Fort Liard (May 21/04) - Frank Kotchea was in Vancouver a few weeks ago to make sure the big-city industry types have a much better understanding of life North of 60.

Kotchea and an industry consultant gave a presentation on traditional knowledge and the impact assessment of a gas gathering system at a conference in Vancouver.

As he has done many times over the years, Kotchea explained how some aboriginal people are still active trappers, hunters and fishermen. Their traditional lands contain many spiritual and sacred sites, he noted.

Although that's fairly well known in the NWT, he explained during a recent interview with the Drum that there are international industry executives who know nothing about the North.

"It's a big world out there. Some of the oil companies have already got the message. Some of them didn't," Kotchea said. "Some of them figure we still live in iglus up here."

Kotchea has become accustomed to participating in conferences in major urban centres, but he said he'd never be tempted to live in such an area.

"It's too fast paced and there's tall buildings all around," he said. "You go out for fresh air, you don't get fresh air you get exhaust and a rubber smell."

Life in the bush

Kotchea, manager of Nahendeh Land and Environmental Services in Fort Liard, grew up spending much of his time in the bush, something he still does today.

"We know the country like the back of our hand. We were raised here," he said of the Dene. "It's good medicine (to go into the bush). It relieves you of your stress and whatever."

Industry, particularly oil and gas, has made a significant impact in the Fort Liard area over the past decade. Kotchea said more people are now dependent on the wage economy. In addition, trails in the woods are now often forsaken in favour of travelling on seismic lines, he noted.

Another effect he has discerned is that large trucks coming from B.C. and Alberta are not only transporting supplies and equipment, but also carrying threatening weeds in their wheel wells. Kotchea said he has noticed chamomile, saw thistle and Canada thistle suddenly taking root in Fort Liard.

However, having previous work experience in a gas plant, cutting seismic lines and in mining, Kotchea said industry is generally much more technologically advanced and responsible today.

"They're more environmentally conscious," he said.

Kotchea said he tries to investigate all environmental concerns that Fort Liard residents approach him with, but he doesn't jump to conclusions.

"I would like to see it first hand and then make a judgement call on it," he said.

He also relies on knowledge and recollections of elders.

Mind's eye

"I get them to explain where things are and how things were," he said. "I try to picture in my mind's eye how it is and how it was. When things happen or develop, I would like to see it close (to its original state)."

Before any industrial project begins, Kotchea said a wildlife count is conducted in the area. After construction, an employee returns to monitor which birds and animals have left and which others have intruded.

In conjunction with other environmental companies and conservation groups, he receives information on water quality, soil sampling and archaeological data. He then forwards that data to chief and council for their consideration, he said.

Kotchea has established a data bank containing traditional knowledge data such as burial sites, hunting grounds, calving areas, fish spawning rivers and creeks, cabins and old trails.

All oil and gas companies that operate in Fort Liard must carry out traditional knowledge studies, Kotchea noted. Although they can tap into his information for a price, he said the finer details remain confidential.

"Some of the stuff we still hold close to the community," he said.