MCA SEEKING INPUT ON TRADITIONAL LAND-USE SURVEY FOR THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND RICHELIEU RIVER AREAS
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is hosting a community-wide survey regarding traditional practices that have and/or continue to be practiced in the Lake Champlain and Richelieu River systems. The traditional practices include activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, and harvesting of other resources such as berries, medicines and other plants. Only general areas and activities will be listed on the survey and recorded.
The short survey will be compiled from community participation that will be submitted into a report that is being jointly worked on by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and the Wabanaki community of Wolinak. The joint report will be forwarded to the International Joint Commission (IJC) which was created to address issues arising from the shared waters and waterways between Canada and the United States.
The IJC are undertaking studies over the next few years to investigate and identify solutions to the flooding in the Lake Champlain and Richelieu River basin. As part of this research, they have asked for input from First Nation communities as to traditional practices within the study areas. As part of our commitment to ensure community practices are not to be negatively impacted, the MCA will be conducting a short online survey for community members to provide input to the types and general areas of traditional practices that are conducted in the following areas:
Lake Champlain:
• Saranac River – Plattsburgh Area
• Ausable River – Lake Placid Area
• Lake George – Ticonderoga Area
• Mattawes River
• Otter Creek – Rutland Area
• Winooski River – Burlington/Montpellier Areas
• Lamoille River
• Missiquoi River
Richelieu River:
• Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Area
• Sorel Area
We ask that the community take the time to review the survey and participate. The survey window will be from October 1-10, 2019 and any participation is greatly welcomed.
The online survey can be reached at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RQ5Y6RW
If you would like further information please contact MCA’s Aboriginal Rights and Research Office, (613) 575-2250 ext. 2204 or email Phillip White-Cree at phillip.whitecree@akwesasne.ca. If you would like to provide a more in-depth response to the short survey, that can also be arranged and be added to the report.
