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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLands.Newsletter.June2023.Final.June22.2023June 22, 2023 Tsúūt'ínà LAND ADMINISTRATION NEWSLETTER CONTENTS  ED of Lands Admin  LAC Member Profile  Land Advisory Committee  Law & Policy Development  Land Use Planning Update  Buffalo Paddocks  Agriculture  LERD  Conservatfon  New Lands  UXO Clearance Department  Aquatfc Habitat Restoratfon  Beaver Study  Consultatfon  11 Land & Environment Princi- ples Dzinisi Guja, I want to take a moment and thank all the staff for their hard work and dedicatfon to protectfng our Lands for the Wusa (future) generatfons to come. We have been very busy since our last newsletter fulfilling our Mandates, to name a few: • drafting Land laws using informatfon gathered from citfzens; • expanding the agriculture program by farming lands with new Natfon equip- ment and personnel; and • contfnuing to work on securing our bor- ders and reducing trespassing. Summer is here and we are looking forward to hostfng a two work events to help with splitting, gathering and staking of Wood at the New Lands: the first will be for our An- nual Pow wow to commence during the second and third week of July and the sec- ond focusing more on Youth during the first three weeks of August. We are also partnering with Healthy Living to Co-host a land-based and cultural heal- ing camp, as well as Gunaha’s Annual Ama (Summer) Culture both being held in Au- gust. More Details to come as the depart- ments plan. As the Lands Portiolio contfnues to grow, we encourage all citfzens to apply for up- coming jobs and training workshops to sup- port our overall capacity development and Land Management Practfces. Sīyísgáàs Tanis One Spot ED of Lands Admin 3 Dzinisi Guja, Sizi Chaguuzagha Tsi’tl’a, at’a; uwa Tiffani Whitney, at’a. I am grateful and optfmistfc about this op- portunity I was given to be a Member of the Lands Advisory (Nisk’a) Committee. My passion has and will always be nature and wildlife. Learning, evolving, exploring and pursuing the great world around us. I am honored to be able to work alongside these creatfve individuals that all care about help- ing to better our Natfon’s Nisk’a and to help our people for generatfons to come. My educatfonal experience has helped me in gaining the knowledge, greater under- standing and furthering me in my passion. This has also assisted in providing me a po- sitfon in the Lands Administratfon portiolio under the Conservatfon Department, and this led to my current positfon under the Buffalo Paddock & Agriculture Program. My professional experience under the Tsu- ut’ina Natfon and many programs including; Tsuut’ina Recreatfon, Educatfon, Grey Eagle Resort, Cultural Museum and now Lands Administratfon; has provided me with amazing opportunitfes under incredible people. I’ve been able to gain experience with our past, and I am looking forward to our future (wusa) opportunitfes in keeping our youth in mind when it comes to deci- sion making. These experiences also provid- ed me with a colorful background of organi- zatfon skills, leadership roles, cultural knowledge, strong communicatfon and rela- tfonship skills. My goal is to keep pursuing the knowledge and opportunitfes that come along the way; I hope to learn more about our culture, our lands, our stories; and utflize the knowledge to create more ideas and opportunitfes for Tsuut’ina. Whether that’s helping creatfng a hydroponic plantfng space to help our peo- ple have better access to healthier foods, or simply helping to contfnually conserving our lands for wusa. Sīyísgáàs 4 COMMITTEE MEMBERS :  Elder - Alex Crowchild  Elder - Keitha Manyhorses  Elder - Diane Meguinis  Citfzen - Glenn Starlight  Citfzen- Shad Manywounds  Citfzen - Brenda Jacobs  Citfzen - Tiffani Whitney  Lands Council Rep—Emmet Crowchild  Lands Council Rep—Shay Runner Item Roles/Responsibilities Land Governance Development Terms of Reference Report recommendatfons to Chief and Council Land Regime development Law and Policy Development Law and Policy Development Listfng as Per LPA Drafting Committee Lands Administratfon Oversight Receive Department and Project Update Reports Advise on Issues of concern Land Use Planning – Community Development Review File and make recommendatfons