Sahtu Settlement Harvest Study

The Sahtu Settlement Harvest Study is an important project required under the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (13.5.6).This is a study of Sahtu Dene and Metis hunters, trappers, and fishers. The Study will count the number of animals, fish, and birds currently harvested by Sahtu Dene and Metis throughout a five-year period (1998-2003). The Study is confidential; harvester names will not be released and information collected cannot be used to prosecute harvesters.

The communities of Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, and Tulita began participating in the Study in April 1998. The community of Deline began participating in January 1999.

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

 

What is a Community Interviewer?

Community Interviewers are a very important part of the Sahtu Settlement Harvest Study.As an interviewer, he/she gathers harvest information that will be used to help protect harvesting traditions of Sahtu Dene and Metis peoples.The Community Interviewer position is a part-time. The Community Interviewers are employed by the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board and report to the Harvest Study Coordinator.

 

Job Description:

• Each month, interview all harvesters appearing on the official community harvester list; Maintain and update the official harvester list for their respective community; Help promote the study in each community
• Attend Renewable Resource Council meetings each year for information on the progress of the study.