The Battle River Watershed Alliance (BRWA) and community partners hosted a ‘Land2Lab Camp’ at Pigeon Lake (Mimiw Sakahikan) from July 4 to 7.
The event brought together knowledge keepers, Elders and youth from Samson Cree Nation, partners from the University of Alberta and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, as well as the BRWA.
It was organized by Samson Cree Nation consultant Glinnis Buffalo, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Lethbridge.
“BRWA staff were excited to contribute to this place-based learning opportunity,” said BRWA in its August newsletter.
One of the presenters was Mike Sullivan, a fish science specialist. During the camp, he discussed the connectivity of the environment and how to integrate western science with a Cree worldview.
He talked about the history of Pigeon Lake and what a healthy, integrated lake should look like, while engaging youth.
The Land2Lab Camp is a collaborative community project aimed at prioritizing Indigenous science.
The project seeks to facilitate a reciprocal sharing of knowledge and methods between community members and researchers.
The lab component of the camp invites community members into the researchers’ space.
Paddle guides
BRWA has added a new location to its paddle guides: Tide Creek.
Just off of Pigeon Lake, you can enjoy a short paddle down Tide Creek through a beautiful birch and evergreen forest that turns into grassland.
For the full series of guides, or more information about the Battle River watershed and upcoming BRWA events, visit www.battleriverwatershed.ca.