Pimachiowin Aki

World Heritage Site

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What Birds in Pimachiowin Aki Can Tell Us

Pimachiowin Aki is the largest protected area in the North American boreal shield. It is home to millions of trees, pristine waters, and over a thousand plant and animal species—making it a paradise for songbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl.

The Natural Resources Institute (NRI) at the University of Manitoba and Pimachiowin Aki Guardians are working together to observe birds and discover what they can tell us about the health of the land.

During our first virtual meeting in 2020, these people shared their thoughts:

  • Melba Green, Guardian, Bloodvein River First Nation  
  • Dennis Keeper, Guardian, Little Grand Rapids First Nation
  • Dr. Nicola Koper, Professor, NRI
  • Chris De Ruyck, PhD Student, NRI
  • Alison Haugh, Executive Director, Pimachiowin Aki
(from left) Chris De Ruyck, Melba Green, Dennis Keeper, Dr. Nicola Koper

What do you hope to learn from this project?

Melba: My hope is for us to understand birds’ ways of living and the messages that they bring about weather and climate. If we see birds dying there is a problem.

Nicola: I am particularly interested in how lands managed by First Nation communities contribute to the conservation of birds. How are the birds we find in Pimachiowin Aki different or similar to birds outside the World Heritage site?

Chris: Bird species you find on the land can also tell you things about the land. Our goal is to examine how birds in Pimachiowin Aki are protected in comparison to places where the land has been altered. If species are present in Pimachiowin Aki but missing in other areas, it might point to a specific problem.

Nicola: I think that western science has a lot to learn from the stewardship of Pimachiowin Aki First Nations. By comparing birds in Pimachiowin Aki with how well birds are doing outside of Pimachiowin Aki, we hope the project will help make western-contemporary society better stewards of the land.  

What do you mean by conserving birds?

Nicola: Birds can be harvested and populations can still be conserved at the same time. When I talk about conserving birds, I mean trying to protect ecosystems to protect birds that live there. We want to make sure bird populations are high across large areas, including Pimachiowin Aki and other regions, and are not declining.

What is the state of birds today?

Nicola: In most parts of North America, many, many species have declined over the last four to five decades. We don’t know a lot about birds in Pimachiowin Aki yet, but we think that Pimachiowin Aki may be a refuge where bird populations can be successful because the habitat is being protected. There’s a lot of habitat and food, and less noise and disturbance. The land is kept well, and people living on the land have a good relationship with it.

Gulls (Photo: Hidehiro Otake)

What can we learn from this project?

Melba: One of the rules of being Anishinaabe is to respect every living thing on Mother Earth. That’s why we wanted to create the Bloodvein River First Nation land use plan—it says all living species and their habitats will be protected.

Nicola: I like the idea of documenting the outcome of that respectful interaction with the land. Our hope is that we’ll be able to see how populations are changing over time, compare this to other areas, and show how important it is that birds have the habitat that Pimachiowin Aki is providing.  

Why did Pimachiowin Aki choose to collaborate with NRI?

Alison: The project helps Pimachiowin Aki meet the monitoring and reporting requirements of being on the World Heritage List.  We must show that we are taking active measures to protect the site’s natural and cultural values. This is just one of the many community initiatives that help keep the land.

Melba: This is a very interesting project and it is another way of being a Guardian. Observing birds is another way for me to learn. I can learn from [NRI]. Birds are fascinating. It’s teaching me something else rather than just the four-legged animals.

Why did NRI choose to collaborate with Pimachiowin Aki Guardians?

Nicola: We know different things—Guardians have knowledge of the area and how birds are using the land while NRI can provide information on how to identify birds and the locations they are likely to be found in. We’re bringing together our knowledge with the knowledge of the community. It wouldn’t work if it were just western scientists coming in.

Why study birds to learn about climate change?  

Chris: We focus on birds because there are over 200 bird species in the boreal. We can gather information on many species at the same time, which makes it an efficient way to obtain information about ecosystems.  

In addition, we know a lot about birds. Indigenous communities like Pimachiowin Aki have been passing down traditional knowledge about birds for generations. Plus, birds have been studied a lot by western science. This gives us a strong starting point—we know how to identify birds and we know how they typically behave. If their behaviour changes, we can link it to how healthy the boreal ecosystem is.

