
Malleco Model Forest, Chile
Prince Albert Model Forest and Araucarias del Alto Malleco Model Forest in Chile took turns
hosting two Canadian interns this year. Annie McKenzie and Alex MacIntosh, graduates from
the University of Toronto’s Masters of Forest Conservation program, spent time working in both
Model Forests in order to assist them in forwarding their international partnership.
Internship in Araucarias
del Alto Malleco Model Forest
In April 2010 we travelled to Chile to intern with the
Araucarias del Alto Malleco Model Forest for four months.
Alto Malleco Model Forest contains large forests of the
nationally protected monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria
araucana), active volcanoes, stunning national parks, and
is home to Mapuche Pewenche Indigenous communities.
We had the opportunity to become involved in a range of
Araucarias del Alto Malleco Model Forest’s programs and
activities, including the non-timber forest product program,
events related to citizenship and participation, and
activities aimed at furthering the international partnership
with Prince Albert Model Forest.
Alto Malleco Model Forest recognizes non-timber forest
products, which are commodities that can be derived from
forests without harvesting the trees, as a way of fostering
sustainable local economic development within the model
forest area. In 2008, Alto Malleco Model Forest began
administering a large regional innovation program aimed at
developing, diversifying and strengthening the production
chain of non-timber forest products. This program assists
local residents in marketing and adding value to the three
most important non-timber forest products in the territory:
pinion nuts, morel mushrooms and rosehips.
In April, we were invited to go pinion harvesting with a
Mapuche Pehuenche family. The name Pewenche means
people (che) of the Araucaria tree (Pewen). The pinion
is the nut from the monkey puzzle tree (called ngulliw in
Mapudungun), and collecting the pinion is an integral part
of Mapuche Pewenche culture and livelihood. To collect
the pinion we climbed high up into the mountains to an
ancient monkey puzzle tree forest, where some of the
trees were over a thousand years old. Our hosts taught us
about pinion harvesting techniques, Mapuche culture and
even gave us an impromptu Mapudungun language class
along the trail. Back at their summer harvesting camp, they
treated us to delicious tortillas baked underground, freshly
caught fish and roasted pinion nuts.
8
Left: Pinion harvesters in Chile. Upper Right: Monkey puzzle tree.
Lower Right: Pinion nuts
In addition to the non-timber forest product program, we
also participated in and assisted in organizing events that
fostered community participation and citizenship such as
a three day conference entitled the “Fifth Conference for
Sustainable and Just Cities in Chile”. This event permitted
a dialogue about environmental and social sustainability
amongst members of the Araucarias del Alto Malleco
Model Forest territory and people from across Chile.
Furthermore it showcased local organizations, handicrafts,
cuisine, music and tourism ventures.
Above: Musicians performing at Sustainable Cities conference
Participating in Sustainable Cities Conference. Above: from left to right: Annie
Mckenzie (Intern), Washington Alvarado (General Manager of Araucarias del
Alto Malleco Model Forest), Alex MacIntosh (Intern), Graciela Giner (Volunteer)
During our internship in Saskatchewan, we were hosted
by many of Prince Albert Model Forest’s partners such
as the Prince Albert Grand Council, the Beardy’s and
Okemasis First Nation, Montreal Lake Cree Nation, the
Saskatchewan Research Council, the Saskatchewan
Forestry Association, the North Central Saskatchewan
Enterprise Region, the Association of Saskatchewan
Forestry Professionals, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy
and Resources, the Conservation Learning Center and
the Sturgeon River Plains Bison Stewards. We want to
thank the Prince Albert Model Forest and the Araucarias
del Alto Malleco Model Forest for giving us this incredible
opportunity and we hope that the partnership between the
two Model Forests will continue to develop and that future
international exchanges will be successful!
Internship in Prince Albert Model Forest
The most important goal of our internship in Chile was
to assist Prince Albert Model Forest and Araucarias del
Alto Malleco Model Forest in furthering their international
partnership, which was initiated in 2008. In order to act
as a bridge between the two Model Forests and share the
knowledge and experience we gained in Chile, we were
invited to Prince Albert Model Forest from September
to October, 2010. During this internship, we presented
Araucarias del Alto Malleco Model Forest’s programs
and activities, facilitated communication between the two
Model Forests, and engaged with Prince Albert Model
Forest partners to identify common areas of interest that
could form the basis for future international exchanges with
Araucarias del Alto Malleco Model Forest.
Above: Visiting La Ronge with Cliff Buettner from the Prince Albert Grand
Council. Left to right: Alex MacIntosh, Cliff Buettner and Thomas Charles
Interns with Prince Albert Model Forest staff. Left to right: Annie McKenzie,
Susan Carr, Alex MacIntosh, Mika Carriere
Above: Horseback riding at Sturgeon River Ranch with Gord Vaadeland to learn
about bison stewardship and rangeland management
9
Learning from our Elders
Woodland Caribou & Reindeer research in the Circumboreal Forest
The Prince Albert Model Forest (PAMF) has received
funding from the International Model Forest Network’s
Circumboreal Initiative to begin a three year joint research
project between PAMF, the University of Saskatchewan
(U of S) and Sweden’s Umeä University and Vilhelmina
Model Forest. Researchers in both Sweden and northern
Saskatchewan will work
together to gather traditional
local knowledge about
changing trends of woodland
caribou in Saskatchewan
and reindeer in Sweden.
This was one of only two
proposals across Canada to
successfully receive funding.
In Canada, in northern and central Saskatchewan,
the woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) has
been designated as a “threatened” species under the
federal Species at Risk Act. Although there are studies
of changing caribou distributions, there is relatively little
research that has described indigenous experiences of
climate change in forested ecosystems.
Naomi Carriere, Masters Graduate from the U of S has
already organized a team of five students and is training
them to use traditional and formal knowledge to document
the location, movement, and behaviour of woodland
caribou in disturbed forested ecosystems. Engaging youth
to perform elder interviews is the first step in creating
teaching modules that will be shared with the U of S,
Sweden’s Umeä University and the University of the Arctic.
Together we will begin a circumpolar network of sharing
traditional knowledge.
“To link and bridge the connection
of First Nations and Métis cultures
to how we manage animals and
resources is important. Learning
and listening to the stories that
people have, immersing myself
in the culture of the people and
validating their knowledge is
important information in terms of the
biological research is really quite
significant to me.” – Naomi Carriere
In northern Sweden, wild reindeer are extinct and reindeer
(Rangifer tarandus tarandus) are actively herded, as an
10
exclusive right of indigenous Sami communities. Annette
Löff, researcher with the Umeä University in Sweden
along with leaders from the Vilhelmina Model Forest are
engaging youth to conduct interviews with Sami reindeer
herders and complete ongoing research to address the
direct and indirect impacts of large-scale societal and
ecological changes on reindeer herding communities.
