Aboriginal knowledge could save species at risk

Canada's Aboriginal peoples have long been known to be the watchdogs of Canada's environment and its inhabitants. To assist the Aboriginal peoples to do just that, one program is putting out a call for proposals.
With the New Year looming ever closer, so too are the deadlines for Aboriginal Funds For Species At Risk (AFSAR), a program designed to help preserve Canada's endangered species.
In 2003, the Species At Risk Act (SARA) was proclaimed in an attempt to prevent the extirpation or extinction of Canada's Indigenous species. The following year, the Aboriginal Funds For Species At Risk (AFSAR) was implemented to benefit SARA by finding capacity for funding.
"We're always aiming for more proposals that we can potentially fund," said Carmen Callihoo, Aboriginal specialist for the prairie and northern region of AFSAR.
Since it's inception, AFSAR's growth had been both steady and encouraging.
"We've consistently got additional funding each year since the beginning of the program. In 2004 and 2005 we had, nationally across Canada, $278,000 for capacity building and $135,500 for critical habitat protection," explained Callihoo. "Last year we had about$2.3-million totally, so it's grown."
The fact that AFSAR's yearly budget is continually growing is good news on two fronts, one being that it is indicative of society caring, and the other being that it helps AFSAR stay on par with the continually growing species at risk.
The list is perpetually changing, the numbers almost always vary, but the amount of species that are extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened or vulnerable is always in the hundreds.
Species such as the spotted owl, located in B.C. are expected to be extirpated within a few years. The woodland caribou, once prominent in Canada, is considered a threatened species. Even the polar bear is now considered vulnerable, with global warming being listed as its primary nemesis. Additionally, animals are not the only things in Canada with its existence in question. The list of species at risk also encompasses plant life.
The Slender Bush Clover might not be so lucky for much longer as it has spent over twenty years as an endangered plant. And Eastern Canadians may have bid adieu to the gorgeous flower commonly known as van Brunt's Jacob's ladder. Perhaps the next generation may never lay their eyes on a homegrown Blue-eyed Mary as that is listed as extirpated in Canada. The list is as troubling as it is extensive. Callihoo suggested that everyone should refer to the SARA Web site to find out everything they can. Another helpful and enlightening Web site is the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
"The SARA registry is the bible. It has all the updated lists," expressed Callihoo. "
"What province it is in. What habitat it likes. If there's a recovery strategy, it lists the teams and the contacts for the teams. What are the threats to the species," Callihoo listed as the information one could find on all the species at risk.
"A fish is wildlife, a plant is wildlife, and so the registry classifies everything," said Callihoo.
Callihoo said that endangered species takes precedence over all other species.
"Endangered is the highest. If we don't do anything to help the species they could be either extirpated or extinct, so all of the endangered species is the highest priority."
As with most government agencies and organizations, bureaucratic methods make getting on the list of species at risk almost as trying as getting off. Even special projects take some time to be approved.
"The projects undergo a review process. I review the projects as well in partnership with other members of our regional management team or committee. We have representatives from Parks Canada agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and other SARA funding departments. We also have participants from Indian and Northern Affairs review projects. We review them on how they match with our regional and national priorities," explained Callihoo.
One unique initiative that was adopted was the inclusion of traditional Aboriginal knowledge as a means to recover the species at risk.
"The department is currently meeting with the National Aboriginal Council Of Species At Risk (NACOSAR) which has all five national Aboriginal organizations involved," said Callihoo, adding that NACOSAR provides advice to the Environment Minister Jim Prentice.
"Information such as changes the people have seen in a species such as caribou over time or potential threats that they've seen or population sizes or body conditions, it's all potentially Aboriginal traditional knowledge that may help," stated Callihoo.
"We've got all the western science down. We've still got work to do with listening to Aboriginal people and seeing that their knowledge as well goes into recovery of species at risk."
Callihoo stated that due to the elections, the call for proposals came out later than they would have preferred. The deadline for proposals is December 12.
To learn more about species at risk, and what can be done to help, go to www.sararegistry.gc.ca or www.cosewic.gc.ca.