What kinds of things will Pimachiowin Aki Guardians be watching for?

Nicola: If you see multiple species arriving earlier than normal, that is one indicator that could help us understand if there are changes over time. Also, looking for new species or species that are more abundant than in other years.

Dennis: We’ve started to see new ducks that are black and look like the bufflehead. They’re all black except for a white mark on their bills.

Nicola: Possibly American coots—this is an example of a species that would be interesting to monitor because the community is noticing it and you haven’t expected to see it before.

Chris: New species showing up, and also species that are conspicuous by absence. Ones that disappear are equally important. Even seeing birds that are switching a food source and eating new things could be indicative of climate change.

Nicola: Fire can also change where species are found.

Melba: After a fire, you don’t see wildlife until the land restores itself. The birds will fly by and look around but they won’t go near a place when it’s burned. Once there is grass then you see them come back.

Nicola: Eventually, we want to go to Pimachiowin Aki, meet in person, explore the landscape together and decide what bird species to monitor. Initially, we’ll try to monitor all the species we can, but we will probably end up focusing on 20-40 species that are abundant, and that people see regularly.

Black-backed Woodpecker (Photo: Christian Artuso)

Chris: We can also choose species that use different habitats and live in Pimachiowin Aki during different seasons, like summer and winter. Also, species that other animals in the boreal forest depend on, like woodpeckers, which have an effect on the forest. They help control western pine beetles by eating them, and they create cavities in trees, creating homes for insects, flying squirrels, owls and other birds. Even mice have been found in cavities created by woodpeckers.

Melba: There are lots of red-headed woodpeckers in Bloodvein. I have a book here on North American birds, which I take with me when I’m on the land. There are lots of birds! An Elder said that birds are coming back that haven’t been seen in a long time.

Nicola: I love hearing these stories and I hope to have more of these conversations with you.  

Dennis: We have golden eagles. They have a nest here that they go back to every year. They look bigger than the bald eagle. On my trapline, where I hunt ducks, there are seven different pairs there. When I first started hunting, there were no eagles there. They anticipate us going there to hunt and they go there to clean up.

We are also seeing some kind of doves.

Is it bad to see exotic bird species in Pimachiowin Aki?

Nicola: It’s not a bad thing if exotic species are not highly abundant, but if they are abundant there’s always a risk that new species will push out native species. In places where there are a lot of house sparrows, there are often fewer chickadees and nuthatches.

Chickadee (Photo: Melba Green)

How does this relate to climate change?

Nicola: Some birds probably thrive in Pimachiowin Aki because they are tough and able to tolerate cold winters. As weather conditions become milder, new species are also able to live in northern areas like Pimachiowin Aki. There is probably room in Pimachiowin Aki for more birds, but as new birds move in they might push the native birds out, away from a great food source. Populations are declining everywhere, so if birds get pushed out and end up losing refuges like Pimachiowin Aki, they will have even more problems.

What is the Land that Gives Life telling you through birds?

Climate Watch asks you to share your observations and stories about birds, plants, animals, natural events or changes in the landscape. Help Audubon scientists protect birds and the places they need—share what you see and hear:

https://bit.ly/2JYHwBa

Feature Photo: Pine Grosbeak (Christian Artuso)

How Bird Populations are Changing in Pimachiowin Aki

Dr. Nicola Koper, Natural Resources Institute

Selections from telephone interviews and conversations between Pimachiowin Aki Guardians Melba Green (Bloodvein River First Nation) and Dennis Keeper (Little Grand Rapids First Nation), and Dr. Nicola Koper, Professor, and PhD Student Chris De Ruyck of the Natural Resources Institute (NRI).  

What birds are you seeing in Bloodvein River and Little Grand Rapids?

Melba: We see a lot of blue jays here in Bloodvein. A lot of people are feeding birds and blue jays come around.

Blue Jay (Photo: Melba Green)

Dennis: We rarely see blue jays. Or ptarmigan. But in the last couple of years, the ptarmigan are coming in huge flocks—200 or more! It used to be 10-20 in a group. We have had them covering this whole area. People are asking if you could eat them. People harvested them and saw that they were carrying some kind of bugs.