Summer 2010 - Naomi & Annette
interview an Elder in SK.
Traditional Sami reindeer
header gathering
This study seeks to gain and share knowledge among
elders and hunters/herders residing in two circumboreal
Model Forests. In the spring and summer of 2010 both
Naomi and Annette competed exchanges in each Model
Forest. In both cases, anticipated changes in climate are
predicted to affect habitat characteristics and health status
of these species. Aboriginal people of the circumboreal
north may be affected as traditional uses of these species
for food, clothing, medicine, livelihood, and cultural
activities are disrupted.
Sami Youth group in Sweden
Traditional knowledge trainees
in Saskatchewan
By sharing in knowledge creation, we may be able
to generate a better understanding of indigenous
perspectives, and help residents, researchers, and
resource managers learn from one another on issues of
common concern, proposing adaptive strategies that are
appropriate for regional circumstances and traditions.
A Hunting We Will Go!
Cliff Buettner is currently the Program Manager in the
Forestry Department for the Prince Albert Grand Council.
His work involves coordinating resource programs, fire suppression activities and developing forestry harvesting plans.
He has been involved with the Prince Albert Model Forest
(PAMF) in various capacities since its inception in 1992.
In 2007, as Vice President for the PAMF, Cliff was assigned
to accompany a group of aboriginal youth to participate
in a cultural exchange with the Vilhelmina Model Forest
(VMF) in Sweden. His background in forestry and his
respect for aboriginal culture proved to help strengthen a
bond with the VMF. This led to another exchange in 2008,
where he accompanied an Elder to help the Swedish and
Sami people better understand the First Nations and Métis
cultures, customs and traditions.
It took teamwork to take
down this big Bull Moose
Moving the moose using Traditional game: Moose leg
a motorized mobile trailer toss, closest to the pin wins!
After a good four day hunt,
Leif and Cliff visited with
students in Saxnas and
did a presentation about
Model Forest relationships.
After the presentation they
headed to Vilhelmina to
attend an informal meeting
to discuss continued
collaboration between both
Model Forests.
The Moose hunting
champion!
Cliff shares Model Forest information to
Swedish and Sami youth in Saxnas
Later that day Cliff headed to Klimpsfall to learn more
of the traditional relationships of the Sami people with
their reindeer. On-site Cliff renewed acquaintances with
students who participated in the 2007 youth exchange.
2007 First Nations &
Métis Youth Exchange
2008 Traditional Knowledge
Elder Exchange
Those initial exchanges melded a friendship between the
General Manger of the VMF, Leif Jougda and Cliff. So in
the fall of 2010, it was only fitting that Leif would take Cliff
on an amazing hunting expedition in Northern Sweden.
Cliff departed Canada on September 1st, 2010 and landed
in Stockholm where he met with Daniel Schatz at the
Canadian Embassy.
The Canadian Embassy is very supportive of the work
between both Model Forests. Cliff and Daniel discussed
the development of a brochure to highlight the Vilhelmina/
Prince Albert Model Forest relationship and also an idea
about a Traditional cross-cultural cook book. These ideas
are currently in the process of being developed.
It was a quick flight to Vilhelmina and preparations were
underway for the big hunt. Leif Jougda made arrangements
for proper licensing and firearms, then they drove to
Marsliden to join the hunting team of Anders Larsson.
Cliff spent four days with this hunting team and developed
new friendships. The hunting methods and use of dogs to
hunt big game in Sweden are very different compared to
Canada. Even their mode of transportation for accessing
and retrieving animals was somewhat of a surprise. In
the end, the team got the BIG one and played a few
“traditional” hunting games to celebrate.
2007 Sami and Swedish youth exchange:
Jonas Eriksson, Jonna Blind, Sandra
Olofsson, Anna Maria Fjellström, Malin
Edström and Neila Fjällström
Sweden, Klimpsfall: Sami families
reindeer herding
Cliff returned back home on September 12th, 2010. The
initial intent of Cliff’s trip was to experience the hunting
practices in Sweden and
renew acquaintances
from previous trips. Cliff’s
connection to the land
and with aboriginal people
has helped the PAMF and
the VMF build a bond that
brings fresh ideas and
creates connections with
all cultures from around the world. Who knew a hunting trip
could do all that?
Swedish
hunting
team: Cliff
and the crew
celebrate a
successful
moose hunt
Cliff would like to extend his appreciation to his good friend
Leif Jougda, the Canadian Embassy and the Prince Albert
Model Forest.
11
Alley Cropping:
The Possibilities are Growing
The social, economic and environmental benefits of alley cropping are substantial,
yet this agroforestry practice has been relatively unexplored on the Prairies. The
Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), along with key partners such as the Prince
Albert Model Forest (PAMF), has been working to build alley cropping knowledge.
What started as merely an idea a year ago has now
materialized into an on-the-ground demonstration that is
quickly gaining attention. It takes years to have a mature
alley cropping system that is functioning at full capacity.
This year’s establishment phase is essential for the future
of alley cropping on the Prairies.
What are agroforestry…alley cropping
…and their benefits?
Agroforestry can be defined as the intentional and
sustainable integration of trees on agricultural land.
Farmers have always incorporated trees on their land,
with the understanding of the benefits, but it has only been
in recent years that agroforestry has been recognized
as a scientific discipline. There are thousands of crop/
tree interaction combinations, but most agroforestry
organizations worldwide recognize five distinct agroforestry
practices. One of these five practices is alley cropping.
Alley cropping, or intercropping, consists of planting trees
at spacings that allow for cultivation of crops between
them. The biophysical interactions that occur when longlived trees and annual crops are combined are impressive.
These include increased nutrient cycling, added soil
organic matter, lower evapotranspiration, increased
moisture retention, wind reduction and increased pollinator
habitat. These are all growth promoting processes that
equate to a stronger, healthier, more productive crop.
Documented economic benefits include increased cash
flow, diversified crop income and a longer employment
season which are all a result of growing multiple products
off the same land base. Not only does the land manager
benefit from such a practice, but the environment does as
well. Trees reduce soil erosion, trap harmful residues from
entering the water systems, sequester CO2 and provide
wildlife habitat.
Examples: Alley cropping or intercropping
12
Guelph Project
Before putting anything on the ground in Saskatchewan, it
was essential that we explored the previous alley cropping
research in Canada. The University of Guelph (U of G) has
been a pioneer in agroforestry development, most notably
in the area of intercropping. The campus is home to the
oldest alley cropping planting in Canada. The seventyacre site was established in 1985/86. The planted tree
species include maple, black walnut, ash, spruce, poplar,
cedar and black locust which are intercropped with corn,
soybean and winter wheat on rotation. Over the past
twenty years graduate students and researchers have
produced numerous scientific papers from information
gathered from this project. Most recently, researchers have
been investigating intercropping the long term tree rows
with short rotation willow, due to the recent interest in using
woody crops for biofuel production.
