Climate Youth Strategy Development Teams meet despite COVID pandemic via Zoom and through practicing social distancing.

It’s been 5 months since the pandemic stopped social gatherings which put the Climate Youth Strategy Development teams meetings to a brief halt. Since gatherings have been limited the youth on the task teams and their coordinators have sought other means of meeting to discuss environmental priorities in their communities. Naotkamegwanning youth have joined Territorial Planning Unit staff via Facebook live to observe a live demonstration of water testing of a stream which is adjacent of the Kenora landfill.

With restrictions slowly lifting Naotkamegwanning youth had the opportunity to meet with Territorial Planning Unit staff with social distancing requirements in place. The youth got to observe surface water testing of a site located directly in their land fill and a nearby bay. The testing is part of an effects of waste practices study funded by Indigenous Services Canada. The youth got to practice proper testing requirements and were briefed on what the Territorial Planning Unit team was testing for.

The youth project is a branch of the Teaching Our Keepers Climate Education program which was established November 2017. Since then it has had various funders and is now currently funded under Climate Change and Health Adaptation Canada. The program is going into its 4th year and is currently servicing schools in the Treaty 3 area. This year Treaty 3 schools will be hosts of their very own professional quality weather stations. This will provide the opportunity with students to gather data on weather changes directly in their communities which are very isolated. The weather stations are equipped to monitor wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, UV, solar radiation, barometric pressure, indoor/outdoor temperature (F and C), indoor/outdoor humidity, dew point, heat index, wind chill, lightning, and more.

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For more information please contact: Geneva.Kejick@treaty3.ca

Lexx Paul of Asubpeeschoseewagong looks at the lake near his house which threatens his nearby house with flooding due to fluctuating water levels.
Environmental Monitoring Coordinator, Chris Herc teaches Naotkamegwanning youth how to properly collect water samples.