Nicola: That is really cool. We’ve had records of a few flocks near Winnipeg. They are not supposed to be here, so far out of their range. If we have species moving out of their natural range, they might be exposed to parasites that they are not tolerant of. If you have a species that evolved in the north, they might not be resistant to parasites in the south. It might be possible that ptarmigan are having problems in Pimachiowin Aki because it’s an area where they are not supposed to be. We could work with a parasitologist on those kinds of things—study where birds are and what health they are experiencing.

Dennis: Last year, the geese went back really early, around the last week of August. It’s usually the middle of September when you start to see the real migration. I don’t think they even nest around here anymore. I found a few eggs. And I didn’t see any snow geese pass by this way this year.

Canada Geese (Photo: Hidehiro Otake)

Nicola: I hope we can learn more about that through the type of monitoring we are talking about here. I’m interested in the common nighthawk and Canada warbler because they are species at risk. I’m also interested in exotic species like the house sparrow and European starling, which are starting to move further north because of climate change. It would be interesting to know if they have higher or lower populations in Pimachiowin Aki than in areas that are more influenced by western society.

Common Nighthawk (Photo: Christian Artuso)

Dennis: I’m concerned about the Canada jay. They store their food in black spruce. With the warming, their food goes bad and they abandon their nests. We used to see them everywhere. In the last four years, I have only seen one. It was by itself. Usually, we see them in groups.

Whiskey Jack/Canada Jay (Photo: Christian Artuso)

Nicola: I also think that I have not seen as many [Canada jays] in the last couple of years. This is one of the species that we would be able to monitor. By being on the land, there is so much opportunity for you to make these observations.

Dennis: I’ve also been trying to find out about this one type of bird I’ve been observing for years. It’s dark in colour but when I get closer it’s greenish in colour and has a yellow banana nose. It’s nesting in buildings like the water treatment plant.

Nicola: Maybe the European starling. Look for little specks on them. They are black with iridescent green and purple.

Dennis: Short tail?

Nicola: Yes! The observation you made is really interesting because the European starling is a species that is very closely tied with humans. The fact that you might have them nesting there in buildings, tied with human structures, could mean that it’s what you’re seeing.

European Starling (Photo: Adobe Stock)

Chris: European starlings are not native to North America but I think they helped us out with the canker worms [last summer]. Birds love those outbreaks. Even if adults don’t eat the worms, they feed them to their young.

Nicola: Most species, even if they eat seeds, don’t feed seeds to their young. They feed them insects because insects have more protein than any plant matter would. That’s one of the reasons we don’t want to lose birds—because they perform roles that are good for wildlife and people.

Dennis: This year, I saw an eagle in January. It was a warm day. We usually see spring birds in March—known as the eagle moon month because eagles return to Pimachiowin Aki in March. They come before the geese. They wait for them to bunch up, then they attack them at a certain time of the day.

Bald Eagles (Photo: Lorne Coulson)

Chris: It will be really interesting to hear how birds this year are different from next year. 

Melba: I can’t wait! I’ll take my camera with me out on the land, and take lots of pictures.

Chris: It can be hard to get a good picture. When you get your camera on them, there’s an idea that the birds might think it’s a large eyeball staring at them, like an owl or something, and they might not like it very much.

Melba: I know birds don’t like you bothering them. You have to stand around for quite a while until they come back.

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Junco in Pimachiowin Aki
Junco (Photo: Melba Green)

Then and Now with Joe Owen

Joe Owen, Pimachiowin Aki Board member and knowledge keeper from Pauingassi First Nation

The knowledge and skills that Anishinabeeg have used for thousands of years is passed down through generations. It’s a part of who we are.

“People have the teachings to survive on the land,” says Joe Owen, Pimachiowin Aki board member and knowledge keeper from Pauingassi First Nation.

While people still use the land and waters of Pimachiowin Aki as they have for millennia, modernity has brought changes over the years. Joe recently shared his thoughts about his community and the ways Anishinaabe culture thrives today.

Gathering medicines at Pauingassi First Nation (Photo: Colin Owens)

Memories of harvesting plants

“My dad would harvest plants when we were on the trapline. There was a preparation process, and when somebody got sick, there would be medicine ready to use.”

