Zhaagimaa Waabo
Guided by Manito Aki Inakonigaawin, and recognizing the significance of Treaty #3’s connection to the land, the Territorial Planning Unit (TPU) works with Treaty #3 Leadership to protect the lands, waters, and resources within the 55,000 square miles that make up the Treaty #3 Territory.
TPU Newsletter: Current Projects and Updates
TPU Youth Mentorship Program
Description: The Territorial Planning Unit’s Youth Mentorship Program provides Indigenous and Non-Indigenous youth with access to TPU mentors who will support them with environmental career development through education and learning, capacity building, and career advice. Areas of mentorship within the program are: traditional governance, environmental monitoring, climate change, emergency management planning, GIS and sustainable energy planning. Meet the TPU mentors below to learn more about them and how they can help you.
Mentorship Programs: Programs can be set up on 4 week, 8 week and 12 week basis and meeting frequency will be decided between Mentee and Mentor. Please reach out to tpu@treaty3.ca for more information and indicate your interest.
TPU Mentors
Chris Herc – Chris has been the TPU’s Environmental Monitoring Coordinator for the past four years and works with Treaty #3 communities to implement community based monitoring initiatives for water quality, fish habitat, mercury monitoring, and invasive species. Chris also hosts capacity building engagement sessions with Treaty communities, reviews environmental policy, and applies for funding grants to continue current programs and create new ones.
Prior to this Chris graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a B.Sc. in Environment and Natural Resources and has worked across Canada in various environmental positions such as: bird bander, fisheries observer, caribou research technician, provincial park interpreter, nature educator, etc.
Potential mentees under Chris can expect to: learn how to collect and monitor water quality data, design environmental monitoring programs, help with resume building, identifying experience building opportunities, and anything the mentee would like help with!
Treaty #3 Lands and Resources Organizations
Treaty #3 Geoportal
Share Digital Maps | Combine Spatial Layers | Mark-up Maps
The Treaty #3 Geoportal is an online tool that allows community users to upload, share and access digital data and maps of the combined Treaty#3 territory.
Land Manager's Toolkit
The purpose of the Toolkit is to assist with informed decision making on proposed projects undergoing impact assessments or environmental assessments, but we hope it will be used by anyone looking to increase their understanding of lands management as a whole. We also offer this workbook as an example of how Anishinaabe principles, teachings, and practices can inform decision making and community planning.
Nuclear 101 Guidebook
The Nuclear 101 Guidebook was created to help with decision making on future nuclear energy projects. It was built using scientific knowledge, traditional teachings, and the principles contained within the Treaty #3 Nibi Declaration. Additionally, the Guidebook was built with guidance from Anishinaabe Law and the Manito Aki Inakonigaawin. The Guidebook has been developed for all people in Treaty #3 Territory and can be adapted to fit different ages. There are interactive and self-reflective activities throughout the Guidebook which you can complete on your own or in a group.
NIBI Declaration of Treaty #3
Building the Treaty #3 Nibi Declaration Using an Anishinaabe Methodology of Ceremony, Language and Engagement: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/4/532/pdf
Oral Translation of the Nibi Declaration by Howard Copenace: Audio File
The development of a water declaration would ensure that Treaty #3 Anishinaabe Nibi Inakonigaawin (water law principles) are recorded and formally recognized in governance processes. The declaration will guide GCT3 Leadership in the creation of future policy and decision-making processes that relate to water. Another component of the declaration is to inspire people to take action to protect water through the development of a toolkit that contains curriculum based learning tools and information on how to get involved in the further development of this important work.
“This knowledge will be preserved and shared through the declaration with our youth and future generations,” said Women’s Council member Priscilla Simard. “Anishinaabe-Ikwewag have a sacred responsibility to NiBi and should be included in all decision-making around nibi. This declaration will guide us in our relationship with NiBi so we can take action individually, in our communities and as a nation to help ensure healthy, living NiBi for all of creation.”
With the declaration in hand, the Women’s Council will forge ahead with this important work of honouring Nibi throughout the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3. An exercise that has seen the Nibi Declaration received through ceremony at the National Spring Assembly and will be distributed to all communities at the National Fall Assembly 2019.
“This declaration is vital for the physical and spiritual health of our Treaty #3 communities, our land, our families and future generations,” said Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh. “When I was approached with the original model of this declaration, I had a vision that instructed me to tell the people that water is precious and it can give life but water can also be dangerous and can take life. The Nibi Declaration is a way for Treaty #3 to explain the Anishinaabe relationship to water. This Declaration is about respect, love, and our sacred relationship with nibi and the life that it brings. It is based on Gitiizii m-inaanik teachings about nibi, aki/lands, other elements (including air and wind) and all of creation. This knowledge will be preserved and shared through the declaration with our youth and future generations.”
As Anishinaabe Kwe, the Women’s Council have responsibilities which includes child care and water. Isobel White (Naotkamegwanning – Whitefish Bay), Priscilla Simard (Couchiching), Maggie Petiquan (Wabauskang), Rhonda Fischer (Niisaachewan – Dalles), Anita Collins (Seine River) are representatives from the four directional governance. The Women’s Council worked together with the Territorial Planning Unit and Decolonizing Water.
Nibi Declaration Toolkit
This Toolkit will provide you with information on how you, your family and your community can support the Nibi Declaration of the Anishinaabe of Treaty #3.
Inside this Toolkit you will learn how the GCT3 Women’s Council started the process to create a Treaty #3 Nibi Declaration with a research support team, and have met with other knowledge keepers/Gitiizii m’inaanik to receive guidance on how to proceed with community engagement. There are also summaries of meetings that have been held to date, the proposed process for the development of the Declaration, examples of other water declarations, and plans for ways to implement the Nibi Declaration.