Year: 2005
Abstract:
The objectives of the Traditional Knowledge and Land Use portion of the environmental impact assessment were to determine the extent of traditional land use; discuss the vegetation and wildlife used for nutritional and medicinal purposes; examine the potential effects the Christina Lake project may have; identify the traditional land uses including fishing, hunting, and plant harvesting, as well as cabin sites, spiritual sites, and graves; determine the project and cumulative impacts of development on these uses; and identify possible mitigation strategies. Interviews with 12 Conklin Métis Elders were conducted in their language of choice. Confidentiality was maintained through the use of numeric codes. Interview questions were semi-directed and focused on patterns of traditional occupancy use; interviewees were free to change the direction of discussion to other matters deemed important to the study. This report gives a broad and comprehensive discussion of the methodology and principles of approach used for the study, including working definitions, pre-existing issues and concerns, management goals, and assessment approach. A large section on baseline information describes historical and current information related to Conklin Métis traditional land use, exploring traditional lifestyles and values (spiritual values, travel, the seasonal round, food gathering, traditional sites, and health), traditional sites and areas (medicinal plant locales, grave sites, spiritual renewal sites, campsites, and trails), and ecological observations (air, "yellow scum," water quality, vegetation, fish and wildlife, industrial disturbance, sacred space, Métis access, preservation of cultural values, health and well-being). The last section of the report describes both the local study area and the regional study area effects to various sites and resources. It also provides MEG Energy Corporation's response to the identified issues and concerns, explaining mechanics of the project, suggesting issue-specific mitigation, or promising further discussion.