to Chief and Council Permits & Leases review Lands Dispute Resolutfon Review File and make recommendatfons for fur- ther Chief and Council Decision Community Engagement Attend Open Houses and Other Events Newsletter Submissions Community Educatfon Initfatfves Training and development Land Regimes: Treaty 7, Constftutfon Act -Sectfon 35, Indian Act, Land Code, Self-Government Climate Change Resilience and Adaptatfon The Lands Advisory Committee meets at least once a month with their workplan and as per their terms of reference, dutfes and responsibilitfes are outlined as below: 5 Land Use Laws and Policies In Development (Currently in Part One: Drafting & Development of the Legislatfve Process Act) 1. Custom Land Holding (Land Assignment) Policy - Drafting Session June 15 2. Small Business on Non-Designated Lands Process – Drafting Session June 15 3. Dispute Resolutfon Process – Drafting Session June 15, 2023 4. Agriculture and Grazing Policy—Drafting Session July 4, 2023 5. Huntfng, Fishing and Harvestfng Policy—Drafting Session July, 2023 6. Land Use on Non-Designated Lands – Zoning Law - In research for Land Use Plan TIMELINE DATE ITEM STATUS April 27, 2023 Technical Review of Drafts/Inventory Complete May 2023 Land Advisory Committee- Drafts Provided Complete May 2023 Drafts back to LPTS for review & formatting Complete June 2023 Citfzen Survey Results Review/Analyst Complete June 2023 Land Advisory Committee – Drafting Session Complete July and August 2023 Engage Citfzens with Drafts and Survey Results July and August 2023 Drafting Sessions with Land Advisory Committee September 15, 2023 Community Engagement Report September 22, 2023 Final Drafts Ready for Chief and Council October 2, 2023 Introductfon to Chief and Council as per LPA – Part 2- Stream B October-November 2023 1st Reading, Amendment Reading, Final Reading with Chief and Council December, 2023 Ratfficatfon by Chief and Council January, 2024 Coming Into Force *STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER ENGAGEMENTS & INFO* 6 Tsuut’ina has been taken care of it’s people, land and resources since tfme and immemo- rial on it’s traditfonal land territory known as Turtle Island. The land which is now Tsu- ut’ina Natfon Lands is bound by Treaty 7. Tsuut’ina has it’s own laws, knowledge sys- tems, customs, and practfces in which helps us care for our land. A Land Use Plan will exercise our rights and responsibilitfes to Nisk’a (the land) and pro- tect our territory in respect to our Tsuut’ina Way of Life for today and the WUSA (future generatfons). Effectfve Land Use Planning is crucial for safeguarding and conserving our natural re- sources and environment, ensuring their availability for future generatfon. By strate- gically managing land use, we can mitfgate the negatfve impacts of human actfvitfes on the environment, while promotfng sustaina- ble development and economic growth. It is imperatfve that we prioritfze responsible land use planning to ensure the long-term health and wellbeing of our lands, water re- sources and inhabitants. Land Use Planning is community driven initf- atfve that include all aspects of the social, environmental, cultural and economic ele- ments that make up a community, which will identffy common community values on where and how things will be developed. If those developments will be sustainable, and the management of natural resources. A Land Use Plan will document existfng uses, identffy plans for future uses, develop laws, policies and procedures to support he man- agement and protectfon of lands, environ- ment and natural resources for sustainable future development. Some current land use/zones on the Natfon lands include: • Designated • Non-Designated • Agriculture • Community Land • Custom Land Holdings (Assignments) • Residentfal (Housing/Community Buildings) • Forested/Wilderness • Small Business • Environmental Sensitfve Areas • Huntfng/Harvestfng • Water Ways • Recreatfonal • Addressing and Roads • Former DND Lands/UXO Clearance • Community Use • Infrastructure/Utflitfes Right of Ways The Land Use Plan content will be part 3 of the Community Compre- hensive Plan development which is under Governance Portiolio. 