Lead Wildlife Biologist, Orna Phelan, was thrilled to attend the Caribou Guardians Coalition on the land gathering in Wekweètì, alongside NSMA elders Wayne Mercredi and Lawrence Mercredi. The Caribou Guardians Coalition is an organization that aims to foster collaboration between existing Indigenous guardianship programs and support the establishment of new ones to collect data and information pertaining to the critically declining Bathurst herd of barren-ground caribou. The vision statement of the CGC is “Current and future generations of Caribou People working together to guard and respect caribou and the land they need to thrive”. The NSMA has been a part of the CGC since it’s inception in 2020 and has seen the organization bring together Indigenous people from all over northern Canada, to share information about what they’re seeing across the herd’s range, and identify ways to improve habitat and increase the herd’s size.
During our time in Wekweètì, we heard updates from other Indigenous governments and organizations about their guardianship programs and the results they are achieving. We engaged in important discussions on hunting practices and traditional laws. Beyond addressing these critical topics, we gathered around the fire to share caribou stories and legends. This gathering was a unique experience because we were able to get together on the land, rather than in a boardroom or office, allowing us to connect in a place where caribou roam. Unlike typical workshops where participants return home at the end of the day, here we shared meals, exchanged stories, and discussed caribou. We were also fortunate to be taken on a trip around the lake by Tłı̨chǫ elders and community members who shared some incredible history about the area and pointed out historic caribou water crossings.
Overall, this gathering was a remarkable opportunity to learn from other guardian programs and build meaningful relationships. We are so grateful to the CGC and newly appointed executive director Amos Scott, for inviting the NSMA to participate and we want to extend our warmest thanks to the community of Wekweètì, in particular former chief Joseph Judas, for the incredible hospitality they showed us while we were there. The four days were filled with laughter, delicious food, and valuable information. We are eager to apply what we’ve learned to our caribou monitoring efforts for the 2025 winter season!
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