Some medicines were crushed up while others were boiled into a tea or chewed as is. Joe recalls a childhood memory when the pain from a toothache was quickly resolved by chewing on a small plant given to him by his father. “The pain never came back after I took the medicine that my dad gave me,” he says.

“He made an offering and placed the plant close to the fire and dried it. Then he crushed it and gave it to me and told me to put it where it hurts. The pain went away in under 20 minutes.”

Anishinaabeg continue to harvest medicines in Pimachiowin Aki. “People are still using traditional medicines from the land today,” says Joe.

Traditional medicine boiled into a tea (Photo: Hidehiro Otake)

Boreal forest plants are harvested for common uses, such as food, shelter, and medicine. Sage, cedar, weekay, sweet grass, muskeg roots, birchbark and many others can help heal a cut, take away pain or remove negative energy. Medicines are to be respected, so offerings are made in gratitude.

Dog sledding with canoe on ice (Photo: American Philosophical Society, Hallowell Collection)

Memories of travel

Means of travel is a big change that Joe has witnessed since he was a small boy. In the past, people traveled mainly by foot, dog sled and canoe. Today, Anishinaabeg travel across Pimachiowin Aki by plane, motorboat, car and snowmobile. Our means of travel has changed but we use the same routes traveled by our ancestors for thousands of years. Through generations, we have maintained these ancient travel routes on land and water to trap, hunt, fish and gather.

Joe notes that portages along many rivers in Ontario and Manitoba are still in use. “People knew where to make the route, and that’s what we still use.”

Pauingassi community members, June 1955 (Photo: American Philosophical Society, Hallowell Collection)

Visiting in Little Grand Rapids

Little Grand Rapids First Nation and Pauingassi shared a single reserve until 1989 when a new reserve was created at Pauingassi. “For a long time, we traveled back and forth to Little Grand Rapids,” recalls Joe. My dad had an older sister in Little Grand, and we visited and would stay a couple days and come back.”

They also traveled back and forth to the store until Pauingassi eventually got its own. “We still network and communicate with Little Grand Rapids,’” Joe explains.

Memories of trapping

When Joe was a child, trapping was one of the only means of survival. People sold dried pelts to the Hudson Bay Company to make money.

Joe recalled that families would be gone for months at a time on their traplines. “At that time, there were families with a head person and helpers, and that’s the way it was for a long time. My dad had partners, and one partner would bring his family, too.”

Families had traplines that could be 10 to 50 miles away from the community. “Our trapline was 30 miles away from [Pauingassi First Nation],” says Joe. Depending on the season, they would walk or travel by canoe.

“They traveled before freeze-up and would return in the springtime. Then, they would go back in the fall and come back to spend Christmas in the community. They would go out in January until later March, and they would go out again and come back in May.”

While many people trap for food and income in Pimachiowin Aki today, they now have more options, says Joe.

“Today it’s much different because we have resources. We have jobs and programs, but [people] still go out hunting, trapping and fishing.” They don’t go out for as long as they used to, he adds.

Today, motorized travel makes seasonal trips quicker. “Some people take a plane. They have a canoe at the trapline to use when they get there,” Joe says.

The animals harvested are varied, as they have been for millennia, and include beaver, muskrat, fisher, otter, mink, weasel, squirrel, lynx, and fox.

His father’s stories

Joe fondly recalls the stories his father would share with him when they were out on the trapline. 

“There were lots of stories that my dad would tell us. Stories that were passed down from his dad. Legends that were passed down from generations. Some stories would have a name like Nanabush and Whiskey Jack. They really sounded true and made sense the way they were told.”

Fluctuating wildlife populations

Over the years, Joe has witnessed population changes in a variety of wildlife species in Pauingassi First Nation.

“Before 1980, we never had marten or sable,” he says. “Then all of a sudden, they appeared in our area. In 1985, the population was so huge. Today there are few. The lynx, too,” he adds. “One winter there would be some, but other times there would be few. It’s a pattern for species.”

Lynx in Pimachiowin Aki (Photo: Hidehiro Otake)

Joe recalled Elders’ stories about wildlife suddenly appearing or disappearing in the area.

