December 19, 2024: Two interrelated initiatives were born out of the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board’s 97th meeting in Saskatoon, SK December 3-5: honour the past while creating a path for youth to be the future of the organization.

The BQCMB posthumously awarded two Honourary Memberships to past Board members for their efforts in barren-ground caribou conservation. Joe Marten, a skilled hunter and trapper from Fond du Lac Denesųłiné First Nation, SK served many years as an alternate member of the BQCMB. Albert Thorassie, from Sayisi Dene First Nation, Tadoule Lake, MB was a community leader and former chair of the Board. Both shared their teachings with youth in their communities and beyond.

Fittingly, Joe Marten’s granddaughter, Keesha Marten, was a youth representative at the meeting, and the other youth representative, Dezmond Sayazie, is the grandson of Ernie Bussidor, another long-time BQCMB member. Joe and Ernie passed away in September 2023 and January 2024, respectively.

Keesha, a member of the Fond du Lac Denesųłiné First Nation in northern Saskatchewan, is the Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) Coordinator for Ya’thi Nene Lands and Resources. She gave two presentations – one on her work to secure Indigenous Protected Areas for the Athabasca Denesųłiné of northern Saskatchewan, and another on Why Caribou are Important – something she learned from her grandfather. “I’m really honoured to do the work that I’m doing, in honour of him,” she said emotionally.

Dezmond, a member of Sayisi Dene First Nation from Tadoule Lake, Manitoba, has attended BQCMB meetings in the past with his grandfather, who was beginning to teach him how to use the Dene drum. As a student of Indigenous Social Work, he now wants to give back to his community. “I do want to go back home after I get my degree and do some good work.”

BQCMB also took the first steps to create a BQCMB Youth Advisory Committee, made up of youth from the four jurisdictions the BQCMB represents: northern Manitoba, northern Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and the Kivalliq region of Nunavut.

This work builds upon the Board’s current youth initiatives, which include a Scholarship for post-secondary students to pursue studies related to caribou, and funding for On the Land camps to teach young people land-based skills.

Youth like Keesha and Dezmond need no encouragement to participate in the BQCMB and carry on the work of their Elders. As Keesha says, “Without caribou, I don’t think our people can thrive”.

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