In the News

Manitoba Conservation advises the Bloodvein River First Nation's proposed Pimitotah Management Plan for its 3,482 square kilometre traditional land-use area is going to the public consultation stage. In December 2009, Bloodvein River's renewed interest in the Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage Project was announced. The project is a partnership of the Bloodvein River, Pauingassi, Little Grand Rapids, Poplar River and Pikangikum First Nations, and the governments of Ontario and Manitoba. Bloodvein River's plan outlines its vision of the protection and development activities to take place in its planning area. A section of Atikaki Provincial Park, which is covered by an existing management plan, falls within Bloodvein River's traditional territory. The proposed Pimitotah traditional-use planning area regulation describes the boundaries of the proposed area and the proposed management plan that would apply to it. In addition to establishing a permanent protected area, the plan proposes community-resource and commercial-development zones. A public meeting will ...

“As the northern snows begin to melt and further south spring rains fall, our Mother Earth awakens and new life begins. At this time of renewal Anishinaabe grandmothers, women and men, and youth from Canada and the United States will continue walking for our waters. "The Mother Earth Water Walk began in 2003 in answer to question -- What will you do?” http://www.motherearthwaterwalk.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=119&Itemid=126

You are invited to attend

“The Boreal Forest: Our Land, Our Story, Our Responsibility”

National Aboriginal Speaking Series Tour Thursday, June 2nd, 7:00 p.m. at the University of Manitoba Free admission - Open to the Public – Refreshments provided The Canadian Boreal Initiative is inviting you to the opening event of its National Aboriginal Speaking Series Tour. Come and celebrate the leadership and commitment of Aboriginal communities in the conservation and sustainable development of the Boreal forest. The evening will be dedicated to Aboriginal leaders who will share their stories from the Boreal Forest, both successes and challenges. Sophia Rabliauskas, well known First Nations activist, Pimachiowin Aki spokesperson and leader of Poplar River First Nation in Manitoba will be speaking with Stephen Kakfwi, a gifted and ...

Investment Funds Long-Term Action Plan For Moose Population Recovery: Selinger

SWAN RIVER(The province is investing $800,000 to help address alarming declines in moose populations in several areas of the province, Premier Greg Selinger announced here today. "We are concerned about the decline of the moose population in these areas and we are investing in rebuilding the population," said Selinger. "To reverse the decline and restore the population to sustainable numbers, we are consulting First Nations, Métis and other Aboriginal communities, as well as the general public to develop long-term plans to ensure the population is not reduced to this level in the future." The areas of concern include Game Hunting Area (GHA) 18 in the Duck Mountain area of west-central Manitoba, GHA 14 in the vicinity of the Swan-Pelican Provincial Forest and GHA 26, which extends from Lake Winnipeg to the Ontario boundary between the Winnipeg and Wanipigow rivers, including Nopiming ...

Lake Winnipeg's water levels have been regulated for hydro-electric production since 1976. Public hearings will take place later this year to review Manitoba Hydro's license to do so. This workshop will explore the history of regulation and its effects on the environment and local communities. March 19th, 2011 10:00am - 3:00pm, University of Winnipeg, Rm 4M37 Download the poster

WINNIPEG—January 26, 2011—Manitoba and Ontario First Nations leaders led an eight-person delegation to New Zealand this month to share lessons with environmentalists, researchers and Aboriginal people from around the world on how First Nations here are working with governments to protect traditional lands through projects like the Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage Site project and land use planning. It was evident to the Pimachiowin Aki (pim MATCH cho win – ahh Key) team that Manitoba and Ontario First Nations had some good lessons to share with their Maori counterparts who are also struggling with how to work with other interests groups in efforts to protect the land. “It was amazing  how similar our stories and our connections with the land are with the Maori we met. After the conference we ...

Last month the Winnipeg Free Press published a full page of criticism regarding the decision to run the Bipole III transmission line down the West Side of Lake Winnipeg. The critique consists of two parts, namely, an open letter by 18 retired engineers titled, “Engineers united on east side,” and an article by Jim Collinson, “’All or nothing’ wrong approach on east side.” These articles contribute little to the discus­sion regarding hydroelectric development in Manitoba because they are based on narrow and out-dated ways of thinking about the issues at hand. Their favoured plan – trying to build the new line down the east side of the lake -- would endanger Hydro’s exports and stall or even stop construction of the new BiPole. We should keep in mind that Manitoba consumers and businesses are still paying for similar ...

The province set aside two northern wilderness areas today to be provincial parks. Colvin Lake and Nueltin Lake Parks hug the Nunavut boundary and cover about 610,000 hectares, a total area 10 times larger than Winnipeg, Premier Greg Selinger said. The Colvin Lake Provincial Park, known as the Land of Little Sticks, protects a total of 163,070 hectares. Nueltin Lake Provincial Park totals 447,190 hectares. Both fall in an area of transition between boreal forest and the tundra and are within the traditional hunting and trapping territories of the Northlands Denesuline First Nation and Sayisi Dene First Nation. Chief Joe Dantouze of the Northlands Denesuline First Nation said the wilderness area designation means both areas will be protected from development such as mineral exploration and mining. Lands included in a wilderness land-use category under the Provincial Parks Act also legally prohibit commercial logging hydroelectric development, oil and gas ...

A GRASSROOTS group working to help Lake Winnipeg is hoping that what worked in the Columbia River watershed will aid our ailing lake. Bruce Smith of the Lake Winnipeg Foundation said that's why the local foundation has joined forces with B.C.-based Wildsight, to create the Living Lakes Network Canada. "They have a good track record with the Columbia River and they are 15 years old and we're five," Smith said on Monday after a press conference announcing a two-day summit dealing with Lake Winnipeg. The two day conference, starting today, is pulling together government officials, business leaders, academics and students. Heather Leschied, program director of Wildsight, said the idea to create a national group came when they started giving advice to the Lake Winnipeg Foundation. Wildsight has been working for years to reduce nutrients in the Columbia River watershed. She said one of the ...

[caption id="attachment_694" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Credit: Valerie Courtois, Canadian Boreal Initiative"][/caption] It's beginning to be the time of year when caribou, as reindeer are known in North America, show up on holiday cards and tree ornaments. But not all is well with this iconic species, which has been in retreat from humans for decades. Now new thinking about the conservation and restoration of North America's wild herds of caribou combines not only the latest western approach to science but also the tried-and-tested ancient knowledge and perspectives of indigenous cultures that co-existed so long and so successfully with these northern animals. Caribou, known as reindeer, are tough, adaptable creatures--and it's no wonder they are attributed with the power of flight in Christmas stories. Yet the current reality is a far cry from the folklore: these animals are in severe decline. Circling the northern ...