At the Heart of the Great Lakes

Walpole Island Heritage Centre May 2010

Bkejwanong: Where the Waters Divide

Bkejwanong s Ecosystems OVERVIEW Walpole Island supports a rich mosaic of natural areas including some of the most biologically diverse areas in Canada. Coastal waterways Tallgrass Prairies Wetlands Oak Savannas Carolinian forests

Species at Risk on Walpole Island PLANTS OVERVIEW BIRDS FISH REPTILES MUSSELS BUTTERFLIES HISTORIC SPECIES Greater Prairie Chicken (Extirpated) American Badger (Endangered) Massasauga Rattlesnake (Threatened)

Tallgrass Prairies

Oak Savannas

Woodlands and Forests

Waterways

Coastal Marshes

Wetlands Wetland habitat on Walpole Island Wetland habitat 8,300 hectares

Coastal Marshes

Wetlands

Species at Risk King Rail (Endangered)

Species at Risk Least Bittern (Threatened)

Species at Risk Blanding s Turtle (Endangered)

Species at Risk Spotted Turtle (Endangered)

Species at Risk Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Threatened)

Species at Risk Northern Map Turtle (Special Concern)

Species at Risk Swamp Rose Mallow (Special Concern)

Species at Risk Round Hickorynut mussel (Endangered) Kidneyshell mussel (Endangered) Northern Madtom (Endangered) Lake Sturgeon (Endangered)

Wetland Waterfowl Mallard

Our Waters Redhead Ducks

Wetland Scenes Bullfrog

Waterways of Walpole Island

Interior Wetland Losses OVERVIEW Loss of Interior Wetland Habitat on Walpole Island!"#$%&!'()"&& &&&&&&&&&&*+,-.&!""/%&!'$/0& &&&&&&&&&&*+,-.& 1&23..&34& 5)&*+,-.&!"#$%#&'()#"*+',-%).)/&0'1&-%2&3.'4/3"/&5.'

Pressures and Threats to the Land OVERVIEW Impacts on Wildlife Phragmites / Quill Weeds Urban Sprawl Zebra Mussels Unsustainable / Haphazard Development

Walpole Island Heritage Centre May 2010

Nin.Da.Waab.Jig Those Who Seek to Find 666789-:6*;3;<7+3=&!! Walpole Island Heritage Centre Nin.Da.Waab.Jig officially founded in 1989!! Research arm of First Nation dealing with land claims, environmental protection, and heritage conservation!! Walpole Island one of the first Native communities in Canada to take leadership role in the field of environment and sustainable development

Walpole Island Land Trust In 2008, we established the Walpole Island Land Trust to enhance our ability to conserve and protect ecologically significant habitats and species at risk within the Bkejwanong territory. The Walpole Island Land Trust was born out of the desire to make sure that our legacy to the future is something that we and they can be proud of. We want the children of the future to be able to say Wow! They were really thinking of us! Not, What were they thinking?! The Walpole Island Land Trust is the 1 st First Nations land trust incorporated and registered as a charity in Canada.

Our Niche HOLISTIC, COMMUNITY- BASED APPROACHES Holistic approaches that benefit humans & wildlife. Healthy Plants and Animals Restoration of Language and Culture Ecosystem Conservation and Recovery WALPOLE ISLAND ECOSYSTEM RECOVERY STRATEGY prepared by Dr. Jane M. Bowles for Walpole Island Heritage Centre, Environment Canada and Walpole Island Recovery Team Stewardship and Traditional Habitat Management Research and Building Capacity Connections between People and Ecosystems Community Educated, Aware and Involved

Implementing Our Aims and Objects WALPOLE ISLAND LAND TRUST PROTECTING LANDS IN TRADITIONAL TERRITORY Our 1 st habitat protection campaign was to acquire and protect an ecologically significant prairie remnant Pottawatomi Prairie.

Our 1 st Protection Project Special Thanks to Suncor Energy Foundation and Imperial Oil Foundation and the generous private individual donors who helped save this piece of the natural heritage that we all share in common.

Restoring a Degraded 171 acre Marsh St. Clair River Walpole Island First Nation Project Site Lake St. Clair

Working Together to Restore Habitats To date we have leased the marsh for a 10-year term. Special thanks to our Partners:

Implementing Our Aims and Objects

Implementing Our Aims and Objects We mapped invasive Phragmites within the marsh. WALPOLE ISLAND LAND TRUST PROTECTING LANDS IN TRADITIONAL TERRITORY

Implementing Our Aims and Objects WALPOLE ISLAND LAND TRUST We mapped invasive Phragmites within the marsh. PROTECTING LANDS IN TRADITIONAL TERRITORY Former Swan Lake Club marsh Invasive Common Reed (Phragmites)

Implementing Our Aims and Objects We are in need of funds to follow through with plans to: WALPOLE ISLAND LAND TRUST PROTECTING LANDS IN TRADITIONAL TERRITORY!!Restore the marsh s ecological functions and enhance wildlife populations;!!address invasive species by researching potential uses and/or implementing control measures;!!train community members to conduct environmental, habitat, and wildlife assessments and surveys; and!!educate youth and bring them together with Elders and community members to help them to learn about ethical hunting practices, survival techniques, language & stories that relate to their historic relationship with this important natural resource.

Implementing Our Aims and Objects PROTECTING LANDS IN TRADITIONAL TERRITORY Our next habitat protection campaign is underway to protect a oak savanna/prairie remnant Prairie Dock Prairie

Protecting Rare Species and Habitats PROTECTING LANDS IN TRADITIONAL TERRITORY Our next habitat protection campaign is underway to protect a oak savanna/prairie remnant Prairie Dock Prairie

Their Future Is Our Collective Responsibility Walpole Island Heritage Centre May 2010