Through September 11-15,2017 graduates from the Tłı̨chǫ Environmental Monitoring Program, in cooperation with members of the Wek’ èezhı̀i Land and Water Board, Wilfrid Laurier, Golder Associates and the Department of Culture and Lands Protection, participated in a field study to examine fish health and water quality on the Marian River near Hislop Lake.

The importance of this area was expressed during the Fortune Mineral public hearings held in the summer of 2012 as well as during a Tłı̨chǫ Wildlife workshop held in Gameti in the winter of 2013.  The data collected will be baseline data to tell us what conditions are like now prior to any development so that we can compare to potential changes if/when development happens in the future. 

This was an opportunity for many of the environmental monitors previously trained by the Department of Culture and Lands Protection to gain field experience and practice what they learned in the training sessions. We collected water samples to test for heavy metals and other contaminants. We also set nets to study the general health of fish. The official lab results are not in yet, but we caught 20 White fish and 20 Northern Pike and they were generally very healthy. Masi cho to Elder Charlie Apples from Behchoko who provided us guidance on where to camp, set nets and collect water samples. 

2017 Marion Watershed Stewardship Program from Tlicho Government on Vimeo.