Aboriginal Youth: An Introduction to Fish Management & Habitat Protection | |
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Year
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2010 |
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Proponent
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Ch-ihl-kway-uhk Tribe Society |
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Project type
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Engagement |
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FSWP funding source
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DFO Fraser Basin Initiative |
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Grant amount
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$26,052.00 |
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Total project value
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$69,986.00 |
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ID number
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FSWP10-D112-E |
Location: Fraser Valley,
Chilliwack River Valley
Project Summary
SUMMARY
First Nation youth will learn fish management from various local agencies regarding both ocean and freshwater structures. This program supports learning and the transfer of knowledge from professionals in the industry, to connect youth to their environment and allow hands-on experience in habitat protection. There will be opportunities for storytelling about the importance of fish in the First Nation culture from Elders, First Nation Chiefs, and fisherman. Thus, becoming more of an active member and a leader in fish conservation.
OVERVIEW
This project is to create interest and youth awareness in fish management, habitat protection and restoration. The youth will be working closely with professionals in the field to teach them: fish life cycle, awareness and sensitivity of the ecosystem, challenges and obstacles for fish and other water related issues. Also, the youth will tour a few local fish hatcheries for orientation session from egg to adulthood.
This program will focus on eight youth between the ages 16-30 and will be 8-weeks in duration throughout the months of July and August. The youth will gain fundamental knowledge on stream management and conservation. One coordinator will oversee the youth for the duration of the project. In addition, two weeks in June to allow for preparation and organizing the program events and dates. A final week at the end for completion of the project, such as financial and report writing requirements.
Ideally, CT wants the youth to be informed and educated at the end of this project about potential career-pathing in the fish management field. The aim is for youth: to be more educated and training for future work opportunities; to teach fish conservation skills and understand the importance of sustainability to have a continual supply of fish for food, social and ceremonial purposes; and, to gain hands on experience in the field and understand how the ecosystem works and the impact of human contact.
CT has chosen to take on this project because we want to take an active role in being a positive contributor in the sustainability of the Chilliwack River watershed and to provide the youth with opportunties. CT continues to look for ways to build capacity in regards to fish and natural resources. This project offers youth an excellent opportunity for CT to build leaders and capacity in fish conservation projects. Currently, there is low representation in Science and the Natural Resource field amongst First Nation people. CT is looking for ways to find qualified First Nation people to employ them.
It is standard practice to pay for student employment. Our two other funding sources have provided employment opportunities to First Nation students. If our project did not pay a wage then it would be highly unlikely we would have any candidates. I believe what provides depth to this employment opportunity is the many educational and training opportunities available.
OBJECTIVES
Objective #1 Streamkeepers training provides 20 hours of training followed by a written exam to provide the youth with proper instruction, skills and tools necessary to perform stream management activities.
Objective #2 To provide work opportunities for youth to undertake volunteer conservation service projects. The expectation is these youth will become more effective leaders in conserving public and private natural and cultural resources.
Objective #3 Partnership with various government and non-government agencies. The youth will meet professionals that work in the fish management field and possibly build mentorship or work experience opportunities.
METHODS
Recruitment of Students. The Ch-ihl-kway-uhk Tribe is tying in an award program to jump start the recruitment process. In the 2009-2010 school year, talented grade 11 and 12 students that continue on with Math and Science will be eligible to enter into CT’s awards program. (Closing date: June 2010) Students will be asked to submit an application to CT for review. It is through this process students will be selected as candidates for this project. CT has made arrangements to promote this award program at the January 29, 2010 Stolo Nation Career Fair at the Evergreen Hall in Chilliwack. Final screening and selection of students will be based on attendance, grade and interest in fish management at an interview process.
CT has partnered with the Chilliwack School District #33 so that in addition students will earn grade 12 credits for the work experience being provided. The School District will also provide students with Workers Compensation Benefit coverage. At the end of the project, an evaluation will be provided both to the student and the employer to assess what was learned and their employability skills.
WorksafeT Solutions Inc. will provide the “Wilderness and Remote First Aid” course which includes Standard First Aid & CPR, plus special content on techniques for wilderness and remote areas. This will include bear safety and how to assess environmental situations. The course is 20 hours in length and includes a minimum of 5 hours in outdoor training. Further, the program has certified Red Cross instructors.
The Swiftwater Training is a two day session that will teach the youth how to identify and avoid risk, rescue others and self rescue. The course will be customized based on the speed and depth of the water. This course will involve both classroom and outdoor.
Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve offers many activities for the students such as, a presentation on the wetlands and careers in Science and meet a biologist studying turtle habitat and breeding in July. Youth will have a chance to explore what lives in the wetlands and connect artistically by learning to draw animals and landscape with a local artist. In addition students will be able to explore pond ecology and inspect insect larvae. Youth will be volunteering their services to remove vegetation and invasive species in the area.
A stop at two local hatcheries, Skowkale and the Chilliwack River Hatchery. At the Skowkale Hatchery the youth will meet Harold Archie who has ten years of experience at the First Nation Hatchery. He will provide an educational orientation about the types of fish that go through this hatchery. Mr. Archie will explain the lifecycle of fish from egg to adult. He can also share cultural experience and history with the youth. The second stop is at the Chilliwack River Hatchery managed by Bob Stanton. He will provide a larger scale operation to fish management and the different types of fish species that are cultivated at their site. The hatchery will discuss work experience necessary to work there. Youth will be able to gain hands on experience in fry marking to tag them, disease identification, and assessment of the problem.
The youth will be provided in-class and hands-on experience over two days for Streamkeepers training covering six modules: Introduction Stream Habitat Survey, Advanced Stream Habitat Survey, Water Quality Survey, Stream Invertebrate Survey, Streamside Planting, and, Juvenile Fish Trapping and Identification.
Stolo Resource and Research Management Centre (SRRMC) provide professional services in the fields of natural and cultural resource management. There services include: Aboriginal Rights and Title Research, GIS, Cultural Heritage, Archaeology, Environmental Research and Traditional Use Studies. Youth will be provided introductory GIS training including 3-D landscape modeling, inventory and mapping.
Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery, a non-profit organization offers a “Learn to Fish” program that will allow youth to experience different method of fishing. The four hour lesson will provide freshwater fish identification and biology, conservation, freshwater habitats, technical angling technique, knot typing and gear setting and water safety. This will lead into youth learning Fish Nation fishing techniques not only from Stolo but from various other regions in British Columbia.
The youth will be working with David Blair, Senior Water Environmentalist from the City of Chilliwack on habitat enhancement projects such as: tree planting on embankments to provide shading and nutrition for fish; drainage maintenance to ensure clearing of in-stream vegetation from creeks and ditches: and, fish salvage project in work zones which entails setting up 30-40 fish traps in fish bearing streams to remove them so restoration work can be done on the stream.
Youth will be supplied a notebook and camera to document thoughts and experiences of what they learned. This will be used as a resource for the youth as at the end of the project will be required to present a display and explain their project to community members.
BENEFITS
This project will work with First Nation youth that live alongside the Chilliwack waterways. This project teaches youth to be aware of human contact to the waterways and what they can do to change this situation. It is vital to have many hands working towards preservation and sustainability. The youth can have a voice to express what needs to be done to maintain healthy streams and rivers. Youth will have contact people and community projects they can actively volunteer from this day forward. The transfer of knowledge and experience learned in this program can be passed from youth to leaders by the many family representatives in leadership roles. It is CT’s goal that these youth can initiate revitalization projects in their communities. It is CT’s goal to continue their efforts to work towards the maintenance of sustainability of the natural resources, particularly fish. This project will identify and connect CT with the youth in the community at an early age that are interested in fish management. CT hopes to continue to support the youth in ongoing employment opportunities by: offering post secondary resources or possibly educational representatives to speak about their program and assisting students with resume building. CT would like to take on the Adopt A River project to allow students to continue to develop on their Streamkeeping skills that meets four times a year for stream cleaning in the area.
Engage First Nations, government agencies and community groups/NGOs
Youth will be selected from local First Nation communities. First Nation Elders, Treaty employees, political representatives will provide historical and cultural stories. Department of Fisheries and Conservation Officers will detail enforcement guidelines. Community Groups/Non-Profit Groups such as Great Blue Heron Reserve, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC will further promote educational and community volunteer opportunities. City of Chilliwack will provide mentorship and guidance on community projects.
Complement or implement local and / or regional plans (e.g., recovery plans, watershed plans)
Chilliwack River Watershed Strategy, Chilliwack-Vedder Fish Hazard Management Strategy
Value-added aspects
Students will learn and develop many skills necessary to manage and improve the salmon supply. Youth will be interacting and gaining hands on experience with local professionals and First Nation representatives that will provide leadership and mentorship roles throughout this project. The youth will have excellent skills, work experience and references to add to their resume. The local based knowledge learned is relevant to their area. This project will give youth an opportunity to reconnect with Elders to carry on oral history to future generations.
CT’s goal is to increase First Nation skills and expertise that will lead to future careers in fish management. Following this project, youth will now have people connections to carry on work experience during high peak work cycles.
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