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DEH CHO
The Dehcho Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management (AAROM) program has had a productive summer and is preparing even more initiatives.

Edward Cholo, left, and Earl Moses, Liidlii Kue First Nation's Dehcho Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management (AAROM) community monitors, take samples as part of AAROM's continuing work in the region. - photo courtesy of George Low

"It's been a busy summer, but really a satisfying summer as well," said George Low, the Dehcho AAROM program co-ordinator.

AAROM collaborates with government departments and researchers to address specific issues and concerns that Deh Cho communities have about water and fisheries, said Low.

AAROM also supports programs in each of the communities as well as more regional initiatives.

The levels of mercury in fish has been one of the topics of interest in many communities. AAROM is currently organizing the second-annual A Return to Country Foods workshop.

The workshop, which will be held in Kakisa from Aug. 27 to 28, will focus on increasing understanding about mercury levels in fish and the continuing benefits of eating fish. The workshop will build on some of the topics discussed during the first workshop in Jean Marie River last August, said Low.

As a result of the initial workshop, AAROM conducted a survey in five Deh Cho communities about how much and what types of country foods people are eating and if their perception about contaminants is affecting their consumption of those foods. The results will be discussed in Kakisa.

Also, AAROM is launching a study about bio-accumulation and bio-magnification of mercury in the food chain. The three-year study, set to begin this month, will examine what is happening with mercury in three lakes every year and whether mercury levels are increasing as a result of climate change.

The lakes that will be studied this year are Ekali and Sanguez lakes near Jean Marie River and Trout Lake. AAROM is also working to identify lakes where there are low levels of mercury so people can feel safe fishing there. So far, Willow Lake and Big Island Lake on the Horn Plateau are looking promising, said Low.

"We're trying to take that positive stance and encourage people to eat fish because the benefits far outreach the risks," he said.

The leadership of Jean Marie River First Nation requested the bio-accumulation and bio-magnification study. A two-year climate change study the First Nation conducted indicated the mercury may be coming from thawing permafrost, said Chief Stan Sanguez.

The community wanted someone to do a further study and particularly look at the five lakes Jean Marie River residents use the most including Ekali, Sanguez, Gargan, McGill and Deep, he said. Sanguez said he's pleased with the work AAROM has been doing on the community's behalf.

This summer, AAROM has also been collaborating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and its work under the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy.

As part of the strategy, the department is supporting communities so they can do the monitoring and water stewardship they are interested in. This includes programs to increase the frequency of water monitoring and to look for chemicals potentially related to upstream development, said Erin Kelly, the manager of watershed programs and partnerships with the department.

With assistance from the department and organizations such as AAROM, 21 different communities are involved in the second year of the monitoring. In the Deh Cho, some AAROM community monitors are learning how to read and service the instruments that are being used.

"We've got pretty good coverage," said Low about the monitoring sites in the region.

In addition to all of this work, AAROM has also been supporting the community monitors who conduct a variety of tasks based on their community's concerns including river patrols, angler surveys and checks on boat traffic.

"It's been really, really busy," Low said.

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