“Elders said there were no moose in the community, and then one day, a hunter saw this animal and killed it, and soon enough people said it’s a moose. My dad told me that we didn’t have deer because of a big blizzard that moved the deer out. Deer are not common anymore.”

Joe attributes changes in wildlife populations and behaviour to climate change and forest fire.

“Eagles never came close to the community. Today, they come. They will land on the hydro pole and sit there. And also, the bear comes to the community, and the wolves. To me, they’re looking for food, and they continue to come around. They never did that years ago. The pelicans didn’t come to our area. I’m beginning to see them now.”

Keeping the land

One thing that modern times has not changed in Pimachiowin Aki is the ancient tradition of Ji-ganawendamang Gidakiiminaan (Keeping the land). Anishinaabeg continue to honour the Creator’s gifts and protect the healthy and culturally vibrant Land that Gives Life as our ancestors have for millennia.

Feature Photo: Working with a beaver trap (American Philosophical Society, Hallowell Collection)

Grandpa’s Story: Gwiigwiishiwag

Whiskey Jack bird in tree.
Gwiigwiishiwag (Photo: Christian Artuso)

When I was out as a young boy with my slingshot, my Grandpa always told me not to bother Canada Jays, Gwiigwiishiwag, because they help moose hunters find moose. My Grandpa would talk to that bird, and they would understand him. Whichever direction the bird flies, he would go hunting for the day. Most of the time he was successful. My Grandpa would feed Gwiigwiishiwag, except before he went hunting. After Gwiigwiishi would show him the way, he would feed that bird, not one particular bird, but the one that showed him the way that day.”

—Little Grand Rapids First Nation Guardian Dennis Keeper tells his Grandpa’s story  

Dog Sledding for Land-Based Learning

Surrounded by the expansive boreal forest and the soft sounds of canine paws on snow, Sidney Klassen glides through Bloodvein River First Nation behind his team of dogs. Mr. K, as he’s known to students at Miskooseepi School, is providing a “hands-on experience for the kids to be out in nature.“ Dog sledding is part of the school’s newly-formed Land-Based Learning program.

“We take the dogs out and I show students how to handle them, how to bring them to the truck and bring them to the staging area where we launch,” Sidney explains. Students practise getting the sled ready and hooking up the team. They also learn parts of the sled, like rigging and lines. But their learning runs deeper than physical skills.

“The kids learn about the connection between the dogs and humans when they take care of the dogs,” says Sidney. “They develop responsibility. The implications for learning are endless.”

Who is Sidney Klassen?

Sidney is a former physical education teacher. He has grown to love his new role as Land-Based Instructor but he’s not comfortable with the title. “I’d change Instructor to Coordinator or Facilitator,” he says. ‘Instructor’ is more suitable for a local, not a former Winnipegger like him, he explains.

Sidney with the dogs and a student

“I’m not from Bloodvein River First Nation and I don’t know the land like the locals do.”

Sidney works closely with teachers and residents of the Manitoba First Nation community to connect traditional knowledge to classroom learning.   

“The goal is to get the kids outside on the land, in the bush behind the school, out on the river in canoes, or on hiking field trips,” he says. It’s all part of learning science, social studies and mathematics in new ways. 

From the Circus to Teaching

Sidney became a teacher at age 39, after an unusual career route.

His inspiration to teach started when he “ran away with the circus.”  

Years ago, Sidney worked as the crew chef with the Caravan Stage Company, a traveling circus on a tall ship sailing boat. “The pirate ship theatre was started by two old, card-carrying hippies and it led me to look at my life and chase my dreams. I thought that if they can build a hippy pirate ship, I can do what I want to do.”

What he wanted to do was teach.

How Sidney Started Dog Sledding

He left the traveling circus with a plan to go to university. But first, he took a trip to the Yukon. The trip sparked a new passion. “I took up dog sledding and fell in love with it. I was working for an esteemed champion dog musher and he taught me about dog mushing. I loved being able to see beautiful territory, and I loved the interaction between the humans and dogs.”

When he returned to Winnipeg for university, Sidney formed a dog sled team of his own. With his two dogs, and sometimes a friend’s dog, he traveled the city’s river trails. He had no idea that his love of dog sledding would one day carry into his classroom in Bloodvein River First Nation.

