During this conference, Kim Tremblay, A/OFRC Fisheries Biologist, delivered a presentation entitled The Role that Lake Sturgeon Play in First Nation Communities.
On December 3rd 2008 several representatives from A/OFRC staff attended the Great Lakes Lake Sturgeon Coordination Meeting that was held in Port Huron, Michigan. The meeting was held over two days (Dec. 3-4), bringing together people from the both the United States and Canada to discuss lake sturgeon. Informative presentations, posters, and discussion groups provided opportunities to interact with other participants and share ideas. The theme of the meeting was “Understanding and Managing Lake Sturgeon”, with break out groups discussing how to develop management plans specifically focused on lake sturgeon.
Since time immemorial the lake sturgeon has had an important role in First Nation communities. Lake sturgeon are important spiritually and possess a mystical power in the stories that are shared from generation to generation. The role that lake sturgeon play in these communities has evolved over time; shifting from being an important part of their diet; to a resource that was traded as a commodity for economic gain; to the present where the utilization of the lake sturgeon has become less evident. Within Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, a remote community located North of Lake Nipigon, lake sturgeon continues to provide a reliable food source every spring through subsistence fishing. This however is changing. Younger generations from that community do not seem to be following this harvesting tradition. But with environmental education and awareness there is a chance many First Nation communities could reclaim their connection with their ancestor the lake sturgeon.
The A/OFRC works with many of First Nations who have relationships with the lake sturgeon. To investigate the ecological/social/economic/spiritual role of lake sturgeon in First Nation communities for this presentation, 25 different individuals were interviewed in 8 different First Nation communities in Northern Ontario (Nipissing First Nation, Dokis First Nation, Sagamok First Nation, Serpent River First Nation, Mississauga # 8 First Nation, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek, Ojibways of Pic River First Nation, and Namaygoosisagagun First Nation).
At the poster session portion of the Coordination Meeting, Caroline Deary, A/OFRC Senior Biologist, summarized preliminary results from a lake sturgeon radio tagging project that was conducted on the Pic River in conjunction with Ojibways of Pic River First Nation this past field season.
A special Thank You! to the individuals who conducted the interviews with the community members (Alesia Boyer, Charles Hardy, Amanda Commanda, Perry McLeod-Shabogesic, Jack Restoule, John Okeese, and Dan Couchie).
Also, a Thank You! to the steering committee for organizing a great meeting. Visit their website if you are interested in learning more. http://www.fws.gov/midwest/sturgeon/
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