TTHEK'EHDELI/JEAN MARIE RIVER - Angus Sanguez enjoys spending time on the river, which is a good thing because that's where his job takes him.

Sanguez is Jean Marie River's community monitor with the Dehcho First Nations' Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management program. The goal of the program is to build research and monitoring capacities so communities can manage their own fisheries and also track changes in waterways.

As Jean Marie River's community monitor with the Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management program, Angus Sanguez spends a lot of time on the Mackenzie River in the summer. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Sanguez became a monitor a year ago. An 18 foot boat with a 50 horsepower Honda motor is his most crucial piece of equipment. Between June and September Sanguez spends five out of seven days each week, weather permitting, on the Mackenzie River.

"If it's too windy I just stay," he said.

Sanguez conducts regular water quality testing in the river at sites in front of Jean Marie River and also at Rabbitskin, an hour round trip, and Axe Point, a nine and a half-hour round trip.

The tests includes recording the water temperature, determining the oxygen level and taking the pH level. Sanguez also keeps his eyes open while on the river.

He takes pictures of the wildlife he sees including moose and bears and counts the number of ducks and eagles. Sanguez also picks up the garbage he sometimes finds in the adjoining creeks.

Monitoring the state of the permafrost along the riverbanks is also part of Sanguez's role as a monitor. Sanguez takes pictures of the high cliffs to document their level of erosion.

After only two years as a monitor Sanguez said he's already seen changes taking place.

"It's eroding the whole bank. You can see a lot of landslides due to the permafrost melting," he said.

Other travellers on the river are also of interest to Sanguez. He keeps track of the number of other boaters that he sees. There were quite a few last year but hardly any this year, he said.

Sanguez said that he's happy to be part of the monitoring program. It's important to gather this information for use in the future, he said.

This year Sanguez isn't alone on his boat trips. Jonathan Sanguez and Kyle Norwegian, two of the band's summer students, were assigned to work with Angus. Both students obtained their Pleasure Boat Operator Card so they can pilot the boat.

Angus has been taking the two students with him on his weekly trips to assist with testing the water. He's also introduced them to the different equipment that he uses.

"The two students, whatever I tell them they pick it up right away," Angus said.

He said that he hopes that they will both learn enough to be able to continue the monitoring program in future years.

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