|
Harvest data is collected on a monthly
basis by a community field-worker using a census approach,
i.e., interview every eligible harvester in the Sahtu.
An eligible harvester must meet ALL the following conditions:
- Is a Sahtu Dene, Metis or non-participant
of the claim who provides for their Sahtu Dene-Metis
family
- Currently living in the Sahtu Settlement
Area
- Is an adult who is 16 years of age
or over
- MUST currently do one or more of
the following harvesting activities: hunt, fish, and/or
trap
All data collected is entered in the
Harvest Study Database. The Study ran for five years in the communities of Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, and Tulita (April 1998 – 2003). As Deline did not begin participating until January 1999, the SRRB has approved the continuation of the Study until December 2003 to ensure five years of data collection. Data reports for 1998/1999 and 2000/2001 have been published. Data collected has already been used by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board in its assessment of a hydrocarbon development in the Sahtu region.
The SRRB believes that it is essential that data collection continue to capture information about subsistence harvest through pipeline construction and hydrocarbon development. Information collected will be a powerful tool for communities and the SRRB, as well as other Sahtu co-management boards, government agencies and industry, for assessment, mitigation and monitoring purposes through all hydrocarbon and pipeline stages. As of January 2004, the SRRB has decided to continue the study for an additional two years in all Sahtu communities. Data collection will be done quarterly rather than monthly.
The collection of information from the harvesters will be used for several purposes:
- To provide information on harvesting in order to ensure effective management of fish and wildlife in the Sahtu by the SRRB and government;
- To determine the Sahtu Basic Needs Level of Dene and Metis so that their harvesting traditions on the Land can be protected;
- To assess the potential impact of new or existing developments (e.g. oil, mining, tourism) on harvesting; and
- Can be used to determine damage or loss to harvesting caused by development or disaster
|