“When I got to Bloodvein, I wanted to start a dog team,” he says. “I put together a fundraiser to raise funds for equipment and got started.”

The team began with six dogs donated by Kevin Lewis who runs the Cree cultural immersion camp in Saskatchewan called kâniyâsihk Culture Camps.

Showing Students the Ropes

The dogs live with Sidney. He has a kennel with doghouses behind his home. “I take students on a tour of the kennel to meet the dogs. I show them how the kennel is set up, and how to care for them.”

Sidney also takes students dog sledding along Indigenous travel routes. The trip includes Ojibwe teachings from an Elder and local trapper.

“Gabriel Green, drives ahead with his snowmobile and takes us down his trapline,” Sidney shares. “He pulls a cargo toboggan behind his snowmobile. The students take turns driving the dog sled or riding in the sled or the toboggan.”

Stopping at designated spots, Gabriel shows his traps and tells stories about the dog team that he had years ago. “Having that platform for Gabriel to share his knowledge and stories is really great,” says Sidney. “We tie-in classroom learning and we’re getting the kids out into nature, over the river and on the trail.”

Students enjoy the adventure. “Just being out on the sled with the kids, even though they might be acting cool at the time, I know they’re excited,” says Sidney. “It’s a beautiful, sunshine-y day, running through a beautiful trail…one of the best feelings ever for me.”

“Word gets around that Mr. K has a dog sled team and takes kids out sledding,” says Sidney. Students like to share stories about their experience of driving the dog sled on their own, he adds.

Each trip includes eight to 10 students from grades four to nine. “Last winter we were out with the kids about five or six times,” Sidney says. The most recent trip was in March, before COVID-19 school closures.

Other Land-Based Learning Activities

The Land-Based Learning program involves more than dog sled education.

“One of my highlights every year is the overnight trip to the Manitoba Museum,” Sidney reflects. The Miskooseepi students spend an overnight inside the museum. It includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the curator’s room to view artifacts from Pauingassi First Nation. Students learn about the importance of protecting their cultural heritage.

“These are items from their culture. They learn that their culture is significant and valued by the world.”

Knowledge keepers like Culture and Language teacher Yvonne Young take students out on the land where they learn to identify plants and pick medicine. They also learn how to use plants, like offering tobacco.

Last winter, a few students took an ice fishing day trip. “We’re fortunate to have William Young be a part of the program. He had ice fishing equipment donated and took us to Round Lake to go ice fishing,” Sidney says.

“The kids have their Anishinaabe culture in their blood,” he says. He notes that many students can teach him about hunting, fishing and living off the land. “They go out with their fathers, uncles, grandfathers or aunts, and they have a lot of knowledge.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, instructors and students are now doing remote learning. Sidney is running logistics, getting homework packages delivered and monitoring social media. He plans to set up a spot this winter so that students can get out onto the land. “We’ll have the ice fishing shacks, cross-country skis and snowshoes, and let the kids use them.”

A Little Paper Creates a Big Problem

At eight years old, Michael Zelniker had no problem admonishing adults to stop littering in the streets of Montréal. Today, his dedication to protecting the environment has grown into a quest to protect the boreal forest for future generations.

The Issue with Tissue

“Tissue companies are flushing away our forests and our future,” warns the filmmaker from his Los Angeles home. 

‘The Issue with Tissue’ is the title of his latest project—a film to let the world know that “the boreal forest is being clear cut so we can wipe our bums with softer, more plush toilet paper.”

Michael was shocked when he first learned that one of the most ecologically important forests in the world—Canada’s boreal forest—is being destroyed to make toilet paper.

“What we do to each other, we do to ourselves; what we do to the land, we do to ourselves,” he says. 

Who is Affected?

There’s more to the boreal forest than just trees. The boreal forest plays an important role in slowing the effects of climate change. It stores almost twice as much carbon as tropical forests and has more surface freshwater than any other ecosystem on the planet. 

“I discovered that more than 600 First Nations call the boreal forest home and have for thousands of years; that the boreal is home to caribou and other wildlife. It is the nesting ground for the songbirds we hear in our parks and our backyards.” Michael’s backyard is in California but as a child growing up in Montréal, he went to summer camp 100 miles north at the southern edge of the boreal forest.