Willow biofuel bales: Biofuel production study
Guelph Visit
In April 2010, with help from PAMF, SRC and Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada, three representatives travelled to
Guelph to see firsthand what has been taking place at the
U of G intercropping site. This was an important step in the
Saskatchewan site implementation process.
The group met with Dr. Naresh Thevathsan, from the
School of Environmental Sciences at the U of G. Naresh
has been involved in the alley cropping project since its
inception, and had a wealth of information. Although the
tree species and annual crop varieties that can be grown
in southern Ontario differ from those of the Prairies,
there were many valuable lessons to be learned. Among
many topics, the group discussed the importance of early
pruning, alley spacings, site layout and determining long
and short-term objectives.
Alley Cropping
Shannon Poppy
Saskatchewan Research Council
Environment and Forestry
1-306-765-2856
poppy@src.sk.ca
White
Birch
Sea
Buckthorn
Oak
Manitoba
Maple
Buffalo
Berry
SpeciesSpacing
Curtis Braaten (Conservation Learning Center), Laura Poppy (Indian Head AgriEnvironment Services Branch – Agroforestry Development Centre), Dr. Naresh
Thevathsan (U of G), Shannon Poppy (SRC)
Saskatchewan Project
With the knowledge gained from the Guelph experience, it
was time to get planting back at home. A ten-acre block at
the Conservation Learning Centre, south of Prince Albert
was selected. A replicated site design was finalized and
then five tree/shrub species were selected based on their
hardiness, availability and potential for non-timber forest
products. These species included paper birch, Manitoba
maple, sea buckthorn, buffalo berry and oak. The soggy
spring of 2010 delayed the planting until the middle of
June. Once conditions were finally suitable, a crew of five
planted over 1500 trees.
Alley cropping tree planting spring 2010
Buffalo Berry
1m
Sea Buckthorn
1m
Apple2m
Manitoba Maple 3m
Paper Birch
3m
In its first season, the alley cropping site has already
spurred attention. Visitors from field days along with other
guests have toured the site over the summer. In October
2010, a poster highlighting the project was presented to an
international audience at the Woody Crops Conference in
Syracuse, New York.
University of Toronto Exchange students, Annie and Alex, tour the site
New Growth!
SRC - Alley Cropping Poster
This is only the beginning of the possibilities for this site.
If you are interested in becoming involved in alley cropping
or visiting the site, please contact the Saskatchewan
Research Council.
13
Sturgeon River Plains
Bison Stewards 2010 Projects
The Sturgeon River Plains Bison Stewards are a group of local farmers, ranchers,
and landowners from Big River, Debden, Canwood and Shellbrook who are
concerned about the well-being of Canada’s only free-ranging Plains Bison herd
still within their historic range.
The Sturgeon River Plains Bison Stewards are
working with Prince Albert National Park (PANP) and
Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment (MOE) to help
conserve the Sturgeon River Plains Bison Herd and to
create an environment where bison and local farmers/
ranchers can coexist in a mutually beneficial way.
The Sturgeon River Plains
Bison Stewards (SRPBS)
founded in 2006 are currently
carrying out projects which
include: monitoring the Plains
bison grazing behaviours and
movement patterns while the
herd resides on agriculture
land, working with other local
farmers and ranchers to
gather information and help
mitigate issues caused by
Joanne Reimer, SRPBS Field Technician
bison and working together
with PANP and MOE to create a management plan for
the Plains bison herd. The SRPBS have hired a field
technician, Joanne Reimer, to carry out these projects by
collecting the required data and to work with local farmers
and ranchers.
Grazing behaviour and movement pattern monitoring
began mid September this fall. The collection period is
determined by the bison. When the bison begin to leave
the park, cross the Sturgeon River and enter private
agriculture land, the monitoring begins. Joanne monitors
the bison movement patterns by simple visual tactics and
by setting up trail cameras or ‘Critter Cams’ at major river
crossings the bison have created. This fall, MOE lent the
SRPBS three scare sirens to see if they help to deter the
bison from crossing onto private land. The siren sounds
an alarm when it detects motion and the siren will continue
until it does not detect any more motion. The sirens were
set up near the trail cameras at the river crossings and
were tested for a few weeks but were unsuccessful.
14
Monitoring the bison using Critter Cameras
Grazing behaviour monitoring occurs when a herd of bison
are spotted on private land. Joanne takes note of the
numbers and locations of the bison when they move off
of the field. Joanne will return to the area they had grazed
and conduct vegetation sampling in random 1m x 1m
square plots. The number of plots is determined by the
number of bison present. Within a plot she will then
determine the percent coverage of each plant species and
the percent that is freshly grazed of each plant species.
Using this data can help determine the preferred plant
species chosen by the bison.
Can you tell the Timothy
grass had been eaten?
The tops are chewed off.
You can tell by the straight
or jagged top edges.
We involve the landowners when making decisions about
the well-being of the Sturgeon River Plains Bison Herd.
These farmers experience infrastructure and crop damage
caused by the bison. The SRPBS take pride in being
available to lend a hand and listen to the local farmers
when they are experiencing issues with bison.
The SRPBS have provided fencing materials for affected
land owners so they can construct diversionary fences
Submitted by
Joanne Reimer
SRPBS Field Technician
along the Sturgeon River to help deter the bison from
entering their land. We have also lent a hand in erecting
these diversionary fences and general fence fixing. Every
second year, landowner interviews are conducted so we
can gain information from local farmers and ranchers
and hear their comments, concerns and overall feelings
about the wild bison. In the past two years the SRPBS
consistently and gently moved the bison back into PANP
during the fall to help mitigate bison effects on farmers’
fences and crops.
Farmers, landowners and bison can co-exist with proper mitigation techniques
This past summer the SRPBS and the community of Big
River hosted the ‘Bison on the Edge Conference’. The
purpose of this international conference was to begin the
process of developing a long-term management plan for
the Sturgeon River Plains Bison Herd. People from across
North America participated in discussions about the
Sturgeon River herd and compared examples from around
the globe. The conference concluded with a discussion
panel dedicated to the development of the management
plan. Other conference activities included a field trip to
one of the SRPBS sites, a horse and wagon/hike trip into
PANP where guests received hands-on presentations from
Université Laval and saw some wild bison and elk. The trip
concluded with a delicious bison steak supper at the local
Ladder Valley Hall.
