Robert Grandjambe, “Observations from the Land: Insights from 27 Years of Trapping, Hunting and Fishing on the Alberta Landscape”
Nov. 15, 2018
Hosted by the Canadian Parks Research Network at the University of Alberta
Summary Notes
- Rapid change – consumers demand more than is available
- Trapping has now transformed into a more humane method and this is important to maintaining sustainability
- People need to be more aware of the changes that will impact animals
- Trappers try to understand the complexities of the environment and learn from previous experiences
- Collaboration needed to manage species and ensure their continuity
- Pine Lake – Wood Buffalo National Park
- Set trap lines for trapping within the park – he was identified as a nuisance to parks by the park’s superintendent
- Parks Canada claims his trap line interrupted hiking paths and an active beach
- He was considered a commercial trapper by Parks Canada and was under surveillance. No charges
- Court case with Parks Canada over dismantling of Robert’s trapping cabin, the loss of trapping opportunities and trapping equipment
- Shows a mindset of the dominant society – to build bridges forward we must start off on the same path
- According to Parks Canada, he is the only active trapper within the park – this shows the removal of Indigenous Peoples from the land
- Attaching monetary values to trapping to manage it is not beneficial
Notes from Workshop Facilitator, Thomas Snow
- How many people are aware things like this are happening?
- Some policies restrict people from carrying on with their way of life (trapping, etc.)
Notes from Workshop Breakout Session
- Indigenous voices first – guiding questions limit the conversations
- Brady Highway – what do the settler communities want from Indigenous communities? To take away knowledge?
- Find a place to create space for Indigenous people to lead the way in conservation
- Tension between “taking away knowledge” and wanting to engage with Indigenous communities
- How can a single representative from Indigenous communities speak on behalf of a large amount of people (who all have varying values and opinions)?
- Comparing differences between communities is not productive
- “How to make this more human for Indigenous People” – with regards to collaboration on parks management and conservation
- Challenges with framing PR – ensuring information shared to the public is fair to everyone
- What about revenue generation for the local Indigenous communities?
- Creating a place for productive conversations to occur and facilitate these discussions – the communities will decide what is appropriate for conservation management
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