Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife ( Jun 14/00) - Forest fires are not only an integral part of the natural scheme of things, they may also serve as a valuable learning tool as well.

That is why several Grade 11 and 12 students from Sir John Franklin and St. Patrick high schools were invited to take part in the Tibbitt Lake Fire Study Camp, May 29-June 1.

Students were divided into four different groups, and each spent two days studying the burn area while camping at Reid Lake Territorial Park.

The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (RWED) and the schools joined together to offer the Fire Study Camp to provide students the opportunity to work with scientists and acquire hands-on skills by participating in an on-going multi-agency study.

"This fire site provided easy access for study," said Ed Lippert, a teacher at Sir John Franklin high school.

"We talked about it in class, so this was a real opportunity to actually see it. The data that the students are collecting will actually be used for the study."

The Tibbitt Lake fire, also known as Fire 29, was started by lightning on July 6, 1998.

It is one of the few fire study sites on taiga shield land easily accessible by road.

Students participated in a host of activities, such as studying plant/vegetation regrowth, bird banding, moss/lichen, water chemistry, and aquatic invertebrates.

"We also feel it's important to provide the opportunity to learn something about traditional skills and cultures," added Lippert, in reference to Helen Tobie, a Dettah woman who was at the study site showing students how to dry fish caught at Reid Lake.

"We plotted points of the burn area," said Loni Weselowski.

Weselowski, a Sir John student had camped at Reid Lake for two days with 26 other classmates, hoping to gather some insight into the ecological effects of fires to boreal forest regions.

"We're looking at moss, flowers and wildlife and looking at what's coming back to the area.

"We learned traditional (Dene) knowledge as well. We fished with nets and learned how to cut them and preserve the parts."

Also participating in the study were several other organizations, including: Indian and Northern Affairs, Environment Canada, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Whole Arctic Consultants, Cygnus Environmental Consultants, Golder Associates and 440 Squadron.

The burn area is now in the second year of a 10-year study of the effect of forest fires.

Bob Bromley, from Ecology North, explained the importance of continuing with long-term research of forest fires.

"We're in the boreal forest area, and fire is critical for rejuvenation and maintaining diversity," Bromley said.

"You really can't understand the boreal forest without understanding the role fire plays."