NÁÁTS ĮHCH OH UPDATE Summer 2017

Transcription

1 NÁÁTS ĮHCH OH UPDATE Summer 2017 PARKS CANADA S 2017 STAFF This summer we welcomed five new staff to the Naats ihch oh National Park Reserve office: Samantha Bayha (Park Project Officer); Eric Bayha (Summer Student); Caitlin Willier and Jason Ayah (Resource Conservation Technicians); and Jeff Stewart (Visitor Experience Team Leader). Joanne Krutko returned to Parks Canada, working this year as a heritage presenter. The staff also included Amy Tanner (returning Resource Conservation Technician), Faye D Eon- Eggertson (Resource Conservation Supervisor), Janet Bayha (Administrative Assistant) and Laani Uunila (Superintendent). Jason s time with Parks was brief as he took a fulltime position with GNWT shortly after starting with us. Staff Pictures and Featured Bios Joanne Krutko and Caitlin Willier Samantha Bayha Hello there, my name is Samantha Bayha and I was hired on with Parks Canada on June 1 st, 2017 as the Park Project Officer. Born and raised here in charming Tulita, Northwest Territories. I have 2 beautiful younger sisters and a very handsome intelligent son named Eric who was also hired on as a summer student with Parks Canada. Prior to starting the next chapter in my life with Parks Canada, I received my Pre-technology Certificate from NAIT then went on to CDI College where I completed the Systems Network Administrator Course and received my Diploma along with my A+ Certificate while living in Edmonton, Alberta. So I m guessing you re wondering what made me decide to do a complete 180 in my life, to go from studying IT/Computers to camping in the great outdoors with Parks

2 Canada... Living in the city for several years made me realize how much I missed life at home with family and friends and how much I felt disconnected from our culture, land and heritage. Being away made me appreciate and value what we have right here in Tulita in our own backyard. Working with Parks Canada allows me to reconnect with our culture and heritage, the connection that I once felt was fading away can now be ignited again. So I guess you can say I now have the best of both worlds was fortunate enough to go out into the park on several fieldwork trips during the summer of 2016 and My favorite trip by far was preforming the wildlife camera maintenance. This trip allowed me to visit some amazing locations in the park and I was able to see all of the different types of wildlife in the park while processing the photos here in Tulita. Faye D Eon-Eggertson Eric Bayha My name is Eric Bayha and I have had the blessed privilege of calling Tulita my home for the last 19 years of my life. I am also 19 years young. I am a recent high school graduate who was fortunate enough to acquire the summer student position Parks Canada had to offer. One of the main aspects of my job requires myself and the Nááts įhch oh crew to paddle down the Broken Skull river to map out any new possible routes for future visitors and to also make note of any special geological features along the way (e.g., hot springs, steep granite mountain peaks, etc). Faye is the supervisor for the park's Resource Conservation Team. She is now going into her second year of working for Nááts įhch oh and living in Tulita. Jeff Stewart Amy Tanner Working as a Resource Management Technician at Nááts įhch oh National Park Reserve was an amazing experience! I Jeff worked for Nááts įhch oh for the summer of 2017.

3 TRAINING Wilderness Advanced First Aid The Nááts įhch oh office, in conjunction with SRRB, organized a Wilderness First Aid Course for staff and members of the community. Seven members from the Nááts įhch oh staff, three from SRRB, and three community members participated in the training. We had a hands on experience of how to administer first aid and treat injuries while in isolated environments. In Park Training with Nahanni Staff Four staff members from Nááts įhch oh joined Nahanni staff for in-park visitor experience training (see the trip report later in this newsletter). Interpretive Workshop Nááts įhch oh hosted a 3 day workshop on interpretive training with Dorothy Stearns from Nahanni. The workshop allowed the group staff and community members to participate and experience what it s like to create their own cultural programs for tourists (e.g., guided hikes). Snow on June 17 at Dechı baa Tué July In early July the batteries and memory cards were switched out on our wildlife cameras on Ɂepe Nı narehɂa Ɂetene ɂ (Caribou Crossing Trail / Howard s Pass Access Road). Later in the month, staff went to Ǫtaa Tue Fehto (Divide Lake) to complete vegetation surveys and test fish monitoring techniques amongst other tasks. Each wildlife camera takes 16 lithium batteries FIELD SEASON June This summer was a busy one for us, with several trips heading into Nááts įhch oh National Park Reserve. In June, forest bird monitoring work was conducted at Dechı baa Tue (Margaret Lake) and Pı í ṕ'ene h łe eto o Tue (Broken Skull Lake). Frederick Andrew and Laani Uunila accompanied staff on their flight to Dechı baa Tue and then headed by air to Tuededéveh Tué (Clearwater Lake) to check out the lake before returning to Tulita. At the end of July Joanne Krutko headed to Dechinla Lodge to participate in a caribou workshop, and four staff, including Eric Bayha, paddled Pı í ṕ'ene h łe eto o Dee (Broken Skull River). The river team took water samples along the way, made notes to update the visitor trip planner and explored new hiking routes (see the trip report in this newsletter).

