Indigenous-led Initiatives and Collaboration on Moose in Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation Ancestral Land
Merick Young1,
Dan Soprovich2,
Heather Tanner3
Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation, Box 220 Birch River, MB, Canada
Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation
University of Calgary
Abstract In North America, concepts of conservation, stewardship and respect for the environment are deeply rooted in traditional, cultural and spiritual values of Indigenous peoples. Moose (moswa [Cree]; Alces alces) is a cultural keystone species that has helped sustain many Indigenous Nations in North America since time immemorial, and whose sustainability is central to community health, wellbeing and traditional ways of life. This is the case for Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation, a Nation that has traditionally cared for the land with which they are interconnected on ancestral lands in primary moose range in western Manitoba, Canada. The moose population in this area has declined dramatically since the 1990s, leading to hunting closures implemented more than a decade ago that continue today and which threaten the traditional and cultural practices of hunting and harvesting moose for present and future generations. In response to the decline, Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation has led and engaged in numerous collaborative initiatives seeking to enhance moose recovery on ancestral lands. Through these initiatives, the Nation has developed strong, mutually respectful and beneficial relationships with researchers and organizations, identified opportunities for community engagement, education and development of leadership skills and capacity and has identified avenues for weaving Western Science and Indigenous Knowledge in ways that are beneficial, respectful and incorporate holistic and sustainable approaches. The goal of this presentation is to share about the importance of moose from the perspective of Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation and about the collaborative initiatives the Nation has been involved in with moose as a focus. This includes the development of a “Moswa Management Plan”, collaborative initiatives with other Nations around landscape scale forestry development and moose habitat, and partnerships with conservation organizations and University researchers to work towards more holistic moose management, to better understand moose on Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation’s ancestral lands and support moose recovery.