Since the conference, representatives
from PANP, MOE, and SRPBS have
formed a steering committee and have
begun working on the development of
the management plan for the Sturgeon
River Plains Bison Herd. The committee
is currently working on the plan but is
still in very early stages of development.
The first public meeting took take place
January 2011. For updates or information
on public meetings, please contact
Executive Director, Gord Vaadeland or
Field Technician, Joanne Reimer or visit
our website at www.bisonstewards.ca
The Prince Albert Model Forest and
Sturgeon River Plains Bison Stewards
have held a strong partnership since
Hikers on the field trip saw bison and
the founding of the stewards. The
elk on the trails, believe it or not!
SRPBS hold a seat on the board of
directors for the PAMF which has been
a contributing funder since the SRPBS projects began. We
are proud to have such an outstanding partner and feel both
organizations have benefited greatly from the partnership.
Executive Director, Gord Vaadeland
Box 970 Big River, SK (306) 469-2356
gord@bisonstewards.ca
Stewards Board Member, Cindy
Williams guides her wagon through
Prince Albert National Park
during the field trip.
Keith Aune, Bozeman, Montana of the
Wildlife Conservation Society speaks
about the progress being made in bison
recovery across their historic range.
Field Technician, Joanne Reimer
Box 686 Big River, SK (306) 469-4882
joanne@bisonstewards.ca
15
Saskatchewan
Junior Forest Ranger Program
The Saskatchewan Junior Forest Ranger (JFR) program is a six-week
summer work experience program that provides skill development, for
youth between the ages of 16–18, in the field of natural resources. The
JFR program gives youth an opportunity to earn certificates and gain
knowledge in the areas of forestry, fire-management, environment,
health & safety, mining and cultural awareness along with the teachings
of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK).
The initial JFR program started in the First Nation community of Sturgeon Lake in 2006.
Since its inception, the program has spread across Central and Northern Saskatchewan into
the JFR host communities of Stanley Mission (2007), Pelican Narrows (2008), Beardy’s &
Okemasis First Nation (2008), Hatchet Lake (2008), La Ronge (2009), Prince Albert (2009),
Yellow Quill (2010) and the combined communities from the Eastern Sector: Cumberland
House, Red Earth and Shoal Lake (2009).
The Prince Albert Model Forest coordinates the program with the team support of
representatives from the Prince Albert Grand Council, Canadian Forest Service, SIAST
Woodland campus: Department of Natural Resources and Saskatchewan Environment:
Fire Management and Forest Protection (FNFP) branch. Each organization is committed to
helping youth build brighter futures. Together with each of the participating communities, we
plan and organize the six-week schedule of events for the youth.
Junior Forest Ranger host communities are required to have a secured funding source to
cover the costs of the program, including student/coordinator wages, instructor wages,
training and certification costs, equipment, camp costs, food, facilities and transportation.
Once funding is secured, the planning process begins. Each host community along with the
project partners meet to formulate a combined six-week schedule that benefits each individual
community. There are six main topic areas that each host community must incorporate into
their individual schedules. They include:
Stanley Mission
2010 Ranger Relay Champions!
16
• Forestry: The Canadian Forest Service and
other partners offer lessons in tree identification,
measurements, tree planting, tree nursery growth, tree
insects and diseases, forestry harvesting practices, agroforestry practices, map/compass and Global Positions
System (GPS) training and outdoor survival is also
covered in this topic area.
• Fire-management: Saskatchewan Environment offers
a one week course that certifies the student to become
a Type 3 Crew - Emergency Fire Personnel (EFP), these
crews are made up of qualified/certified fire fighters hired
on emergency basis. The training encompasses forest fire
management and behavior, tools and equipment usage,
safety precautions, case studies and a fitness test. Type 3
crews are normally used on a fire line that is under control
or in the mop up stage.
• Environment: SIAST, Department of Natural Resources
instructors have given past JFR’s an overview of the
available programs in the area of natural resources.
Lessons also covered in this area include: animal,
insects, fish and plant identification, aquatic ecosystem
management, forestry practices and, in certain cases,
environmental monitoring techniques.
• Health & Safety: Training agencies are hired to certify
students in: CPR and First Aid, Workplace Hazardous
Materials Information Systems (WHMIS), Transportation
of Dangerous Goods (TDG), Pleasure Craft operators
Card, Restricted Radio Operators card, Canadian Firearm
Safety, All Terrain Vehicle (ATV).
• Mining: In Saskatchewan, Cameco and Areva are
two major corporations that mine uranium in northern
Saskatchewan. In the past, both have provided mine tours
for northern JFR host communities and have also shared
post-secondary training opportunities with the youth. In
the future, we are hoping to expand in this area because
it is a growing industry and job opportunities fair better for
our northern participants.
• Cultural Awareness: Local elders, hunters and trappers
are very influential and supportive people who help
youth maintain a connection to the land and to their
communities. Cultural camps, traditional ecological
knowledge sharing, trapper education, fish netting/
preparation, medical plant uses and recreational activities
all play a role in teaching youth about the environment
and cultural traditions.
Beardy’s & Okemasis
Cumberland House, Red Earth & Shoal Lake
The program content focuses on natural resources and
gives youth the basic skills to enter the work force. Each
JFR host community tailors their program to their own
needs, picking the certificates they want their students
to gain. This is a unique program because it allows
communities to use local resources, build partnerships
and train youth to enter a career in the field of natural
resources, together our objectives are to:
ɶɶ Encourage youth to remain in high school and
complete their education by promoting confidence,
culture and leadership skills.
ɶɶ Support and encourage youth to establish a career in
the field of natural resources.
ɶɶ Provide participants with the opportunity to learn and
respect our environment.
ɶɶ Work together with the community to engage
participants, parents and elders to build a stronger,
healthier and more sustainable future.
ɶɶ Develop successful partnerships between Aboriginal
people, Government and Industry.
Each year the program is evolving. In 2010 the JFR’s had
three additional biweekly challenges added onto their
workload. These challenges tested the skills of the youth
in the areas of community involvement, environment and
leadership. At the graduation ceremonies, each host
community completed their final reports through an oral
presentation to the Provincial Coordinator and project
partners. In addition, teams competed with each other
in a Ranger Relay challenge where they were tested
mentally and physically in all six program topic areas.
The ninety-four graduating Rangers in 2010 showed
commitment and confidence at the graduation and each
of them received certificates of completion.
Since 2006, the Saskatchewan JFR program has
celebrated 301 graduates. It is a great accomplishment
and honor for all the project partners, communities and
instructors to have helped each Ranger succeed in
achieving a goal in life. This program has proved to be
instrumental in kick-starting career paths for youth in
Saskatchewan. We hope that in the future we can continue
to work together and help support the next generation of
“natural professionals” in our Province!