7 The engagement team has been very busy with Community Engagement ac-tfvitfes such as: • Created Community Engagement Strate- gy with Governance (LPTS/Comm.) • Open Houses (Aug 21, Feb 22, Aug. 22) • Surveys—Census 2021 and Land & Envi-ronment Survey • Land based digital stories and photos • App Development • Seasonal Newsletters • Info Sessions and Lunch N Learns—TBA • Survey with Custom Land Holders • Info Booths at Community Events • Land Use Planning Citfzen Info Package • Focus Groups • Elders Open House • Youth Advisory Committee Meetfng Up-date • Land Use Plan Promotfonal Video—TBA • Vision Exercise The LERD team would like to thank the Gov- ernance Portiolio team (LPTS/Communicatfons/CCP) and IT to working in collaboratfon to assist us in making our ac-tfvitfes happen. The 2022/23 Lands & Environment Survey: • Closed May 31, 2023 • There was 48 questfons in the survey • 387 Citfzens completed and submitted. • There is currently 1391 eligible electors on the Citfzenship list. The LERD and LPTS Teams are currently con- ductfng an analysis of the survey results and will have upcoming informatfon session and lunch n learns in the months ahead pre- sentfng the community engagemnt report. Content is also being forward to respectable department or program for their review and content consideratfons for policy develop- ment. The grand prize draws will include $1000 WestJet Voucher, bikes, solar panels, camp- ing sets and more! Draw date will be June 23, 2023 at the Lands & Governance Open House. TEAM: Clayton Whitney—Buffalo Paddock & Agriculture Manager Trenton Heavenfire—Buffalo Paddock & Agriculture Labourer Brennen Starlight—Buffalo Paddock Labourer Tiffani Whitney—Buffalo Paddock & Agriculture EA Tsúūt'ínà Buffalo Paddock (Xāní-tīī Mōnìstsīyk’í) UPDATES as of June 2023  January 2023: The Paddocks team took part in the Buffalo kill, our volunteer staff and Gunaha staff helped in making the process quick. It was a great learn- ing experience for the crew.  February 2023: The meat was pro- cessed and the Paddocks team were able to deliver elder’s their portfons. Also, handed out a lot of meat to Citf- zens thru drive thru at Paddocks.  April 2023: The crew finished winteriz- ing feeding routfnes on the heard and moved them into the spring/summer pasturing pens, they are now on a rota- tfonal grazing pattern tfll the fall/winter  May 2023: The Paddocks just hired two new recruits for the Summer. Congrats to Richie Big Plume and Starlin Big Plume! The herd also started calving season and we are expectfng over 100 calves again this year.  June 2023:The Paddocks team have started our waterway and well projects, we will be helping the herd have more access to water. Agricultural Lands (Nìsk’ā Nágūst’īn-ná) UPDATES as of June 2023  The Agriculture Program was able to provide hay for the Natfon’s Hay Pro- gram for the majority of the Winter and Spring, due to shortages it was no an easy process to find hay this year.  The Agriculture Program has put into effect the Dormant Lands Program; the Program has taken 12 dormant field and have processed them and taking the tfme to get them ready for 2023 haying season. We will contfnue to take these projects and start adding more fields under the Program.  The Natfon’s Program is currently farm- ing 1000 areas of land. UXO CLEARANCE DEPARTMENT UXO LEGACY SITES SCHOOL PROGRAM UXO Legacy Sites Program Delivered Awareness infor- matfon to  Chiila Elementary School  St .Cyril School  Cedarbrae School  Tsuut’ina Natfon Police Service  Tsuut’ina Fire Department Many horses High School unfortunately could not par- tfcipate this year due to Scheduling Conflicts. The Unexploded Explosive Ordnance (UXO) Program helps to manage risks posed by UXO on Legacy Sites across the country and thereby contributes to the health and safety of Canadians. What are UXO Legacy Sites?  A UXO legacy site is any property that was owned, leased or used by the Department of Natfonal De- fense (DND) for military purposes.  These propertfes are no longer a part of the depart- ment’s inventory, but could stfll present a UXO- related risk to the public.  The Program identffies and catalogues such sites, assesses risks, and works to reduce UXO risk through property controls, assessment surveys, UXO clearance operatfons, and public educatfon.  The UXO and Legacy Sites Program works with communitfes to reduce the chances of someone being injured or killed by UXO How?  