Walpole Island First NationWalpole Island First Nation

BKEJWANONG‘Where the Waters Divide’

Carolinian Canada, October 20, 2006

Where We’re Located

Walpole Island First Nation

At the Heart of the Great Lakes

International shipping

corridor

Major agricultural region

Major industrial area

Highly populated region

Walpole Island is located in the heart of one of the most industrialized regions in North America

Surrounding Region

RemainingNatural cover

Walpole Island

•• Canada’s southernmost Aboriginal TerritoryCanada’s southernmost Aboriginal Territory•• One of the largest freshwater deltas in the worldOne of the largest freshwater deltas in the world•• 4,000 4,000 Ojibwe/Potawatomi/OdawaOjibwe/Potawatomi/Odawa•• Young and growing populationYoung and growing population•• 6 islands covering 24,000 hectares6 islands covering 24,000 hectares•• ArtifactsArtifacts show occupation as much show occupation as much

as 6,000 years agoas 6,000 years ago•• 4,800 hectares of agriculture4,800 hectares of agriculture•• One of the largest wetlandsOne of the largest wetlands

system in the Great Lakessystem in the Great Lakes• At the centre of 2 major

international migratory waterfowl flyways

• 54 species at risk

Profile of Walpole Island

Walpole Island’s Ecosystems

Walpole Island…supports a rich mosaic of natural areas including some of the most biologically diverse areas in Canada.

Coastal waterways

Oak SavannasWetlands

TallgrassPrairies

Carolinian forests

Waterways

Species at Risk

Kidneyshell mussel(Endangered)

Northern Madtom(Endangered)

Round Hickorynut mussel(Endangered)

Wetlands

8,300 hectares of wetland habitat on Walpole Island

Species at Risk

King Rail (Endangered)

Half the Canadian population of this species is found on Walpole Island

Tallgrass Prairies

466 hectares of tallgrass prairie habitat on Walpole Island

Species at Risk

Northern Bobwhite Quail(Endangered)

Walpole Island contains the primary population of this species in Canada

Oak Savannas

362 hectares of oak savanna habitat on Walpole Island

Species at Risk

White Prairie Gentian(Endangered)

Walpole Island is the only place in Canada where this species is found

Forests

1,783 hectares of forest habitat on Walpole Island

Species at Risk

Southern Flying Squirrel(Special Concern)

“Caring for the Land –an Ancestral Tradition”

Gathering Medicine & Food

Hunting and Fishing

Spiritual Connection & Enjoyment

Our Traditional Connection to the Land

Today, the diverse ecosystems on Walpole Island support many forms of life . . .

Results of that Connection

Including - Over 50 listed as Endangered, Threatened, or Special

Concern in Canada

Species at Risk

WALPOLE ISLAND

Small White Lady’s-slipper

Hastings

Walpole Island

½ of Canada’s population found on Walpole Island

In Ontario

Species at Risk

WALPOLE ISLAND

Other sitesPinery PP

Elgin CountyWindsor

Walpole Island

Dense Blazingstar

Walpole Island Heritage Centre – Nin.Da.Waab.Jig officially founded in 1989Research arm of First Nation dealing with land claims, environmental protection, and heritage conservationWalpole Island one of the first Native communities in Canada to take leadership role in the field of environment and sustainable development

Walpole Island Heritage Centre

Taking Steps to Make a Difference

What We Are Doing . . .

Developing Partnerships

Combining Traditional Ecological Knowledge & Science

First Nation Instruments

Education

The concept of shared resources within our common watershed raises important issues that is crucially important to understanding the Aboriginal position on resources and the environment.

Environment Canada Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU)

Impacts & Benefits Agreement (IBA) - CalpineRoyal Ontario Museum (ROM)

United States Geological Survey (USGS)National Waters Research Institute

University Of MichiganUniversity Of Windsor

University Of Western OntarioLake St. Clair Management Plan

Coastal Habitat Project

Building Partnerships

Life Science Inventory study documented and assessed the terrestrial land features of the WIFN

Air Monitoring Study 1988-1995

Toxins Study – Great Lakes Institute

Aquatic Communities Study

Traditional Ecological Knowledge StudyFish Habitat Study

Freshwater Mussel Study

Habitat Stewardship Program – SAR Census

Draft Walpole Island Ecosystem Recovery Strategy

Building Knowledge

Education & Outreach

Long Term Planning

WALPOLE ISLANDECOSYSTEM RECOVERY STRATEGY

prepared byDr. Jane M. Bowles

for

Walpole Island Heritage Centre,Environment Canada

and

Walpole Island Recovery Team

Only a handful of Kentucky Coffee Tree sites in Ontario are producing viable seed – Walpole Island contains two of those sites.

This species (Kentucky Coffee Tree) and others are currently being grown at the Sherwood Fox Arboretum at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. Once strong enough the trees will be planted on and around Walpole Island.

Enhancing Species at Risk populations

Formally Conserving Habitats

Since 2001, we have formally secured 68 ha of the 2,611 ha of prairie, savanna, and forest habitats on WIFN for conservation purposes – through acquisitions and leasing arrangements.

0102030405060708090

100

Prairie, Savanna, Forest

Significant SAR Habitat

Secured Habitat

Reclaimed Lands

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al T

erre

stri

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abita

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2,61

1 ha

830

ha

68 h

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8 ha

Habitat Securement

Challenges

Growing population on Walpole Island - increasing pressures on natural habitats & species at risk lands

Invasive species (old & new) – Phragmites, zebra mussels, emerald ash borer

Pollution – air and water

Recognition of our Rights & jurisdiction over our lands & waters by other governments

Capacity needs – financial & human resources (we require biologists, foresters, etc.)

Maintaining our culture, language, TEK, and traditional values, which are the main reasons our lands & waters support high biodiversity & species at risk

Being innovative, creative, and forward thinking

• 1980 – WIFN noted as an Environmentally Significant Area by the University of Waterloo

• 1980 – Carolinian Canada selects WIFN as a critical natural area site –only one of the 38 Carolinian sites to fulfill all ten criteria used in the selection process

• 1987 – World Wildlife Fund Canada recognizes WIFN’s prairies and oak savannas as the most diverse remnants remaining in Canada

• 1995 – Walpole Island First Nation received the “We the Peoples: 50 Communities Award” from the Friends of the UnitedNations for its exemplary record in environmental research and sustainable development

Recognition

Carolinian Canada Recognition

• 2004 – Carolinian Canada presents WIFN with a “Conservation Award” for its contribution towards protecting the natural diversity & habitats of Ontario’s Carolinian Zone