LaRonge
Prince Albert
17
Hatchet Lake
Yellow Quill
Pelican Narrows
Sturgeon Lake
Envirothon
in Eston, Saskatchewan
Spring had sprung into action, the flowers were blooming, the weather was
warming up and so were 75 students from across the province; each one ready
to compete in the 2010 Saskatchewan Envirothon, a competition that combines
environment, knowledge and fun…a winning combination!
2010 Envirothon Participants
This year marked the fourth year of the annual Saskatch­
ewan Envirothon, which was held from May 30th to June
1st, 2010 in the community of Eston, SK. This unique
competition provides youth with an opportunity to learn
more about our environment through education and
hands on activities.
Teachers are responsible to create and register a team of
five students; online registration link can be found at
www.saskriverbasin.ca. These students are then assigned
a binder with a certain topic that they have to study.
These topics include: soils/land use, forestry, aquatics,
wildlife and a yearly theme topic which was in 2010 the
protection of groundwater through urban, agricultural and
environmental planning.
The binders that the students have to study contain material
equivalent to a first year university course! It may sound
intimidating but these students are given the opportunity to
attend a one-day workshop, where qualified professionals
from each field of study host mini study sessions that mix
18
classroom learning with experimental teachings. This
workshop provides an overview of the actual event and
gives the youth the skills they need to succeed.
The actual competition is spread out into three days.
Day 1 involves registration and team socializing. Day 2 is
an outdoor trail test, where students use brains and brawn
to run through a course and answer questions at certain
stations that relate to each topic of study and Day 3 brings
out the creativity in each group because all the teams are
required to complete a ten minute oral presentation to a
panel of five judges about the current theme topic.
The top three teams are chosen based on their combined
trail test and oral presentation scores. The final challenge
in this competition ends with each team being judged in
front of all the participants, they must present their findings
and like mini environmental consultants they must show
that each team member has contributed to the plan and
found a solution to the current theme topic, which was to
protect groundwater in urban agricultural environments.
S
SOIL
S
ATIC
U
Q
A
Fifteen teams from across Saskatchewan competed for the
provincial championship title and in a very close competition;
the team from Luther College High School in Regina claimed
the title of the Saskatchewan Envirothon champions. Second
place was awarded to Luther College High School (Regina)
and third place to Lumsden High School.
The team from Regina went on represent Saskatchewan
at the 2010 Canon Envirothon in Fresno California from
August 1st–6th, 2010 where they came in twenty-second
place out of fifty-four teams from across North America.
Congratulations to this team who was coached by
their teacher Dave Hall, his students Catherine Leurer,
Jonathon Lorenc, John Shulte, Lucas Diebel, and Anna
Hall whom all started in the Saskatchewan competition
in 2007. These young people have proven to be a team
with a strong determination and will to become tomorrow’s
environmental leaders.
E
FOR
Y
STR
E
DLIF
L
I
W
In their very first Envirothon experience we asked
our Northern Saskatchewan participants, who
actually live in the heart of the delta; Cumberland
House, to answer a few questions:
Raynebo Favel:
What was your topic of study and was
the trail test hard to complete?
“My topic of study was soils, it was a very
difficult topic to study and understand but
throughout the trail test I actually remembered more than
I expected! The trail test was a challenge; it was hard to
finish but very fun and enjoyable to run through. Together
our team completed it with positive energy.”
How did your team do in the oral presentations?
“Our team did awful on the oral presentations. It was our
first year and we did not know a single thing about how to
present it. Luckily, our team was also part of the drama
club at our school; so we decided to make a funny skit.
Our presentation was hilarious and we got recognized for
our creativity.”
Jules Carriere:
How did your group prepare
for Envirothon?
Left to right: 2010 Champion: Luther College (names listed from left to right):
Catherine Leurer, Jonathan Lorenc, John Schulte, Lucas Diebel, Anna Hall,
and Dave Hall (teacher)
The theme for the 2011 Saskatchewan
Envirothon is based on the Saskatchewan
River Delta which is the largest inland
freshwater delta in North America. The
2011 competition will be held in Hepburn,
Saskatchewan on May 29th to 31st, 2011
– Good luck to the new participants!
“Our group prepared for Envirothon by
meeting every week and getting lectures
from our Science/Math teacher, Ray
Marketjohn. Each team member specialized in one topic
but at the same time we helped each other study by taking
notes and quizzing one another on the notes we studied,
that way everyone had a better idea of what the other
person’s subject was about.
2011’s theme is on the “Saskatchewan River Delta”.
Do you have any words of wisdom that you can pass
onto the next students participating in this event?
The Saskatchewan Envirothon is very challenging. You
need to focus on your topic and study hard with your team
members and if you really want to do well next year…make
friends with the people from Cumberland House because
they live in the delta!
19
The Saskatchewan River Delta
Think you can challenge Envirothon?
Then try solving this
delta dilemma!
The Saskatchewan River Delta has played an important part in Canada’s history as being the largest inland freshwater delta
in North America. Its creation started during the last ice age, nearly 10,000 years ago. The Laurentide Ice Sheet covered
much of Canada and it locked Saskatchewan and Manitoba in ice. In time this massive continental ice sheet began to melt
and retreat leaving in its path an immense glacial lake called Lake Agassiz.
Lake Agassiz was the largest lake in the world. It covered
over 840,000 km² in Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and
Ontario) including the US (North and South Dakota and
Minnesota). In Saskatchewan, Lake Agassiz slowly shallowed
by glacial rebound and eventually exposed the earlier-formed
Pas Moraine, a mound of glacial till that acted almost like a
dam, is located near the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border. It
was carved into the landscape from the retreating ice sheet.
The Pas Moraine separates the upper and lower delta.
Today, the Saskatchewan River Delta (SRD) is fed mainly
by the Saskatchewan River, a glacier-fed river that flows
east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan.
Beginning in the upper delta, a series of complex river channels, lakes, and marshes extends north of Carrot River to
Cumberland House and breaks through The Pas Moraine into the east across the Manitoba border, into the lower delta
communities of The Pas, Moose Lake and Cormorant.
Approximately 80% of the flow to the delta comes from the Saskatchewan River whereas the other 20% is supplied by
smaller streams that enter the SRD at its margins. These include the Torch, Mossy, Grassberry, Sturgeon Weir, Carrot, and
Pasquia Rivers. The upper delta and lower delta together occupy an area of approximately 10,000 km², making the SRD the
largest active inland delta in North America.
