Water first nations ws8.1

WaterWater
First Nations & MétisFirst Nations & Métis
Grade 8 – SK CurriculumGrade 8 – SK Curriculum
Earth & Space Science- WaterEarth & Space Science- Water
SystemsSystems
WS8.1WS8.1

Traditional KnowledgeTraditional Knowledge
• First Nations have a strong spiritual connection withFirst Nations have a strong spiritual connection with
water. Water is consideredwater. Water is considered livingliving and must beand must be
respected.respected.

• Elders give their knowledge through stories toldElders give their knowledge through stories told
to the children:to the children:
• Water is sacred;Water is sacred;
• Water is given to us by Mother Earth;Water is given to us by Mother Earth;
• The respect we give to Mother Earth is to notThe respect we give to Mother Earth is to not
pollute or waste the waters.pollute or waste the waters.

• First Nations peoplesFirst Nations peoples
have a variety of culturalhave a variety of cultural
and social practices thatand social practices that
involve water:involve water:
• Places of prayer;Places of prayer;
• Bathing;Bathing;
• Oral stories;Oral stories;
• Purification ceremonies;Purification ceremonies;
• Medicine making.Medicine making.

• First Nations Fishing;First Nations Fishing;
• First Nations people
harvested the fish
resources of SK long
before European
influence and in the
forested areas of the
Province, fish were a
major contributor to
sustaining life.

• First Nations peoples harvest:
• Lake trout, walleye, northern pike, suckers, perch,
whitefish, and Arctic grayling were some of the species
commonly utilized.
• Respect for nature, life and its offerings were strongly
emphasized at the time of these traditional practices and
still are today.

First Nations and MétisFirst Nations and Métis
• Traditional Fishing Practices:Traditional Fishing Practices:
• birch bark canoes
• spears
• snares attached to poles
• fish traps
All were methods used to harvest fish from the surrounding
waters.

• Fish were preserved by
freezing in the winter.
• Drying or Smoking in the
summer.

• Fishing Practices:Fishing Practices:
• Gill net fishing:Gill net fishing:
• Gill netsGill nets are walls of netting which may be set at orare walls of netting which may be set at or
below the surface, on the waterway, or at any depth inbelow the surface, on the waterway, or at any depth in
between. Gill netting is probably the oldest form of netbetween. Gill netting is probably the oldest form of net
fishing, having been in use for thousands of years byfishing, having been in use for thousands of years by
First Nation Peoples.First Nation Peoples.

Gill Net FishingGill Net Fishing
• True gill nets catch fish thatTrue gill nets catch fish that
attempt to swim through theattempt to swim through the
net, which are caught if theynet, which are caught if they
are of a size large enough toare of a size large enough to
allow the head to pass throughallow the head to pass through
the meshes but not the rest ofthe meshes but not the rest of
the body.the body.
• The fish then becomesThe fish then becomes
entangled by the gills as itentangled by the gills as it
attempts to back out of the net.attempts to back out of the net.
The mesh size used dependsThe mesh size used depends
upon the species and sizeupon the species and size
range being targeted.range being targeted.

Northern Saskatchewan First NationsNorthern Saskatchewan First Nations
• Northern SK communities suchNorthern SK communities such
as Black Lake, Hatchet Lakeas Black Lake, Hatchet Lake
and Fond du Lac First Nations:and Fond du Lac First Nations:
• Fish are still a major staple inFish are still a major staple in
the diet.the diet.
• Some of the traditional fishingSome of the traditional fishing
methods are still used alongmethods are still used along
with modern fishing equipmentwith modern fishing equipment
and techniques.and techniques.

• Treaty Rights & Fishing:Treaty Rights & Fishing:
• “The legal recognition of Aboriginal rights to fish and
hunt has a long-standing history in Canada.”
“These rights are protected in the Canadian Constitution
and are given priority in resource allocation over all other
uses. Only valid conservation concerns can be given
priority over these rights.”

First Nations & Métis Fishing RightsFirst Nations & Métis Fishing Rights
• “The application of Métis Aboriginal rights to fish and
hunt for food in Saskatchewan is evolving and still
unclear.” Métis rights are not the same as the universal
rights held by First Nations Peoples under the Treaty
Rights.
The government does require a First Nations and Métis
peoples to buy a fishing license to fish a ‘stocked lake’.

• Transportation via Waters:Transportation via Waters:
• The geography of the prairie provinces, more commonly known asThe geography of the prairie provinces, more commonly known as
the "Northwest Territory" during the days of fur trade, has threethe "Northwest Territory" during the days of fur trade, has three
principle water basins:principle water basins:
• the Red River, draining the south and eastern portion;the Red River, draining the south and eastern portion;
• the Athabasca Basin which drains the most northerly and westernthe Athabasca Basin which drains the most northerly and western
area; andarea; and
• the Saskatchewan River (South SK and North SK join just North ofthe Saskatchewan River (South SK and North SK join just North of
Prince Albert) which drains water east of the Rockies all the way toPrince Albert) which drains water east of the Rockies all the way to
Lake Winnipeg and finally to Hudson's Bay.Lake Winnipeg and finally to Hudson's Bay.

