Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Oct 04/02) - Working together for the good of wildlife was a recurring message at a regional biology conference held last week.

Jonas Antoine discusses a caribou study he was involved in with GNWT caribou biologist Anne Gunn. Wildlife studies were one aspect of a regional biology conference held at the Deh Cho First Nations boardroom last week. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Joe Tambour, a harvester from the Hay River Reserve, said it's important not to think of one's self as a Dene, Metis or scientist when it comes to conserving fauna.

"If we're going to protect the animals, we have to do it as one," said Tambour. "They (the animals) have protected us long enough. I think it's time we protected them."

Biologists and wildlife officers touched on studies that have taken place in other regions, but no specific plan of action was agreed upon for the Deh Cho. However, there was reflection on the success of a Deh Cho woodland caribou study undertaken jointly by the Department of Wildlife and the Deh Cho First Nations, which combined scientific data and traditional knowledge.

Caribou biologist Anne Gunn and Jonas Antoine, a member of the Liidlii Kue First Nation, carried out the field work.

"Jonas Antoine was my guide, my mentor in this project we took on with the DCFN," Gunn told the delegates. "We did the entire project together."

Antoine added, "She (Gunn) pointed out things to me that I didn't know. We shared. It was a (mutually) beneficial thing."

Tim Lennie, a harvester from the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation, said he found last week's conference very informative, particularly regarding diseases that affect wildlife.

"I think this is really good for the communities. Once in a while you'll come up to a bad moose and you don't know what to do or how to handle it," Lennie said. "For me as a harvester it's good information. You're never too old to learn."

Another topic that arose was the need for more funding for capacity building, which will assist aboriginal people in participating in various studies.

There was also agreement that long-term monitoring programs for wildlife and water sources would be beneficial, according to Nic Larter, regional biologist for the Deh Cho.

"Everybody wanted to cooperate ... it was really encouraging," Larter said.

He added that visits to communities to define specific needs will likely be the next step.