The Saskatchewan River Delta is among the most productive life-support ecosystems in the world but land-use activities
including forestry, agriculture, hydroelectric power generation, mineral exploration, hunting, trapping, tourism and traditional
aboriginal activities all play a role in deteriorating the delta. Through careful land-use planning and the development of
best management practices, all activities can coexist and ensure continued healthy and productive wetlands and wetland
dependent wildlife populations.
20
What can we learn from the past, present and
what differences can we make in the future
for the Saskatchewan River Delta?
To solve this delta dilemma let’s test your IQ…
1. Established as the first fur trading
post in 1774 by Samuel Herne and
now the oldest continuously occupied
settlement in Saskatchewan;
__________________ was a major
crossroads of the fur-trading routes
developed by the British-based
Hudson Bay Company and the
Montreal-based North West Company.
a. Batoche
c. Cumberland House
5. Most of the water supplying
the SRD passes through the
E.B. Campbell dam, which
impounds or blocks nearly all
river-borne sediment entering
the Tobin Lake reservoir.
The impoundment causes
__________________ in downstream channels
which greatly reduces the amounts of nutrient-bearing
clay particles supplied to the SRD during periods of
high water levels or flood times which are now-very
infrequent due to upstream water demands.
a.Osmosis
c. Flocculation b.La Ronge
d.Île-à-la-Crosse
b. Sediment sequestration
d. Sediment starvation
6.
2.
Peat land complex
The bogs in the SRD are saturated enough that peat
(dead plant material that accumulates in a watersaturated environment) has formed. Over long periods
of time and under the right geological conditions, peat
deposits can become __________________ .
a. Crude oil
c. Uranium
b.Natural gas
d.Coal
The SRD is a significant waterfowl-producing region
in North America and its wetlands are also critically
important to millions of staging and migrating water
birds including ducks, geese, swans, shorebirds and
grebes. Ducks Unlimited Canada, has completed
activities to manage waterfowl in the SRD. Some of
their projects include construction of dams, dykes
and water level management controls. The SRD is
recognized as a Canadian __________________ of
global significance. It’s no wonder the SRD is such a
draw for waterfowl and other wildlife.
a. Waterfowl Management Area (WMA)
b. Important Bird Area (IBA)
c. Ducks Unlimited Protected Area (DUPA)
d. Protected Migration Area (PMA)
3.
The SRD ecosystem is significantly affected by
the presence of two large hydroelectric power
dams constructed in the 1960’s: one downstream
of the delta at the outlet of Cedar Lake called the
__________________ dam in Manitoba and another
on the Saskatchewan River 25km upstream of the
delta called the __________________ dam.
a. Gardiner dam
c. E.B. Campbell dam
b.Grand Rapids dam
d.Spruce River dam
4. Identify these three major fur bearers that live in the
SRD and are prized for their pelts:
A. ___________
B. ___________
C. ___________ A
B
C
7. Sediment starvation
causes the river flow to
be excessively erosive
because it no longer
needs to expend energy
The Saskatchewan River Delta
in transporting sediment.
in Northern Saskatchewan
The result is that channels
Photo by Laurence C. Smith, UCLA.
downstream of a dam
tend to enlarge by deepening and/or widening. Old
channels are abandoned, and new ones form as the
river seeks an easier path into new channels. Through
this process, known as __________________, the
delta diverts itself by building and branching out over
time. At least nine major channel diversions have
occurred in the upper delta over the past 5500 years.
Remnants can be seen today as abandoned tree-lined
channels scattered over the marshy delta surface.
a. Diversion
c. Volatilization
b.Avulsion
d.Absorption
21
8. In the 1970’s what chemical was used to manage
the spruce budworm outbreak in Saskatchewan and
Manitoba? The use of this toxic chemical was banned
after it caused negative impacts on birds particularly
in birds of prey, these birds ingested the chemical that
bioaccumulated in their systems and also lead to the
thinning of their eggshells plus it also lead to other
environmental impacts on waterfowl, fish and wildlife
in the SRD area. This chemical can also remain in
aquatic ecosystems for more than 150 years!
a. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
b. Mercury
c. Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT)
d. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
9.
11. Mix ‘n match the ducks of the delta
1.2.3.4.
________
a. Northern Pintail
d. Mallard
a.10 meters
d.40%
10.
b.20%
e.6 meters
c.8 meters
WMA?
WMA?
Following the development of the Grand Rapids
project, the Manitoba government designated
portions of the SRD as Wildlife Management Areas
in recognition of these environmental impacts and as
partial mitigation for habitat loss upstream of the dam.
As partial mitigation for lost wetland habitats from the
Grand Rapids hydroelectric dam, the government of
Manitoba set aside two huge Wildlife Management
Areas (WMA) known as the _________________
and the __________________.
a. Saskeram WMA
c. Tom Lamb WMA
b.Little Saskatchewan WMA
d.Kaskatamagan Sipi WMA
c.Green wing teal
f. Redhead
12.There are certain species that live in the SRD area
that are identified as Endangered, Threatened and
Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of
Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and by
the Canadian Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA).
Connect these species with their proper designation:
Lake Sturgeon
Avulsion has significantly modified Cumberland Lake,
the largest lake in the delta. In the 1870’s the lake
was up to ______ meters deep in places, but today,
it is only about 1.5 meters deep due to sedimentation
from the avulsion. The lake has shrunk in area over
______% since the 1950’s.
b.Widgeon
e.Bufflehead
Piping Plover
COSEWIC Status:
Northern
Leopard Frog
Endangered
Woodland
Caribou
Threatened
Whooping Crane
Special Concern
13.Bonus Question:
The delta is changing and our understanding of the causes
and long term effects of these changes is limited. In
addition, the delta contains few protected areas. What can
we do to protect the delta for future generations?
a. Designate the SRD as a protected site as a Heritage
River. A lead organization must create a management
plan, or heritage strategy, that ensures the river will be
managed to conserve its outstanding natural, cultural
and/or recreational values. Today, there are forty-one
Heritage Rivers across Canada.
b. Take conservation action and designate the area as a
Ramsar Site due to the alarming extent of wetland and
waterfowl habitat loss. This designation would give the site
international recognition and expresses the government’s
commitment to take all steps necessary to ensure the
maintenance of the ecological character of the site. Today,
there are thirty-seven Ramsar sites in Canada.
c. Promote eco-tourism opportunities in the communities
within the SRD thus helping the local economy and
sharing information about “the state of the delta” to local
resource people, conservations groups and key political
activists groups that can create sustainability in the SRD.
d. Create a collaborative partnership with federal
and provincial government agencies, Aboriginal
communities, conservation groups and the
hydroelectric companies to create an interprovincial
watershed management plan for the SRD.
e. All of the above
If you thought this challenge was easy, think about entering your school in the next Envirothon competition.
