Fifteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

The Kikâwînaw askiy Observatory is a Community-Based Climate Initiative led by Star Blanket Cree Nation of Treaty 4 Territory in Fort Qu’Appelle Saskatchewan. Working in collaboration with the Calling Lakes Eco Museum and the Department of Geography of the University of Regina. Started in July 2018, the project objective includes monitoring and documenting the effects of climate change on the Star Blanket Nation Traditional territory, to gather traditional ecological knowledge relative to climate and environmental changes and to increase climate change awareness among the Youth. Our project looks at environmental and climate changes in a holistic way with a specific focus on water availability and water quality. Fort Qu’Appelle is located at the center of a chain of lakes along the Qu’Appelle River that forms the Pasqua, Echo, Mission and Katepwa Lakes. The area is regularly impacted by droughts and floods, and water quality is dramatically affected by agricultural and land use practices. Through a series of interviews with Traditional Knowledge Keppers, water quality measurements, the installation of a weather station and the analysis of historical documents we present here a narrative of past and ongoing environmental changes that affect Star Blanket Cree Nation. From this narrative, we advocate for policy changes and resilience strategies that will allow the Qu’Appelle Valley to continue being a thriving environment for the future generations.