“I hated camp. I was a troubled kid and as a result, I was always in trouble,” he remembers. He discovered his love of nature during this otherwise unhappy camp experience.

“The breathtaking view of endless forest was the one thing that comforted me at camp.” It forged in him a deep lifelong connection to trees. “When I’m in a forest today, I feel like I’m with long-lost family.”

While researching the toilet paper issue, Michael spent dozens of hours on Zoom talking with scientists, activists, and First Nation leaders. “Everyone opened their hearts and shared their story with me,” he says. It was an incredible privilege, he adds.

Inspired by the conversations, Michael knew he had to share the untold story with the world.

Lessons from Indigenous Elders and Leaders

“I began to feel, ‘If not me, then who? If not now, then when?’”

Elder Leslie Orvis Sr. and William Young

Those two questions led to an inspiring filmmaking experience. Michael collected over 100 hours of footage as he traveled across Canada to interview First Nation Elders and leaders, including Bloodvein River First Nation Elder Leslie Orvis Sr. and Pimachiowin Aki Board Director William Young.

His journey began in BC with Canadian cameraperson Abanoub Andraous. The two of them drove, with multiple stops along the way, to Eastern Quebec where they flew north by bush plane to the George River. There, they met with Valérie Courtois, Director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, and Innu as they celebrated the migration of the caribou. “It was a profoundly moving experience,” Michael says enthusiastically.

He describes the entire filmmaking experience as “eye-opening and life-changing.” He hopes the film will have a strong impact on others, much like the journey has had on him.

“I had so many special moments filming,” Michael says. He was touched by the hospitality and generosity of the people that he got to visit and talk with. “I felt deeply honoured.”

“What has caused us to go so wrong as a species?” he asks. Learning from First Nation Elders and leaders, Michael says that we have lost connection to the land and with each other. “As a result, settler colonial types like me look at how to value land based on dollars and cents, and as a way to exploit rather than as a member of our family.”

Elder Dave Porter of Kaska First Nation in northern British Columbia shared his wisdom with Michael. “Mother Nature, since the beginning of time, takes care of us because Mother Earth has provided us this environment to live so well. If we don’t begin to take better care of Mother Nature, we’re going to destroy her ability to take care of us.”

Elder Porter also told Michael that “when you’re in a forest, you’re with family.” Michael heard similar themes from others across the country.  

Chief Darrell Bob of the Xaxli’p Community in Lillooet, BC invited Michael into his sweat lodge. “He pointed to the stones that warmed the sweat lodge and said, ‘These are our grandfathers.’”

The lessons continued as Michael met with Elder Dave Courchene from Turtle Lodge in Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. He explained about natural law—to only take as much as you need.

“Give thanks to what you take with an eye for the seven generations in front of you,” explains Michael. He had never heard this lesson until he met with Indigenous people.

“In American white culture we believe that a lot is good, more is better, and too much is just right. And we see it even with the pandemic—what were people hoarding? Toilet paper.”

After his footage comes together and is shared with the world, Michael hopes that North Americans will make the connection between trees and paper products like toilet paper, and become “more mindful of how we’re using them.”

He recalls a memorable statement that Elder Courchene made to him, and it is a mighty ask: “If you can do one thing, get them to give us back the boreal and we can take care of the rest.”

Imagine the possibilities if that were the result.

Here are ways that Michael suggests for you to make a difference:

  • Buy recycled paper products made from post consumer content
  • Buy wood, pulp & paper products with the FSC certification seal
  • Whenever possible, stop using single use disposables—use reusables
  • Demand that governments fulfill their commitments to Indigenous Peoples to protect/conserve their ancestral home­—the land, air and water—the animals, plants and trees that inhabit these wild spaces
  • Support the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA)
  • Spend time in nature. Bring your child to wild spaces. Connect with the other creatures, the trees, plants, and animals that make up Mother Earth’s creation. They are all members of our wider family. Treat them as such
  • Support First Nation Guardian Programs

Michael Zelniker is a Canadian-born award-winning actor/director based in Los Angeles. He is a member of the Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps (led by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore), serving as Co-Chair of the Los Angeles Chapter. His film, ‘The Issue with Tissue’, is set for release in 2021. We will keep you posted on its release date and how/where to watch it.