4 August High above Pı ı ṕ'enéh łéeto o Deé Staff went to Nıónep'eneɂ Tue (Backbone Lake, formerly Grizzly Bear Lake) to conduct resource conservation work, move derelict fuel barrels from a creek and set water temperature monitors and wildlife cameras. An archaeology trip also happened in August. Two Parks Canada archaeologists were joined by William and Robert Horassi, as well as Superintendent, Laani Uunila. The archaeology work was to ensure that cultural resources would not be impacted by aircraft landing sites or potential new infrastructure. On day two of the trip, the team found some partially exposed stone tools. Information will be shared on the tools as we learn more about them (stay tuned!). In mid-august the Nááts įhch oh Management Committee went to Nahanni to meet with Nahanni s Naha Dehé Consensus Team, as well as have their own meeting on the land. The Management Committee has approved the first park management plan, and it will be moving through the approval process over the following months. Paul Andrew and Lisa McDonald at Gahnîhthah (Rabbitkettle Hot Spring) in Nahanni National Park Reserve Robert and William Horassi Robert and William shared valuable insights with the archaeologists, as well as, provided advice on infrastructure at Ǫtaa Tue Fehto. The Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (now Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs), Carolyn Bennett, and MP Michael McLeod visited the park for a day on August 25 th, joining up with the archaeology team at Ǫtaa Tue Fehto. Leon Andrew, Gordon Yakeleya and Ethyl Blondin-Andrew joined the Minister for the day. The Minister explored the area, talked to the archaeologists and community members, and enjoyed a paddle on Ǫtaa Tue Fehto. On the second to last day of the archaeology trip, Joe Bernarde, William Andrew, and Joanne and Niah Krutko joined the trip for a night of camping

5 at Tu och'ee Tue (O Grady Lake). William Andrew helped Laani Uunila find derelict fuel barrels and move them to a central pick-up point. Eleven fuel barrels were removed from Tu och'ee Tue. are a sacred site home to the horizon walker Yamoria who created Dene law. While up on the Tufa Mound we paid respect by offering tobacco and asked for guidance and health for our family and friends. About half way through the hike there is a beautiful Lake called Emerald Lake that emits a gorgeous green emerald color caused by light reflecting off the limestone at the bottom of the lake. Laani Uunila and William Andrew cleaning up the park REPORTS FROM THE FIELD This section contains stories from our staff about highlights of their summer. Nahanni National Park Four staff members ventured out on a 10 day trip to Nahanni National Park Reserve for an In-Park Orientation hosted by the Nahanni team. After a 2 day delay in Fort Simpson due to bad weather, we flew out to Nahanni National Park Reserve. During our stay in Fort Simpson we met with the Nahanni staff and participated in some traditional games and picked some Labrador tea to make some tea for all staff members. When the weather cleared, a group of 10 flew to Gahnįhthah Mįe (Rabbitkettle Lake). Once at Gahnįhthah Mįe we unpacked the float plane and set up camp right next to Rabbitkettle Lake, by a quaint little cabin. Across the lake on the mountain side, there is an image of a man, locals call him the man in the moose skin vest, he protects and watches over the Gahnįhthah Mįe area. After 3 awe-inspiring days in Gahnįhthah we packed up our gear and waited for the twin otter to shuttle the group to Nāįlįcho (Virginia Falls). Once we arrived we were greeted by Nahanni staff tour guides. After setting up camp we went on a 45min hike to the top of the thundering Nāįlįcho falls, the mesmerizing 302-foot-high falls about twice the height of Niagara Falls. It was so powerful, you could feel the energy and power coming from Nāįlįcho Falls. Legend says you can sometimes see shapes in the mist and if you do it s a good omen. The next day we did a six hour hike to Gahnįhthah (Rabbitkettle) Tufa Mounds, Canada s largest active tufa mounds. These significant tufa mounds

