Engaging First Nation communities in environmental monitoring: the experience of Black River First Nation, Manitoba

Environments, August, 2006 by Brian G. Kotak

In summary, the success of Black River First Nations environmental projects can be attributed to a number of factors. This includes having a vision at the community level and support from the leadership (Chief and Council), building capacity within the community by initially bringing in external expertise and by mentoring and training community youth, and building partnerships with a diversity of organizations. This approach can (and should) be used in other First Nation communities across the country. Through this, First Nations can take a more active role in the monitoring of the environment and natural resources.

Brian Kotak is the Environment Director for Black River First Nation. He has a PhD in water quality from the University of Alberta. He has worked with the forest industry in Alberta and Manitoba. He has also collaborated on environmental projects in Canada, the US, Poland and Nepal, ranging from woodland caribou management and toxic algae in prairie lakes, to involving First Nations in environmental monitoring. He can be reached at briankotak@black-river.ca