Gamètì Fish Camp 2017

The Tłı̨chǫ Aquatic Ecosystem Monitoring Program (TAEMP) returned to Gamètì this fall where fish, water and sediment samples had been collected four years ago.  The TAEMP focuses on gathering samples near each of the four Tłı̨chǫ communities once every four years.  The information that is collected provides a way to track fish health and water quality by comparing samples from one sampling period to the next to see if there are any changes in the aquatic environment over time. 

TAEMP participants set up an on-the-land monitoring camp at the same site they used in 2013, a traditional fishery near Gamètì.  Over five days, from September 25-29, 2017, community elders, youth and other community members, along with scientists and support staff, worked together and shared their skills and knowledge.  Łıh (Lake Trout) and Łıwezǫǫ̀ (Lake Whitefish) were sampled again this year, and water and sediment samples were taken from six locations that community members had chosen earlier for the 2013 fish camp, based on community use and concerns about water quality.

Łıwezǫǫ̀ (Lake Whitefish) Photo:  Francois Larouche, Golder Associates

Łıh (Lake Trout) Photo:  Francois Larouche, Golder Associates

Priscilla Lamouelle and Nelson Zoe heading out (GNWT / N.Dion, ENR)

Characteristic of this time of year, there was a stretch of windy weather, when everyone stayed put in camp and couldn’t go out on the water.  As it turned out, “the windy weather was like a divine intervention,” said Nicole Dion, Aquatic Quality Scientist, GNWT, and a project partner at fish camp.   “The youth were exposed to cranberry picking, preparing dry meat (moose) and dry fish, and storytelling.  Community members love to share those things.” Nicole added that she also benefited from “a day of traditional knowledge” and learned how to cut up moose meat.  “The ladies are so good at it, it puts you to shame,” she said.  “It’s a great cultural experience to get out on the land, and eat fresh fish and moose meat everyday.”  Fresh bannock and cranberries were added to the daily menu, and visiting and storytelling contributed to the relaxed atmosphere at camp. 

Elder cutting up fish (Photo:  GNWT / N.Dion, ENR)

 

Cutting up fish (Photo:  GNWT / N.Dion, ENR)

Learning from elders how to cut moose meat (Photo: Wek’èezhìı Land and Water Board)

Youth also took part in cultural activities such as learning how to cut moose meat  (Photo:  Anneli Jokela, Wek’èezhìı Land and Water Board)

 

“It was a very well organized camp.  Firewood was constantly being made, everyone had a place to get warm and dry, and everyone helped each other.”   - Nicole Dion

Youth at fish camp help with camp chores, including collecting firewood (Photo:  GNWT / N.Dion, ENR)

Mary Chocolate and Therese Zoe cooking in tent with spruce bough floor (Photo:  GNWT / N.Dion, ENR)

Nicole described how pleasant it was to visit the community members’ tents set up with wood stoves and spruce boughs that “smelled so fresh and reflected the wood heat”, making for a comfortable place to stop by between the sampling activities and camp chores.  There were morning meetings each day to plan the day’s activities and evening meetings to discuss how things went that day.  With education being an important focus at fish camp, Nicole and Priscilla Lamouelle, Tłı̨chǫ Government, demonstrated how to take water and sediment samples and Francois Larouche, Golder Associates, demonstrated how to process fish samples for testing in the lab. 

Nicole Dion using the Ekman sampler to collect sediment from the bottom of the lake. (Photo:  Wek’èezhìı Land and Water Board)

Sediment sample from lake bottom (Photo:  Wek’èezhìı Land and Water Board)

 

Francois Larouche, Golder Associates, demonstrating how to process fish samples for testing.  (Photo:  GNWT / N.Dion, ENR)

Demonstrating fish processing at fish camp.  (Photo:  Roberta Judas, Wek’èezhìı Land and Water Board)

Learning how to work with a fresh moose hide (Photo: GNWT / N.Dion, ENR)

Preparing moose nose, a delicacy (GNWT / N.Dion, ENR)

Preparing moose nose, a delicacy (Photo:  GNWT / N.Dion, ENR)

Nicole described the crystal clear water in the sampling area, with “rocky shores and not a lot of sediment”.  Community members noted that water levels appeared to be higher this year and because of that, the TAEMP team was able to get to the “tea water place”, one of the sites that had been chosen for sampling because water is collected there for making tea.  Interestingly, findings at that site back in 2013 showed how traditional knowledge and science can work together and help tell a complete story.  The testing results that year showed that the water was “soft” at the “tea water” location –different from the “hard” water found at the other water sampling locations.  Hard water has more dissolved minerals in it, which give it a characteristic taste that differs in taste from the water the community likes to use for tea.  It will be interesting to see results from this year’s sampling when they come in early in the new year. 

Taking water samples at the tea water stream (GNWT / N.Dion, ENR)

In addition to the tea place, the team sampled near where the 2014 fires occurred, near where the ice road is, a particularly deep spot, outside the community, near the sewage lagoon, and where the community’s water intake is –all locations that community members had decided on four years ago. 

In the discussions at camp, concerns were raised about whether there were any radioactive materials as a fallout from the old Rae Rock mine and expressed an interest in testing for that in future.  Forest fire can change things too, depending on the amount of precipitation after the fire and a number of other variables such as the lake chemistry before the fire, the topography (the physical features of the landscape) and bedrock, and vegetation.  The specific effects can be unpredictable but are usually short term.  If rainfall occurs after a wildfire, the ash and soot that fell during the fire can run off into the water, increasing the amount of sediment in the water.  After the extreme fires of 2014, the NWT experienced drought conditions so no changes had been observed, Nicole noted.  The vegetation that grew up after the fires also prevented run off, she added. 

Boyan Tracz, Wildlife Management Biologist, WRRB, with youth at fish camp:  Forrest Zoe, Skyden Koyina, Josiayiah Wetrade, Rebecca Black, Steve Etsemba (Photo:  GNWT / N.Dion ENR)

Participants at 2017 TAEMP fish camp in  Gamètì (Photo:  Wek’èezhìı Land and Water Board) :

Back row:  Charlie Gon, Dakota Wetrade, Alphonse Apples, Joe Mantla, Joe Zoe, Louis Zoe, Forrest Zoe
Middle row:  Therese Arrowmaker, Therese Gon, Therese Zoe, Marion Apples, Rosy Mantla, James Rabesca, Jonas Laferty, Hunter Mantla
Front row:  Mary Chocolate, Marie Adele Wetrade, Priscilla Lamouelle, Nicole Dion, Anneli Jokela, Roberta Judas

What happens next?

It’s important to be vigilant and continue to monitor the fish and water the community of Gamètì depends on.  Fish tissue samples collected at this fish camp are now being tested for metals and other contaminants.  Water and sediment samples are also being analyzed for various characteristics that can tell us about water quality, such as the amount of oxygen and nutrients in the water. 

Together, the sample results will give a picture of current environmental conditions in the aquatic ecosystem near Gamètì –and will give the first set of comparative results for Gamètì for water, sediment and fish tissues in Rae Lakes.   Those results will be reported back to the community in a follow-up meeting early in 2018.  Watch for meeting details on the WRRB’s Facebook page and website. 

Warming drums for the feeding the fire ceremony.  (Photo:  Roberta Judas, Wek’èezhìı Land and Water Board)

Fish camp 2017 (Photo:  GNWT / N.Dion, ENR)

Fact Box:

• Starting in 2015, the TAEMP entered its “comparative sampling phase”. The first years of the TAEMP provided a baseline of information that can now be compared with data collected in this second phase of the program. 
• This second phase will be completed when the fish camp returns to Whatì  in 2018.