Envirothon combines environment, knowledge and fun, a winning combination!
»
Check out www.saskriverbasin.ca
and register your team today!
Answer key: 1: c, 2: d,3: b(Manitoba), c(Saskatchewan), 4: a) Mink, b)
Beaver, c) Muskrat, 5: d, 6: b, 7: b, 8: c, 9: 6 meters, 20%, 10: a, c,
11: 1-c, 2-a, 3-e, 4-d, 12: a-E, b-E, c-S, d-T, e-E, 13: c
22
Engaging Business through First Nation Partnerships
In 2010 the North Central Enterprise Region (NCER) contracted Strategy
Plus to develop a regional Labour Market Strategy. This study identified
that there could be an estimated one thousand unfilled positions annually
in the region if the following three areas are not addressed:
ØØ Greater inclusion of underrepresented groups, notably aboriginal
people, in the workforce
ØØ Increased provincial in-migration to the region
ØØ Increased international immigration to the region
The NCER is taking a proactive approach at increasing the inclusion rates of aboriginal persons in
regional businesses and has partnered with the Prince Albert Model Forest to pilot an Aboriginal
Recruitment and Retention Training Program. The program will include training on best practices
approaches to connecting the aboriginal workforce with employers in the region.
The first seminar was delivered in conjunction with the North Central Labour Market Committee
meeting this past February, which included representatives from the regions employers,
secondary and post-secondary institutions, government organizations and First Nation
groups. The second more in-depth seminar occurred in March, it engaged public participation.
Additionally, we are providing the opportunity for five firms in the region to participate in a half
day in-business best practice training/planning sessions in engaging aboriginal persons in their
workforce. There was no cost to the employers to participate and they had the opportunity to work
with the human resource consultants to begin to identify ways to address the barriers and potential
solutions to increase aboriginal retention and recruitment rates within their company.
If your organization is interested in hosting an in-business training session, or for more information
regarding this initiative, please contact our office at (306) 953-4030 or reception@ncer.ca
23
Saskatchewan
Forestry
Association
whitebirch.ca
Mission Statement: To increase public awareness and stimulate interest in
the wise use, protection and management of the forest and related resources of
land, water, and wildlife of Saskatchewan.
This past year we partnered with the Prince Albert Model
Forest (PAMF) in continuing projects with Envirothon and
the Junior Forest Ranger program. Together we have also
completed school presentation trips and shared lesson
plans with teachers so they can help their students ‘Focus
on Forests’. Sharing office space with the PAMF has been
a great bonus for the Saskatchewan Forestry Association.
It allows us to partner on different projects plus become
aware of new developments in the forestry industry.
Envirothon 2010
Bernadette Slager (SFA) & Mika Carriere (PAMF) Focus on Forests!
To help us reach more teachers and stay up to date with our
information the PAMF supported us financially to prepare
our lessons for our web site: www.whitebirch.ca. This
involves updating lessons to ensure they meet the new
curriculum requirements plus preparing them for online.
All lessons must be written in the same format then
converted to PDFs to be posted to the web site. Simple
titles and links are set up and then any teacher in the
province can access the information. This is proving to
be a large project but in the end it will be very efficient.
Updating any lesson will be much easier and we can add
new lessons all the time.
Education about the forest and all of nature is never
ending. We can and must always keep learning to live in
harmony with nature.
24
Junior Forest Rangers 2010
School Presentations
in cooperation with Cumberland College
Building aboriginal communities
with their own human resource
capacity is an essential key to
the sustainable development
of natural resources in
Saskatchewan.
In cooperation with SIAST and
Cumberland College, the Fort la Corne
Education Development (FCED) is funding
a Natural Resource Technology (NRT)
program for aboriginal students over the
next two years.
Plans for natural resource development—
which potentially include hydro developments along the North Saskatchewan
River, diamond exploration and mining,
coal mining, forestry and the sustainable
use of fish, fur, wildlife and other forest
resources on treaty land—were the driving
forces behind the genesis of this exciting
cooperative venture.
SIAST is delivering an NRT diploma
program for First Nation and Métis
candidates – in cooperation with
Cumberland College in Melfort,
Saskatchewan. Successful graduates
will move to SIAST in Prince Albert
for the second year of their training
program, to complete a diploma in
one of three technical streams: Forest
Ecosystem Technology, Integrated
Resource Management, or Resource and
Environmental Law.
One of the hallmarks that launched
this successful program was the
implementation of a “bridging program”
held last spring. Students completed
four of the first year classes, plus a host
of life skills training initiatives. These
strong foundations have helped to build
a great sense of ownership, pride and
confidence in the NRT student body. All
ten of the students who completed the
bridging initiative are still active and being
successful in the remaining components
of the first year offerings. The initial class
of ten has been joined by six new-comers
this fall, and training continues towards
the completion of diplomas in natural
resource technology.
First Nation and Métis students of
the 2010 NRT bridging program
It didn’t take long for the group to form a
family, which has lead to success of the
students thus far. Acceptance, laughter
and caring for each other have kept them
going. Field trips have included a fish
fry shore lunch; and other days where
everybody contributes to lunches by
bringing something to share. When a
student is missing class or has to withdraw
due to personal problems it is felt by all.
Gentle teasing is accepted in the group
followed by laughter. The class does
not go without competition for grades or
outdoing each other in the field. We have
had our funny stories to tell, each one
remembering a different way it happened.
I have been fortunate
and thankful to be
an instructor, tutor,
coach, counselor,
mentor, coffee maker
and mother bear
to these students
from the first day of
the program. As an
aboriginal person
Colleen Chartrand
myself, I feel the
SIAST instructor
acceptance of the
NRT bridging program
students towards
each other and myself, a bond that
cannot be described. I believe that having
a position such as mine is important for
them, someone that will be with them as
a constant throughout their two years.
The course in Melfort has not been
without challenges. Then again, life is an
adventure, the rewards will be worth it
and I’m sure the students will remember
those challenges, successes, and unique
field adventures with smiles and a strong
sense of pride. I look forward to seeing
each one of them graduate and being
with them in their journey.
Natural Resources program head
Hamilton Greenwood has taught a few
of the classes, and been involved by
believing in them, and empowering them
to continue to grow. Mike Demyen, Lorne
Renouf, Teal Fisher, Phil Labrosse, and
Svenja Belaoussoff have all taken time
from their busy teaching schedule in
Prince Albert to make sure the class
knows that the faculty are solidly in the
same camp, working to the same goal
as all of the NRT students in Melfort.
Mike Leblanc is the other instructor
that is full time with in the program
and his knowledge as a graduate from
the Integrated Resource Management
Program and years working in the
forestry sector. His skills are great asset
to the program’s success.
