Safety urged for morel pickers
Residents worry about dangers presented by large numbers of harvesters
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, May 28, 2015
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Despite a lack of rain over the past month, the NWT is on the cusp of morel season and small buds have already begun to pop up.
First-time morel harvester Jimmylee Scott has already had some luck. Although he is picking for fun on his days off, Scott says he is experienced in the bush and knows how to respect the land. - contributed photo
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Fort Providence resident James Christie has run a mushroom training camp in previous years and says he knows what kind of people are attracted to the "hidden industry" of morel picking.
"People are coming up and some of them are novices, some might not even come from a forested area and they don't know anything about it. They might not even know about open fire bans and things of that nature," Christie said.
"It's pretty easy for a fire to get away from someone."
Another concern Christie has is garbage left behind by some harvesters. Glass in particular can be a fire hazard by magnifying sunlight in the current bone-dry conditions of the Deh Cho.
"There are all kinds of people out there, and the community here has noticed we don't see any of them hauling garbage to the dump," he said.
"Last year, there was some presence out there by authorities, but there definitely could have been a lot more."
Christie said some community members have offered to do monitoring of their own and that Digaa Enterprises Ltd. recently submitted a proposal to the government for about four people to go out each day and report what they see.
"We're hoping the proposal we sent out is given serious consideration ... we have all the resources we need to do a monitoring plan," he said.
"We want to monitor and create awareness among the pickers about the dangers of open campfires and discarded glass, and improper disposal of garbage."
Some other things the group wants to monitor include use of firearms, disposal of human waste and use of vehicles, where even exhaust pipes can create a hazard near dry grass or foxtails.
"We also have other concerns not directly related to causing fires; we think any suspicious activities should be reported to the proper authorities," he noted.
"Our community (would) operate to develop a schedule and submit a daily report, including all the areas checked."
Some first-time pickers from the NWT agree that incoming harvesters could pose a risk - not just to the forests, but also to communities.
Yellowknife resident Frank Hope grew up in Fort Simpson and said he will be spending some time this week picking near Kakisa.
"The biggest concern for me is that (new pickers) who come up really don't know the protocol of the communities they come into," he said.
"Myself, as a First Nation, I'm always mindful and respectful when I go into, say, the Sahtu or another community. I'm always mindful of the land I'm on and I give respect to the chief and elders. Respecting the land, keeping it clean - I've heard stories of a lot of trash left behind - leaving it the way you came."
First-time picker Jimmylee Scott has already been out this year and has already had some success with small morels.
He said he has talked to a group of harvesters who have been camped for two weeks, who have yet to find anything.
"I stopped by the camp outside the community and they're keeping it pretty clean; I didn't see any big fires around," he said.
"But there are a lot of things that could go wrong out there, especially for first-time people who aren't experienced."
Scott said personal safety should also be a concern on everyone's mind, considering he has already seen a few bears out in the bush.
"It's pretty easy to get lost and disoriented out there, and I noticed that out of all the mushroom pickers I came across, none were carrying guns. Slips and trips in the deadfall, even being out in the heat - there are a lot of hazards."
RCMP have released a list of suggestions for morel harvesters, including bringing a map, compass or GPS and dressing for the weather. Other tips include travelling in groups, carrying emergency supplies and learning survival skills.
Digaa Enterprises president Michael Vandell was unavailable for comment by press time.
