How an Alberta research team is working with Indigenous communities to reclaim land

A group of researchers are giving hands-on experience to members of Indigenous communities to teach them how to monitor remediation efforts of oil and gas companies on their traditional lands. 

NAIT's Centre for Boreal Research based out of Peace River teaches communities about forest ecology, seed identification, and peatland restoration — all as a way to reclaim their lands.

"The initial activities … were to train the community members to be what we call the guardians, to understand how land reclamation works, to be able to talk to industry working in their area to see if they're doing a good job," said Jean-Marie Sobze, manager of plant and seed technology at the Centre for Boreal Research.

After a summer of unprecedented wildfires in Canada that saw more than 18 million hectares burned, the push for reforestation is more important than ever, said Sobze.

"The forest itself is very important … we know the role that the forest plays in regulating our climate," said Sobze. 

"If we don't have people who are committed to restore this forest, over time, we're just going to lose more and more forests, which will have an impact on our climate."

So far, the team has worked with First Nations and Métis communities in Alberta and British Columbia. 

The team takes a hands-on approach, with the classroom being the community's own backyard. 

"I get to work with Mother Nature, so that's what I love about it, it's … doing this type of work and just getting to know the territory where I come from," said Jerrilynn Apsassin, who took the training program in Blueberry River First Nation in northern B.C.

"A lot of the work is gear[ed] towards basically healing the land."

The program was launched in Blueberry River First Nation in collaboration with Grandmothers Greenhouse, an ecological startup launched by the community. 

"It was really nice to see that combination of Western science and traditional knowledge coming together and really reinforcing the knowledge that's held by both because we're kind of speaking the same language from different places," said Bess Legault, general manager for Grandmothers Greenhouse.

The NAIT program trains Indigenous community members to be able to monitor oil and gas projects in their region, to ensure that the lands are returned to their original state. 

As oil and gas companies start the work of remediating the land near Blueberry River First Nation,  Apsassin says it's important that someone from her community is there to monitor the work being done.