About Me? 2 Member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island FN Worked in my Community for 17+ years in various capacities Childcare, Council, Housing, Bylaws, Waste Management, Environment, Climate Change 2011 Business Diploma Started with Cambium Aboriginal September 2017
THE CHIPPEWAS OF GEORGINA ISLAND FIRST NATION AT A GLIMPSE 3 Located approximately100 km north of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Consisting of 3 separate Islands, Georgina, Snake and Fox with 2 mainland access points, Virginia Beach and Island Grove. Georgina is the largest of the Islands with a land mass of approximately 15 km2 which is 4.5 km long and 3.2 km wide, an area of 1,416 ha/4,399 acres. Infrastructure consists of an Administration building, Health Centre, Police Station, Fire Hall, Landfill site, Sewage lagoon, Water Treatment Facility, Community Centre, Church, Trails System, an Outdoor Rink, Childcare facility for infants and toddlers and a two-classroom school that accommodates the children of the First Nation until Grade 5. There are a few Member operated businesses on the First Nation which include but are not limited to Bed and Breakfasts, Cabin and Cottage Rentals, Restaurants and a Campground. The second largest Island is Snake covering an area of approximately 135ha/333acres and has 227 cottages. Fox Island is the smallest at 20ha/49acres with 52 cottages. Neither Snake Island or Fox Island have year round member residents or major Infrastructure. The forest on Georgina Island is one of the largest remaining in the GTA, covering 70% of the island. It includes 39 species of mixed wood, hardwood and conifer supporting over 400 species of flora, including several locally, regionally and provincially rare species, and approximately 143 species of birds. Rabbits, beaver, racoon, grouse, wood frogs, salamanders, foxes, wolf, wild turkey and deer also make their home in the forest and in the four adjacent wetlands.
GEORGINA ISLAND FIRST NATION SUB WATERSHED PLANNING 4 Under the Lake Simcoe Protection Act and Plan the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority was mandated to complete Sub Watershed Planning for all the Sub Watersheds within Lake Simcoe. Being that Georgina Island First Nation is made up of Islands and do not have major tributaries it was overlooked under this mandate. In August 2014 a Sub Watershed Planning Project was initiated in partnership between the Georgina Island First Nation and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
SUB WATERSHED PLAN 5 Climate Change Vegetation Breeding Birds Species at Risk Shoreline Wetland Assessment Cultural Component Community Engagement Incorporation of TEK Benthic Invertebrate and Aquatic Species Education and Outreach
GERTIES CREEK RESTORATION A combination of information TEK survey Sub Watershed Plan PFC Tool Served multiple purposes Enhance and stabilize shoreline Improve fish and benthic invertebrate habitat Improve water quality Mitigate flooding effects from climate change Opportunity to incorporate the PFC tool into the project 6 EPA LSRCA MNRF Oakridge Environmental Silv Econ Ltd Community Members Community involvement Cultural Component
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 7 Ceremony Traditional Teachings Community Planting
GERTIES BEFORE AND AFTER 8
MONITORING AND FUTURE PROJECTS 9
FISH HATCHERY AND AQUATIC PLANT PROJECT 10 LS Plan and Act TEK Partnerships Relationship building Creating Stewards Trout an Indicator fish for water quality
INVASIVES SPECIES 11 MANAGEMENT Identification Culturally Significant Plants Meaningful Removals Pilot Sites Education and Outreach Band Staff Summer Students Summer Camp Kids
Chi Miigwetch Everything is connected in someway or another so everything we do today effects tomorrow. Kerry-Ann Charles Lands and Climate Change Coordinator Cambium Aboriginal Inc ka.charles@cambiumaboriginal.com 12 Love. Respect Truth Courage Wisdom Honesty Humility