OTTAWA ¿ May 20, 2005 - Mr. David Smith, MP for Pontiac, today announced $350,000 in investments to be made between now and 2007-2008 for research projects that will benefit the Cree and Naskapi communities of Northern Quebec. This funding is being provided under the Northern Ecosystem Initiative (NEI), a national program established in 1998 to promote collaborative action between the scientific community and Northern residents and to integrate local, traditional and scientific knowledge. The Cree Regional Authority will receive $108,000 to implement a protocol and undertake a pilot project to collect data on migratory bird populations, which are very important for northern communities. It will also receive $48,000 to inventory and characterize mineral exploration sites located in Cree territory. In addition, $75,000 in funding will go to the Cree Regional Authority for the preparation, in collaboration with Université Laval's northern studies centre, of a natural restoration plan for disturbed sites in northern villages. This plan will include an analysis of the best conditions for natural restoration in the village of Whapmagoostui and a best practices guide for community members. The Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, for its part, has been granted $110,000 to prepare and implement a communications strategy that will involve the participation of Elders and that will focus on inventorying local knowledge of flora and fauna. This traditional knowledge will be conserved and shared with future generations by preparing educational material. In 2004-2005, the Nation received $6,000 to create an index for hunters as part of the effort to assess caribou body condition in the George River and Leaf River herds. "These investments will help to promote a collaborative approach and create favourable conditions for long-term development¿learning, economic opportunity and modern institutions of Aboriginal governance," said MP Smith. The Northern Ecosystem Initiative is a national partnership program administered by Environment Canada. In Quebec, a regional management committee has developed an environmental action plan for Northern Quebec. This committee is made up of Aboriginal representatives, (Cree, Inuit, Naskapi and Innu) and representatives of governments, research facilities and Hydro-Québec. The work of the NEI centres on five priorities: climate change, contaminants, natural resource exploitation, monitoring and capacity building. -30- For more information, please contact: André Lamarre Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Environment (819) 997-1441 Paul Milot Communications Advisor Environment Canada Quebec Region (418) 649-8070