6 The next few days the group experienced interpretive guided hikes delivered by Nahanni staff to the top and bottom of Nāįlįcho Falls and half of the group went on a bushwhacking hike to Marengo Falls that took about 3 hours there and back. On the last day we packed up our gear and said our goodbyes to the Nahanni team and headed out on the twin otter back to Fort Simpson where our Nááts įhch oh group then flew back to Tulita. Cultural Day Camp Joanne Krutko from Nááts įhch oh hosted a cultural day camp in conjunction with Angela Bernarde from the Tulita Dene Band and Jessie Yakeleya from the Metis Land Corporation. Thanks to all the organizations that supported the program! The cultural day camp was a day program that created exchange of knowledge and teachings with the Elders and youth of the community of Tulita. The camp consisted of fish gutting, making dry fish, filleting fish and meat cutting, they then prepared the food to cook on the open fire. There were also some traditional games with the kids that included leg wrestling, and bow and arrow target shooting along with a display set up in a canvas tent that included artifacts, pictures and traditional clothing of the early days. Broken Skull River Adventure Report by Summer Student Eric Bayha We had an early morning departure from Norman Wells to Nááts įhch oh where we would be begin our 10 day descent down Pı í ṕ'ene h łe eto o Dee (the Broken Skull River) which eventually flows into Tehjeh Dee (the South Nahanni River). We arrived at Ǫtaa Tué Fehto (Divide Lake) with no intention of spending a night there, we were all adamant on getting a head start on our trip while the weather was in our favour. We walked our canoes the majority of Ǫtaa Tu Fehto Dee (Divide Creek) for the water was low volume and slow moving, the terrain surrounding the area was very Alpinelike with few trees few and far between, although the terrain often changes every kilometer in very dramatic fashion. We decided to camp above Swallow Falls. The next day we got an early start and wasted no time hauling our gear over the 400 meter portage. We began our journey again passing various sections of white water along the way. We had plans of stopping at a spot which would give us an easy access hiking point to Pı í ṕ'ene h łe eto o Gaǫfa a (Broken Skull Hot Spring). The hike had one creek crossing with very minimal bushwhacking compared to most of the hiking our Park has to offer, and is also the most pleasant hiking experience I have had in the park to date.

7 Pı í ṕ'ene h łe eto o Gaǫfa a was a very scenic spot, located at the base of a mountain with more mountains overlooking the hot spring from the front. The water temperatures often fluctuate within the pool and has noticeable warmer spots within the pool too. We were on the river early next morning looking to make it to White Wolf Creek with plans of spending a layover day there to explore hiking opportunities. When we arrived to White Wolf creek, which is close to the Nááts įhch oh/ Nahanni border, we all decided that the surrounding mountains were some of the most prominent peaks we have seen along the Broken Skull River with relatively close possible hiking routes. We made camp with intentions of hiking the next day. The next day was filled with fast bouncy white water throughout the rest of the Broken Skull River up until the confluence of the South Nahanni where we camped on the eve of our last day. We got an early morning start on the South Nahanni River which would bring us all the way into Gahnįhthah Mįe (Rabbitkettle Lake) for our final night in the mountains. The following morning had zero cloud coverage with just about no wind blowing, perfect day for flying. Throughout the whole trip we had been blessed with good weather. The hike up the mountain was very enjoyable with astonishing views and also an abundance of blueberries everywhere along the mountain side. We descended down to camp and enjoyed the rest of the day. Our office is located at 38 Bear Rock Drive, Tulita. Please drop by or call if you have any questions:

8