The Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) has backed an ongoing Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it (Tobacco Plains Band) project to protect and restore wetlands in the Shottanana Lake area.
”We hold a covenant with the Creator to be the caretakers and stewards of Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it lands,” said Nasuʔkin (Chief) Heidi Gravelle of Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it First Nation.
“With that, we have an obligation to restore, protect and be the voices of our lands.”
The CBT has provided $588,985 to this five-year project, which is aimed at restoring a functional wetland on Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it land.
This work will help create an open water habitat for species like ungulates and the at-risk western painted turtle.
“Our lands provide us with an ecosystem where our waters, plants and animals work together to provide us with the sustenance to maintain our ways of life since time immemorial,” said Nasuʔkin Gravelle.
CBT officials say the northern portion of the lake is fed by groundwater, and the goal of this project is to restore this connection so surface water can return to the landscape.
“To this end, excavators and bulldozers have deepened the basin and loosened compacted soils,” said the Trust.
“Also, features that appeal to western-painted turtles have been added, such as floating or partially submerged logs that provide places for them to bask.”
The team has also worked on managing invasive plants as part of this ongoing work, with more to come in the years ahead.
“The next step is to continue invasive plant management efforts, as well as revegetate with annual rye as a cover crop, followed by seeding and planting native vegetation,” said CBT officials.
“Finally, the area will be fenced to protect the newly seeded and planted vegetation from the large number of elk that can roam the reserve; this will be removed once the plants are established so that animals can fully enjoy the lake.”
So far, the project has restored 1.1 hectares of open water, 4.9 hectares of upland planting areas and 0.3 hectares of turtle-nesting habitat.
“Our culture is interwoven with our land and water. They thrive together, or die together,” said Gravelle.
“The transformative action of reconciling our land is a pathway to healing while honouring our culture, our creator and our ancestors. We believe this is a model for future land-reconciliation projects: ʔakanuxunik̓ land stewardship directed by ʔakanuxunik̓ people.”
The project is supported by the Trust’s Ecosystem Enhancement Program and will result in a water source for animals like elk and deer, a habitat for western-painted turtles, a nesting habitat for waterfowl, and a breeding habitat for species such as frogs, toads and salamanders.
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