The winter water indicator field trip. Elders around the fire.
DRFN is involved with water security initiatives to understand connectivity between climate, land use and the aquatic environment. Key to these initiatives is understanding the Beaver People’s connection with water through sharing and exploring their stories, values, relationships, teachings as well as historic and current uses of water. Our goals are to develop restoration plans, guardianship activities and predictive models inclusive of both western science and Tsáá ché ne dane knowledge and experience as well as deliver outcomes that will improve water security in the territory over time.
Chuu Ghadaah (Water is Alive) Project
In October 2021, Doig River citizens and other members of the Chuu Ghadaah (Water is Alive) project team met to discuss the changes on the land that have resulted in impacts to water in the Doig and Osborne watersheds. The research clearly indicated the Doig River members no longer trust Chuu (water) in the territory. Through this project, we were able to develop a suite of community indicators for water quality and quantity that will be used to monitor the condition of water over time and applied in our decision making about resource development in the territory.
As part of the Chuu Ghadaah project, we developed a series of videos to document our approach to the project, the progress we made and what we were hearing from the project participants. Below are the Chuu Ghadaah videos in which you will hear directly from members about the importance of clean water to them and the changes to water quality they have witnessed over the years.
In 2023, DRFN will kick off similar research on Nan (land). Stay tuned for an update.
Kick-off Video
Winter Indicators
Spring/Summer Indicators
Gallery