Capturing and interpretfng historical informatfon on each legacy site.  Conductfng surveys at sites where UXO could be encountered and establishing and implementfng risk mitfgatfon and management strategies such as UXO clearance, signage, public informatfon ses- sions, school educatfon programs, etc.,  UXO creates a safety risk wherever it exists.  The level of risk is determined by the probability that people will encounter UXO, combined with the probability that encounters will lead to personal injury.  The limits of current UXO detectfon methods mean that even the most thorough inspectfon and clear- ance operatfons cannot reduce UXO safety risks to zero.  On former UXO sites, cautfon is ALWAYS advised. What should you do? Where UXO warning signs have been posted, obey the instructions and stay safe! If you find something that could be UXO... 1. Don’t touch it! If disturbed, UXO can explode, causing death or injury. 2. Remember the location and leave the area 3. Remember where you saw the object. Go back the same way you came. 4. Call 911 or local police As soon as possible, report what you found by calling 911 or contacting local police. 11 UPDATES AS OF JUNE 2023 Wood Program: • Once again this year, we will be having a wood program to provide for the Annual Pow Wow and Celebratfons at Redwood Meadows. • We will also have the Youth Wood Program at the end of August, contact Conservatfon Office for more details. Range Patrol & Tosguna Relatfonship • We are building a strong and positfve relatfon- ship with Tosguna in regards to CPS, Fish & Wildlife, Calgary Parks and Calgary Bylaw office for better enforcement to meet the needs of our community. In additfon, for them to stay within their jurisdictfon, stop trespass- ers and acknowledge our sovereignty of land and water. Trespassing • Nudist beach on Elbow: we are working with Enforcement agencies on blocking access to Natfon Lands to the locatfon these “Nudist” gather with the hopes to get more fines to the trespassers who disobey the Natfons Trespass- ing Law. • Griffin Woods: CPS and Tosguna are looking to work together to address the massive amount of trespassers. With Calgary Parks protectfon, we are fencing the boundary inside the partk and adding more signage. Also, with Tosguna’s assistance we addressed the camp south of Westhills. • Wolf (Fish) Creek: It has been brought to the attentfon of Tosguna that trespasser have been coming down Wolf Creek. • Illegal Dump Clean-Up: Over the last year, Con- servatfon has hired a company to remove more than 10 truck and trailers to load garbage off the Natfon Lands that have been dumped. Crew • Conservatfon has held on to a small crew of workers who have helped with fence repairs, trail maintenance and the upkeep of the New Lands. • We have conducted a Wildhorse round-up to help with the overpopulatfon of the Wildhorse herds. Aquatfc Habitatfon Restoratfon Program • AHRP management has been moved under the Conservatfon Department. CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT CONSERVATION TEAM: Shad Manwyounds, Conservatfon Manager Kathleen Dodginghorse, Conserva- tfon EA Virgil Jacobs, Range Patrol Tim Crowchild, Range Patrol Lenny Eagletail, Range Patrol Tashina Whitney, Range Patrol Toas Onespot, New Lands Coordina- tor Trevor Manywounds, New Lands Coordinator Tatfyana Eagletail, Aquatfc Habitat Restoratfon Lead/Enviro. Tech TRESPASSING CONCERNS? Any trespassers spotted, please call Tosguna complaint line at: 403-271-3777 13 NEW LANDS UPDATES AS OF JUNE 2023 Outpost Cabin • With the special cap request new lands was able to get a outpost for the upcoming maps, informatfon and radio coverage. We are cur- rently making it a nice spot to welcome Natfon Citfzens. First Aide Trailer • We will be using one of Conservatfon portable office trailers to make a mobile first aide sta- tfon for the New Lands. Visitors • We have welcomed Natfon citfzens at all tfmes of the year. All Natfon Citfzens are welcome Fire Guard Clean Up • Debris Pile burning and clean up • Cleaning the rest of the fire guard debris Trail monitoring and upkeep • The crew along with the New Lands Coordina- tors have maintained the trails since last year Other Updates: Fire Smart • We are assistfng Tsuut’ina Fire Dept. on the fire smart program for the Natfon Policies • Animal Law Amendments 2023—to address the dog issues • Huntfng and Harvestfng Law—there is stfll a standing order that Non-Natfon are not al- lowed to Hunt, gather or harvest on our Lands. We are developing a law to address the issues. • Land Use and Zoning—Huntfng Areas, Environ- mentally protected areas, wilderness areas, wild life protectfon. GIS Natfon program Working with LERD and IT to develop our Natfons GIS & Mapping software in linkage with Laserfiche. Range Patrol • Fence Repairs along highways and boundaries • Range Patrol have repaired many sectfons of fence along the boundary and highway • ID more trespassers for the police in the sensi- tfve areas. Just a friendly reminder, if you are heading out into the wilderness, to be BEAR smart and be aware of other wild animals. Dress according- ly, wear OFF and sunscreen, temperatures are subject to change. Some areas still do not have cellular data or Wi-Fi available. Always let someone know where you are going. Stay Safe, Have Fun and Enjoy the Land! 14 Lands & Environment Research Department The Lands and Environment Research De- partment (LERD) is committed to Environ- mental Research through Education and Training, Planning for Land Sustainability, Ecological, Document Development and Community Engagement. The Connection to Mother Earth and the responsibility to the protection of lands, ecological habitats and biodiversity is key and will shared through the 3 P’s (Protocol. Planning and Policy) within the Tsuut’ina Nation Lands. Team: Alison Heavenfire, LERD Director Jim TwoGuns, Lands Community & Culture Liaison Carrie Joy Big Plume, Lands Manager Peter Crane, GIS/Mapping Manager Yolanda Jacobs - LERD Executive Assistant Tatiyana Eagletaill, Environmental Technician Hannah Big Plume - Data & Entry Clerk Declan Starlight - GIS & Database Technician NÌSK’Ā NÌSK’ÁGÍNÍSTÒ-HÍ UPDATES as of June 2023 Archives: Currently tall the Land Records have been gathered and organized for scanning, filing and archives. This has been a 3 year project and hoping to complete in the near future. Records and Informatfon Management: The LERD team has been meetfng regularly to re- view and update the Custom Land Holding records and so far, have completed 25 reviews of custom land holders to update 1979 database. These in- clude all record documents, maps, directfves, BCRs, C&C Minutes, Wills and Letters, etc. A database has been created on Laserfiche for data entry and format as per process and policies are be putting in place and testfng & development of soft- ware (Laserfiche and MRF) is stfll in motfon. Lands & Environment Plans, reports, assessments, drafts, research, tool kits, manuals and other relat- ed documents are to be added and updated to the Records system. A file Forms have been developed and used on Laserfiche for data collectfon and to streamline processes and datasets and is on-going. All data from Indian Land Registry is being trans- ferred to Lands & Records Informatfon Manage- ment System and is on-going. Note: Staff are currently testfng hardware, soft- ware’s, and forms in field for accuracy and compatf- bility Land Use Planning Initfatfve: As part of LUP Workplan, maps and software’s are being updated, and inventory of Land Use Areas is being gathered, collected and updated (ie. DND, Huntfng, Custom Land Holding, Band Lands, Cultural Sites, Agriculture, Forestry, Wilderness, Water Ways, Species at Risk, Wet Lands, Housing, Commu- nity Buildings, Roads and Addressing, etc.) and to be identffied in zoned maps. Citfzens Surveys, Census data etc. has all been col- lected on Laserfiche Digital Stories and Culture sto- ries is being developed and stored. GIS & Mapping New mapping software is currently being tested and will be implemented for us across portiolios and is linked to Laserfiche. DID YOU KNOW? LANDS PORTFOLIO NOW HAS IT’S OWN APP 16 Tsuut’ina New Lands Access Entry Regulations AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATION (AHR) PROGRAM 18 What is the Aquatfc Habitat Restoratfon Fund? Tsuut’ina Natfon’s Lands Department manag- es The Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund (AHRF) on behalf of the natfon. The AHRF is an accommodatfon measure, provided by the Government of Canada, in response to con- cerns raised by Indigenous groups during consultatfons for the Trans Mountain Expan- sion (TMX) projects. These concerns included the potentfal impacts of development on fish and fish habitat and the general state of fish- eries resources based on cumulatfve effects from development projects. