Stoney Nakoda Nations elders, knowledge keepers share traditional ways to respect bears | 24CA News

Many hikers in southern Alberta head to the paths within the spring geared up with bear spray, singing or saying hey bear, whoa bear, to warn the animal they’re across the nook. 

Elders and data keepers from Stoney Nakoda Nations have their very own method, and classes to share, relating to coexisting.

Over the weekend, a panel of audio system shared conventional data handed down for generations and defined to a Canmore, Alta., viewers simply how vital it’s to respect bears of their habitat as human and animal conflicts proceed to be a difficulty within the Bow Valley. 

The rising conflicts are a fear for Elder Jackson Wesley. Bears, he says, are being squeezed out of their territory. 

Because of human encroachment on the panorama there’s not sufficient room for the bears to forage and hunt, in order that they go into cities and eat rubbish.

“I don’t know what’s gonna happen to my great, great grandkids,” Wesley mentioned.  “So let’s work together and make it better.”

A connection to the land

Stoney folks consider that they’ve a job as land stewards to guard the Bow Valley’s mountains and landscapes. They additionally share a deep connection to bears, who they see as siblings or grandparents. 

Elder Henry Holloway mentioned bears are the ears of Mother Earth and protectors of nature. Their territory is the place they scavenge for meals and lift their cubs. 

Bears change into accustomed to the land, Holloway mentioned — and bears are at all times listening. 

“The bears know more about us than we know about them,” Holloway mentioned. “Whenever you talk about a bear, wherever you are, they’ll hear you, they’ll know you.” 

That’s why, data keeper Barry Wesley mentioned, elders warned him by no means to say dangerous issues about bears, or make enjoyable of them.

Because, he mentioned, once they come out of the den within the spring, they’ve spent the winter listening, ear to the bottom, and can acknowledge you. 

Traditional data, higher understanding

Before a hike, Barry Wesley at all times pauses for ceremony. He mentioned he gives tobacco to the mountain and all of the creatures that reside on the panorama and in addition warns bears he will probably be shifting by.

Knowledge keeper Ollie Benjamin mentioned there are locations within the Bow Valley that Stoney individuals are taught to keep away from.

In one case this winter, a denning bear awakened a month early. Benjamin believes that conventional data might assist folks perceive, and coexist, with bears higher. 

“There’s a reason why that was happening,” Benjamin mentioned. “I couldn’t just go walking into your bedroom and then start banging around. It’s a similar kind of situation.” 

This alternative to talk to the general public, he mentioned, is an efficient begin. 

A holistic perspective to the general public and policymakers

Bill Snow, who’s the performing director of session for Stoney Tribal Administration mentioned it is vital for folks dwelling in, and visiting the Bow Valley, to grasp extra about conventional data relating to wildlife and vegetation.

“We come from a holistic knowledge base that’s very different from Western science,” Snow mentioned.

“When we talk and we think about how we manage grizzly bears or bears in general, it comes from a Western science view today. And so we’re hoping that that will change.” 

Stoney Nakoda Nations have labored to place this conventional data into apply with cultural monitoring reviews and research that observe the Stoney Cultural Monitoring methodology

It all began again in 2016 with a grizzly bear research known as Enhancing grizzly bear administration packages by the inclusion of cultural monitoring and conventional ecological data. 

More of those reviews are within the works, together with a brand new grizzly report that may cowl completely different floor throughout the Kananaskis area, and embrace extra fieldwork, Snow mentioned.

“It’s an important way to look and think about wildlife, rather than as an aggressive species that’s always menacing, out there and trying to harm all of us,” he mentioned.

Snow added that this isn’t the way in which they have a look at wildlife, however they need to combat by lots of misconceptions. Snow mentioned.

“So bringing that holistic perspective to researchers, to the general public, to students, to the government, I believe is important,” he mentioned.