Dr. Sue Senger, environment lead for the SGS, outlines the importance of their work in this year's annual report:
The SGS environment team has developed and is working on a series of programs that improve the knowledge and understanding of environmental issues within the St’át’imc nation. It is also developing the tools needed to share that information to help St’át’imc people to make informed decisions.
Tsi7 (mule deer) are an important and traditional food and resource for St’át’imc people. To focus on their long-term sustainability, the Tsi7 Stewardship Project has been drafted. The next step is to create a network of community members to work with mule deer stewardship and management.
In addition, two workshops on mule deer health have been hosted which have helped to educate hunters and community members about deer health issues, what to watch for and how to collect samples.
Monitoring
Trail camera monitoring work has also been done to monitor movement of wildlife. The results from this trial work will be used to formulate a trail camera protocol which will be used to monitor all types of wildlife in St’át’imc territory, using the latest technology to continue and enhance important and traditional activities.
To keep contractors and field crews safe, the environment team has also been organizing formal bear safety training workshops. These are helping to raise the standard of safety measures taken and to provide other bear safety information. Bear Aware booths and information have also been used at a variety of community events and at the Lillooet farmers’ market.
Informing St’át’imc communities and providing opportunities to ask questions and give feedback is a central part of the environment team’s remit. With that in mind, a new program website has been launched including updates and information on projects. A series of ‘meet and greet’ events have also been held in ten communities, a program which will continue in the coming year.
In conjunction with other SGS departments, the environment team has been taking part in the Exploratory Analysis of St’át’imc Knowledge (ASK) project. This has provided an overview of the reports and maps resources available from past work. The next step is to look at ways to organize this information and make it easy for communities to access and use the information.
As it carries out its day to day work, the environment team is also collecting and updating digital mapping information across St’át’imc territory for natural resource values.
Next steps
Much of the work outlined above will continue on the coming year, with new projects also being created. For example:
• A recovery plan for Stein-Nahatlatch unit grizzly bears, which are currently in rapid decline
• Collecting traditional knowledge on natural resource use, management and sustainability
• Initiating planning work on water (use, monitoring and sustainability), plants and species at risk across the territory.
In the coming year, new planning tools and processes will be used to look at resource development. This will include the drafting of a no-development “red zone” map for the territory.
Many of the environment team’s projects also impact land use, and so the team will be playing a role in the creation of a land use plan across the territory.