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) provided capacity funding to enable Tsuut’ina to partfcipate in the development of an Aquatfc Habitat Restoratfon Program to build capacity for restoratfon projects and actfvitfes. Through this initfatfve, the Govern- ment of Canada and Tsuut’ina Natfon are col- laboratfvely developing an Aquatfc Habitat Restoratfon Program to restore and protect freshwater aquatfc ecosystems and contrib- ute to the sustainability of fish and fish habi- tat. Tsuut’ina Natfon’s Aquatfc Habitat Restora- tfon Program Tsuut’ina Natfon’s AHRF is working towards ensuring long term sustainability of aquatfc habitat through raising awareness, collabo- ratfng with others, building capacity and monitoring and maintenance. Some examples of how we plan on carrying out these goals include monitoring past pro- jects to assess whether maintenance is re- quired, assessing restoratfon project success, carrying out aquatfc health and water quality monitoring, carrying out fish passage studies, and creatfng species at risk recovery and ac- tfon plans. For raising awareness and collabo- ratfng with others, we are actfvely imple- mentfng a watershed approach to promote restoratfon and protectfon for Tsuut’ina Na- tfon’s waterways. In implementfng this wa- tershed approach, Tsuut’ina Natfon’s AHRF is building relatfonships with surrounding wa- tersheds, government, and non-government organizatfons. Similarly, the AHRF is actfvely working towards raising awareness on Tsu- ut’ina Natfon through presentatfons at the schools and open houses and collaboratfng on projects with the community. We are also planning on contributfng to strategic plan- ning and studies in order to build Tsuut’ina Natfon’s Watershed Management Plan, and Land Use Plan. 19 20 21 22 TRAINING PROVIDED BY GOAL FOR TRAINING The team has undergone extensive training to build capacity, adapt to changes in the environment, and build expertise. TSUUT'INA NATION'S AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATION FUND: TRAINING We have received training from various organizations, including Cows and Fish, Friends of Fish Creek, the Natural Resources Training Group (NRTG), and the Government of Alberta. In addition to completed training programs, the team has participated in the Friends of Fish Creek's REDD Counts and RHA training to strengthen their knowledge and skills. Through prioritizing ongoing capacity building efforts, the team is better prepared to restore and preserve aquatic habitats. COWS AND FISH Cows and Fish provided the team with riparian health assessments and discussed best practices regarding stabilizing soil, providing food for fish and wildlife, and creating a buffer during floods or droughts. The team also learned about invasive plant species that threaten local plant biodiversity and how to test for DNA sampling in waterways. NATURAL RESOURCES TRAINING GROUP For field skills building, the team is currently working towards completing NRTG’s Environmental Field Skills Certification Program. This program covers topics regarding vegetation, fish, wildlife, and environmental monitoring FRIENDS OF FISH CREEK 23 . BEAVER STUDY INTRODUCTION Under the AHRP and Conserva-tfon Department, the Natfon is currently conductfng a Beaver Study through Consultant Kirby English, MSc, P.Biol, now known locally as the “Beaver Guy”. The program started off with a pip ceremony and feast with re-spectfve pipe holders and com-munity members in May 2023. His profile is: • Graduate Studies at U of S on “Busy Beavers in the Big City” . • Wildlife, Wetland and Riparian Areas Ecologist, Authentfcatfng Wetland Professional with ASPB. • Owner and Principal of You Betula Environmen-tal Inc. • Faculty Member and Researcher at Lethbridge College in School of Environmental Sciences. WHAT ARE WE DOING? • Raising awareness, collaboratfng with other, building capacity and working towards com-pletfng our long term goal of supportfng sustain-able aquatfc habitats. • The purpose of the beaver coexistence and fish habitat improvement project is to