'Monitoring Wildlife Populations and Health in the Sahtu: Developing Community Expertise' was established in 2003 as a joint project between the Environment and Natural Resources (formerly the Department of Resources, Wildlife & Economic Development), Sahtu Region, Government of the Northwest Territories (NWT) and the Research Group for Arctic Parasitology, Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre,Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. In 2004, the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board joined in this partnership. Core funding for our program for each of these two years has been made available through the NWT Cumulative Impacts Monitoring Program, which is administered through Indian and Nothern Affairs Canada. Our program strives to increase knowledge of wildlife management and wildlife health issues in the five small and isolated communities of the Sahtu Settlement Area, NT (map) and to encourage community participation in both wildlife disease surveillance and long-term monitoring of wildlife populations.
We work with youth, harvesters, and elders in the five small and isolated communities of the Sahtu Settlement Area, NT (Click here to see the Sahtu region, NWT.), to:
- Promote interest in science careers among youth
- Increase awareness of wildlife management and wildlife health issues
- Encourage knowledge sharing among northern residents, scientists, and wildlife biologists, and
- Encourage community participation in both wildlife disease surveillance and long-term monitoring of wildlife populations.
- Northwest Territories Cumulative Impacts Monitoring Program
- Sahtu Renewable Resources Board
- Environment and Natural Resources, Sahtu Region, Government of the Northwest Territories
- Enbridge (NW) Ltd
- NSERC PromoScience
THE TEAM
Alasdair Veitch - Supervisor, Wildlife Management
Alasdair Veitch, BSc (Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1982) and MSc (Wildlife Management, University of Minnesota, 1990), is a Certified Wildlife Biologist (The Wildlife Society) and a Professional Biologist (Alberta Society of Professional Biologists). He has been the Supervisor, Wildlife Management with the Department of Resources Wildlife & Economic Development, Sahtu Region, since 1994.
Environment and Natural Resources, Sahtu Region P.O. Box 130, Norman Wells, NT X0E 0V0 Ph: (867)587-3517; Fax: (867) 587-3525 alasdair_veitch@gov.nt.caSusan Kutz (DVM) - Veterinarian
Susan Kutz, DVM, (Western College of Veterinary Medicine, 1992) and PhD (Parasitology - Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 2000), is a Veterinarian and Professional Research Associate at the University of Saskatchewan. She works closely with northern youth, hunters and trappers, biologists, and veterinarians to investigate the health of wildlife in the Canadian Arctic and Sub-arctic.
Susan Kutz, DVM PhDResearch Group for Arctic Parasitology
Associate Professor
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary,
3330 Hospital Drive NW
Calgary, AB, CANADA T2N 4N1
University office ph: 403 210-3824, fax: 403 210-3939
Zoo office ph: 403 355-6608 skutz@ucalgary.ca
Glen Guthrie - Renewable Resources Communication Officer
Glen Guthrie, BA (1st Honours, Archaeology, 1991), MSc. (Biological Sciences, 1995) Simon Fraser University has 25 years experience working with and teaching youth. He is currently Communications Officer for the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board and is responsible for delivery of numerous Conservation Education projects in the Sahtu.
Sahtu Renewable Resources Board P.O. Box 134, Tulita, NT X0E 0K0 Ph: (867) 588-4040; Fax: (867) 588-2194 rrco@srrb.nt.caBrett Elkin - Disease/Contaminants Specialist
Brett Elkin, BSc. (Biology - University of Saskatchewan, 1984) and DVM (Western College of Veterinary Medicine, 1988), is a Wildlife Veterinarian. He has been with the Government of the Northwest Territories Wildlife and Fisheries Division since 1989. His major focus is on wildlife disease surveillance, research & control, and zoonoses & public health.
Environment and Natural Resources, Wildlife & Fisheries Government of the Northwest Territories 5th Floor, Scotia Building 600, 5102-50th Ave Yellowknife, NT X1A 3S8 Ph:(867) 873-7761; Fax: (867) 873 0293 brett_elkin@gov.nt.caRichard Popko - Wildlife Technician
Richard Popko, BSc (Wildlife Biology, University of Guelph) is a Professional Biologist (Alberta Society of Professional Biologists) who has worked with wildlife in the Sahtu for the past 18 years. Richard is an avid hunter, trapper, and fisher with a natural working rapport with local harvesters as well as scientific researchers. Work on parasites and diseases of wildlife has made Richard realize that wildlife managers must look beyond game species and explore all aspects of biodiversity.
Environment and Natural Resources, Sahtu Region P.O. Box 130, Norman Wells, NT X0E 0V0 Ph: (867) 587-3518; Fax: (867) 587-3525 richard_popko@gov.nt.ca