TransportationTransportation
• The Saskatchewan River with its ease of access andThe Saskatchewan River with its ease of access and
navigation from Lake Winnipeg became the primarynavigation from Lake Winnipeg became the primary
gateway to the rich fur-bearing regions beyond.gateway to the rich fur-bearing regions beyond.
• In addition, the Saskatchewan River provided access toIn addition, the Saskatchewan River provided access to
other important navigable rivers in northernother important navigable rivers in northern
Saskatchewan; i.e., the Churchill River system as well asSaskatchewan; i.e., the Churchill River system as well as
the Clearwater River which provided access to the Lakethe Clearwater River which provided access to the Lake
Athabasca basin.Athabasca basin.

Drainage basin pictureDrainage basin picture
Final drainage
Into the Hudson Bay

Water QualityWater Quality
• Pollution of water-bodies and the effects on First NationsPollution of water-bodies and the effects on First Nations
Peoples.Peoples.
• Waters are sacred;Waters are sacred;
• Waters are a food source;Waters are a food source;
• Waters are a way of life, transportation;Waters are a way of life, transportation;
• Drinking water on the First Nation.Drinking water on the First Nation.

• Water QualityWater Quality
• FN news release VC Whitefish re: FN that have to boilFN news release VC Whitefish re: FN that have to boil
their water – May 28, 2010:their water – May 28, 2010:
• ““There are 114 First Nation communities across CanadaThere are 114 First Nation communities across Canada
under drinking water advisories. In Saskatchewan thereunder drinking water advisories. In Saskatchewan there
are boil water advisories on 12 First Nationare boil water advisories on 12 First Nation
communities.”communities.”

Water QualityWater Quality
• Pollution in SK waters:Pollution in SK waters:
• One example is the Pipestone Creek water pollution inOne example is the Pipestone Creek water pollution in
1995 from the town of Kelvington dumping sewage into1995 from the town of Kelvington dumping sewage into
the creek. This directly affected the First Nation ofthe creek. This directly affected the First Nation of
Yellow Quill which attains some of their water from theYellow Quill which attains some of their water from the
creek during periods in the spring when the creek flows.creek during periods in the spring when the creek flows.
• The First Nation of Yellow Quill had poor water quality asThe First Nation of Yellow Quill had poor water quality as
well as many forms of bacteria that could have causedwell as many forms of bacteria that could have caused
serious health risks.serious health risks.

• Water treatment plants FirstWater treatment plants First
NationsNations
• Yellow Quill FN:Yellow Quill FN:
• 1995 boil-water advisory due1995 boil-water advisory due
to poor surface water sourceto poor surface water source
• Fall of 2003Fall of 2003
• A state of the art facility thatA state of the art facility that
uses no chemicals, the bio-uses no chemicals, the bio-
membrane process usesmembrane process uses
naturally occurring micro-naturally occurring micro-
organisms to remove theorganisms to remove the
contaminants from the water.contaminants from the water.
The Yellow Quill First Nation bio-membrane water
treatment plant in Saskatchewan is the first of
its kind in Canada.

Northern First NationsNorthern First Nations
• First Nations communities in Northern SaskatchewanFirst Nations communities in Northern Saskatchewan
have long voiced their concerns about uranium mininghave long voiced their concerns about uranium mining
and the dangers to the surrounding waters. Buried orand the dangers to the surrounding waters. Buried or
ponded mine tailings have led to water pollution affectingponded mine tailings have led to water pollution affecting
the fishing communities.the fishing communities.
• The uranium mining companies are moreThe uranium mining companies are more
environmentally aware today and taking moreenvironmentally aware today and taking more
precautions with tailings and decomposition of minesprecautions with tailings and decomposition of mines
than they have in the past.than they have in the past.

Sources:Sources:
• Saskatchewan First Nations Elders
• www.environment.gov.sk.ca
• www.wikimapia.orgwww.wikimapia.org
• www.wikipedia.orgwww.wikipedia.org
• www.fishonline.orgwww.fishonline.org
• http://www.npss.sk.cahttp://www.npss.sk.ca
• www.agriculture.gov.sk.cawww.agriculture.gov.sk.ca
• www.safewater.orgwww.safewater.org

Lori SlaterLori Slater
B.Sc. Biology, BEd. Senior ScienceB.Sc. Biology, BEd. Senior Science
• Program Coordinator – ScienceProgram Coordinator – Science

Water first nations ws8.1

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