WRRB celebrates and honours our world’s oceans

The Wek'èezhìı Renewable Resources Board  (WRRB) joins the international community in celebrating World Oceans Day, June 8.

In Tłı̨chǫ, the word for ocean or big lake is ‘ticho’

More than 70 per cent of the Earth is covered by ocean water. According to the United Nations, oceans provide at least 50 per cent of the planet’s oxygen and is home to a huge amount of biodiversity. Oceans are very important for providing food for billions of people.  

In the Northwest Territories, the Arctic Ocean has played and continues to play a major role in shaping of Indigenous culture. The Inuvialuit, for example, live near the Arctic Ocean and depend on it for whaling, fishing, and sealing throughout the year. 

The theme for World’s Oceans Day this year is ‘Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing’, which asks governments, non-government organizations, scientists, Indigenous peoples, youth activists, and individuals to come together to recognize how oceans support all life and to become more aware of the impact that humans have on oceans. This includes increasing amounts of pollutants that affect wildlife as well as carbon dioxide which warms the Earth and adds to the acidification of our oceans. Ocean acidification is the process of oceans becoming more acidic, making it hard for some marine life to thrive.

Rivers to Oceans Day

Closer to home, WRRB staff will be participating in Rivers to Oceans Day  at Somba K’e Civic Plaza on Friday, June 9.  Staff will be on hand with other northern organizations to promote water stewardship and education to young people from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. During that time, we will share information about how some northern water wildlife behave and eat and hopefully have a little bit of fun.

Be sure to stop and say hello!