Measuring trees using
a SUNTO
Aging trees using an
increment borer
Students’ aspirations in taking this course
range from becoming a medicinal plant
elder, working in forestry, continuing
education to becoming a wildlife
biologist and helping their people with
environment issues.
The group has not gone without their
individual struggles. Students having
families to take care of, transportation,
lack of finances, adapting to a new
community or driving up to an hour a day
has had some effect on their program. As
one student says “No matter how hard
life is, the main thing is that you believe
in yourself and what you’re doing and to
practice being positive about life.”
25
Masters in Northern Governance
and Development (MNGD) program
New education
opportunities for northern
Saskatchewan residents
were announced
at the University of
Saskatchewan on Friday,
Nov. 12th, 2010.
The Honourable Rob Norris, Minister of Advanced
Education, Employment, and Immigration announced that
the Government of Saskatchewan was investing $250,000
to make available a new Masters in Northern Governance
and Development (MNGD) program. The program is the first
of its kind in North America and allows residents of northern
Saskatchewan to remain in their communities while earning
their degree.
Dr. Greg Poelzer (far left), Director of the International Centre for Northern
Governance and Development and University of Saskatchewan Political Studies
professor, instructs his Master’s level students during one of the final class of the
Fall 2010 semester. At far right, you can see the videoconferencing monitor where
students from Saskatchewan’s northern regions are connected to the lecture.
Minister Norris, in making the announcement, remarked
that the North is home to diverse and dynamic communities
and plays a key role in sustaining our province’s economic
growth. He also recognized the importance of the ICNGD
as a growing and vital part of the U of S in its efforts to
“enhance our knowledge of northern communities”.
The program is to be delivered by the International Centre
for Northern Governance and Development (ICNGD),
located at the University of Saskatchewan. The ICNGD,
which also delivers a B.A. in Northern Studies as well as
conducts community-based research in the province’s
North, has been focused on northern governance and
development issues since 2008. The Centre’s Director, Dr.
Greg Poelzer, is excited about the introduction of the MNGD
and the overall support the Centre is receiving.
“This funding allows us to carry out a number of initiatives
that would have remained only ideas if not for the Govern­
ment of Saskatchewan” said Poelzer. “We’re thrilled to
receive this support for our initiatives at this critical time in
the development of Saskatchewan’s North.”
The Honourable Rob Norris, Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and
Immigration (Government of Saskatchewan) announces funding for the new
Masters in Northern Governance and Development program at the University of
Saskatchewan on Nov. 12th, 2010.
26
International Centre for Northern Governance
and Development (ICNGD)
Submitted by
Colleen Cameron
Communications Coordinator
ICNGD, University of Saskatchewan
Following Minister Norris’ announcement, attendees of
the event heard from Federation of Saskatchewan Indian
Nations (FSIN) Chief Guy Lonechild, who applauded the
strategic and forward-thinking approach of the ICNGD
in developing Saskatchewan’s First Nations and Métis
leaders of tomorrow. Chief Lonechild said “a dedicated
investment in research and education for the North is
long overdue” and expressed his support for educational
opportunities like the new MNGD program.
Nathan Ray, a student who is taking the MNGD program
from his hometown of Sandy Bay, said, “I value the program because it provides distance education to northern
communities which will open so many doors—especially
for individuals with families who cannot move to the city to
further their education.”
“I’m certain that educational opportunities like the Masters
program will build upon the knowledge and expertise of
northerners and lead to innovative solutions to the issues
that confront them every day,” remarked Lonechild.
Nathan Ray (Sandy Bay), a student of the new Masters in Northern Governance
and Development program and the Honourable Rob Norris, Minister of Advanced
Education, Employment and Immigration with the Government of Saskatchewan.
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Guy Lonechild; Minister
of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration (Government of
Saskatchewan), the Honourable Rob Norris; and Director of the International
Centre for Northern Governance and Development, Dr. Greg Poelzer.
Close to fifty people attended the announcement, including:
Minister of First Nations and Métis Relations and Northern
Affairs Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister of Justice Don Morgan,
Chief Tammy Cook-Searson of the Lac La Ronge Indian
Band, Chief Guy Lariviere of Canoe Lake Cree Nation, and
Vice-Chief Don Deranger and Director of Education Ed
Mirasty of the Prince Albert Grand Council.
The International Centre for Northern Governance and
Development is a project partner with the Prince Albert
Model Forest on Maureen Reed’s “Learning from our Elders”
caribou study as well as the new Circumboreal Collaborative
research project that we are currently developing with
Sweden and Russia.
The MNGD program is an interdisciplinary, project-based
program that works in partnership with northern and
Aboriginal communities, industry and government on
economic development and governance issues in northern
Saskatchewan. At the completion of the program, graduates
will be able to successfully lead northern development in
Saskatchewan and elsewhere. The Centre is committed
to developing a sustained, long-term program of research,
training and capacity building in northern Saskatchewan
through global partnerships.
27
Prince Albert Model Forest
Office Location
Board of Directors
Room 139 - 1061 Central Avenue
Forest Centre
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Phone Number: (306) 922-1944
Fax Number: (306) 763-6456
e-mail: susan.carr@sasktel.net
website: www.pamodelforest.sk.ca
Association of Saskatchewan Forestry Professionals
Mail:
P.O. Box 2406
Prince Albert
Saskatchewan, Canada
S6V 7G3
Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation
Canadian Institute of Forestry – Saskatchewan Chapter
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
First Nation Island Forest Management Inc.
Independent Forest Operators of Saskatchewan
Lac La Ronge Indian Band
North Central Enterprise Region
Prince Albert Grand Council
Prince Albert National Park
Resort Village of Candle Lake
Saskatchewan Forestry Association
Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy & Resources
Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment
Saskatchewan Research Council
Sturgeon River Plains Bison Stewards
Canadian Forest Service (observer, non-voting)
Staff
Susan Carr, General Manager
Mika Carriére, Projects Officer
Vision of the Prince Albert Model Forest Communities Program
Vibrant, resource-based communities where local people are equipped with the capacity to work together
to engage in informed decision-making and implement actions that build economic diversity and foster
sustainability for future generations.
Goals
The goals of the PAMF are to work with forest communities to develop governance models for creating new
resource-based opportunities, to build capacity among local people including Aboriginal communities, to
manage those resources and new opportunities, to provide the tools and the forum that brings diverse groups
together to integrate land management, develop ideas and find solutions that lead to community sustainability.
At the end of this five-year program, we will have developed a solid foundation of capacity among Aboriginal
communities, and will have established new locally managed businesses in forestry, agroforestry, ecotourism,
biofuels, and the value-added industry.
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