further a local understanding of both beaver and fish habitat (especially salmonids, where present) • To assess the Natfon and adjacent lands for cur-rent and historical beaver actfvity and its current or future potentfal for additfonal flodding by beavers in the area of concern. • Demonstrate beaver coexistence and fish habitat improvement techniques. • To equip land managers and community mem-bers with additfonal knowledge and skills to better understand and alter beaver behavior and populatfons if need be. OBJECTIVES 1. To respect Tsuut’ina cultural practfces and tradi-tfonal ecological knowledge within the communi- ty with a feast/ceremony for Elders and commu-nity members to formally start to beaver coexist-ence and fish habitat project in a good way. 2. To assess areas of existfng human-beaver conflict within streams, wetlands, and rivers on TTN lands (names Fish/Wolf Creek, likely semi-permanent or permanent wetland areas, and along the Elbow River and its tributaries within the Tsuut’ina Natfon. 3. Map existfng primary indicators of beaver pres- ence (actfve lodges, maintain dams, food caches) as well as past actfvity with Avenza Maps and generate a spatfal dataset that can be shared. 4. Install a fence and pipe system for beaver flood preventfon as well as a small number on non-lethal forage deterrents (less than 20 wire- wrapped mature tress) at areas identffies as pri-ority for beaver management but will also serve as a suitable demonstratfon area to increase community awareness of these beaver manage-ment techniques. 5. Further outreach and educate to community members and Tsuut’ina staff with a classroom and field session on beaver biology and further aquatfc ecology with regard to fish habitat. In additfon, after beaver actfvity is assessed and areas of priority management effects identffied to lead the appropriately training Tsuut’ina staff in a beaver-specific human populatfon manage-ment session to selectfvely remove beavers that have established in unsuitable habitat. 6. Perform a colony survey to better understand beaver populatfons and distributfons going into winter 2023 once food caches are established. Completed with the use of personal watercraft where applicable and drones or foot-surveys to further gather colony occupancy. 7. Summarize field work finding and draft a Tsu-ut’ina Beaver Management Strategy with further proposed solutfons to increase fish habitat and decrease dangerous overland flood and foraging potentfal. OUR CURRENT REQUESTS: • You Betula is asking for permission to speak with land owners and land managers along Lott Creek north of the TTN Lands. Intent is to better under their beaver flooding and foraging concerns in the hopes that coexistence can better occur with beavers. Goal of this arrangement is that these animals will be available to the Tsuut’ina Natfon for the ecosystems engineering and ecological goods and services provisions rather than being lethally removed from populatfon. • Further, we are requestfng a field day in the TTN New Lands to assess beaver actfvity there. • Finally, we are requestfng a meetfng with Public Works to discuss the AHRF Beaver Project and Beaver Actfvity management in general. We hope to invite Public Works and any other poten- tfally in and relevant TTN staff to the beaver co-existence installatfons workshop that are “Michadikodi” 24 WHAT IS A WATER SOFTENER? AND HOW DO YOU MANGE IT? 25 A water softener is a filtratfon system that uses sodium to draw and replace natural min- erals in ground water that can potentfally cause illness if consumed. This equipment is used to treat hard water in homes that are run on ground water wells, it can treat high levels of magnesium, calcium, Iron, and hardness. These chemicals are major causes of staining and build up on appliances. If properly maintained this type of system could last from 8-15 years! A water softener requires softener salt to be added every now and then it is recommended to keep the brine tank a quarter full of salt for this system to work ac- cordingly. You can purchase the softener salt at any grocery store. 26 27 Newsletter Edited by: Alison Heavenfire, LERD Director Public Works Building 48 Bullhead Road, Tsuut’ina Nation, Alberta T2W 6H6 T: (403)281-0754 C: (403)836-1659 Email: Alison.heavenfire@tsuutina.com