5 youth, 4 days, 3 boats, 2 many horseflies, 1 sturgeon!

Hear from Warren Iserhoff (our Environmental Youth Coordinator this spring) as he describes his experience in the field working on the Mattagami and North French Rivers!

With spring weather comes the start of the field season! We start our on-the-river work on the North French River — read on to see what we’re up to, and what’s to come!

We are very excited to show off a new look for the Learning from Lake Sturgeon program, with a new logo!

Normally we learn from namew in the rivers of the Moose Cree Homeland. This February, some of the Learning from Lake Sturgeon team shared and learned in a very different environment — a scientific conference!

Instead of going out on the river, Team Namew along with 6 Moose Cree youth travelled south to visit 2 universities as part of a youth science learning trip.

Usually we look at lake sturgeon, the biggest animals in the river. But what can we learn from also looking at the smallest animals in the river?

We’re looking for interested youth to come on a science learning trip to southern Ontario in late August, with all expenses covered, and honoraria provided!

Our team had a great time in the field this spring — catching lake sturgeon, downloading receivers, and connecting with youth!

It’s a lot of work to get ready for field season, but we are almost ready to go!

Get in touch if you are interested in learning scientific and traditional skills while out on the land.

For World Rivers Day, WCS Canada staff scientist Claire Farrell gives an update on the Learning from Lake Sturgeon youth program.

A special guest blogger — a namew, or lake sturgeon — wrote a Muddy Boots blog post about her experiences living in the North French River.

Our team overcame some challenges to get all of our receivers downloaded this spring.

We were glad to be able to work with an artist to create a graphic record of our shared time during our virtual gathering.

What do you do when it’s not possible to gather Elders and youth together in person?

As a part of our youth program, we sent Water Rangers water test kits to Moose Cree youth in Kapuskasing and Moose Factory.

Fieldwork was very different this year, with COVID-19.

Who knew how much fun demonstrating waterproof paper or modelling chest-wader-fashion could be?

Our team is studying how lake sturgeon are affected by hydropower dams in the Moose Cree Homeland. But what scientific studies have already been done in other places? Can we learn from existing research?