Being out on the land encourages youth to become involved
By Rick Garrick
Pic Mobert’s Hannah Desmoulin is looking to get youth from her Robinson Superior community more involved with activities on the land.
“I’m planning right now to take some youth out on the land to set some rabbit snares,” says the environmental monitor who graduated from Sault College’s Natural Environment Technician – Conservation and Management program this past May. “Young kids have to get out on the land to learn at a young age. Being out there makes me feel good inside — it’s calming, it’s a powerful feeling.”
Desmoulin held a fish derby on White Lake and nature walks for youth from the community of about 325 on-reserve citizens over the summer months.
“We’re trying to get more people out there to continue asserting our rights,” Desmoulin says. “We’re just trying to promote land use, getting people out there.”
The 31-year-old single parent of two children enrolled in the two-year Natural Environment Technician – Conservation and Management program with assistance from Barrick Hemlo Mines, where she was employed as an environmental monitor and previously as a shuttle driver.
“It was really good — I really enjoyed that program,” Desmoulin says. “We did a lot of field work outdoors.”
Since graduating in May, Desmoulin has been working as an environmental monitor for three days a week in her community and two days a week at Hemlo.
“Being outdoors, being on the land, it feels really good being out there,” Desmoulin says. “With the (Pic Mobert) lands and resources department, we annually have a fish derby and a fall moose hunt.”
Desmoulin’s position at Hemlo involves a variety of activities, including water sampling and watershed tours. Hemlo’s Williams and David Bell gold mines are located along Highway 17 about 40 kilometres west of Pic Mobert, which is located about 390 kilometres east of Thunder Bay near the north shore of Lake Superior.
“We test all areas around the mine,” Desmoulin says. “We check the water levels and flows. If levels and flows are dropping, there is a possibility of a beaver dam, so we have to inspect and take action to remove the dam so flows are not affected. And it’s all by hand.”
Desmoulin and Pic River’s Myles Michano were trained as environmental monitors as part of the 2009 broadening of the 1992 agreement between Hemlo and Pic Mobert and Pic River to create a framework to train First Nations people in skills for present and future mining employment, to support business development and to include involvement in environmental stewardship programs. About 50 First Nations people work at Hemlo, or about 10 per cent of the workforce.
In addition to working with youth in her community, Desmoulin has also been working on developing Pic Mobert’s on-reserve environmental policy.
“I just took a stab at it,” Desmoulin says. “Right now, our lands and resources department is reviewing the draft, and giving input.”
Desmoulin says it will be up to chief and council to see that implementation of the environmental policy recommendations occur once it is completed.