It is anticipated that a wildfire that nearly destroyed an Indigenous-led research station in the Northwest Territories will have a significant impact on both the community and environmental research.
The Liidlii Kue First Nation says five of nine buildings at the Scotty Creek Research Station, roughly 50 kilometres south of Fort Simpson, N. W. T. , burned to the ground last weekend destroying equipment, laboratory space and sleeping accommodations.
Other structures suffered various degrees of harm, with some requiring replacement.
Dieter Cazon, the First Nation’s manager of lands and resources, described the destruction as “a stomach strike.”
“We’re not starting from scratch, but we’ve been set back a long way,” said Bill Quinton, director of the research station and a professor of geography and environmental studies at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Scotty Creek is one of the busiest research stations in Canada’s North and scientists from across Canada and the world travel there to study environmental factors, such as water resources and permafrost thaw. Additionally, it welcomes high school students, on-the-land programmes, and events and activities with a community focus.
One of the first Indigenous-led research stations in the world, the First Nation, which has worked with scientists since the 1990s, assumed control of the facility in August. According to Cazon, the institution addresses climate change by combining ancient knowledge and modern research.
“The Dene monitors and guardians at Liidlii Kue First Nation, they love going out there,” he said.
It’s a wonderful location to work and contribute while learning a little bit more about the land in a new way.
According to Cazon, plans are currently being made to reconstruct the camp while the fire damage is being assessed. He predicted that they won’t be able to conduct any events at the location in 2019 due to safety concerns.
“We’ll remedy this, I promise. Too much is at stake for our work to be merely discussed and thrown around.
At least 20 scholars from different colleges use the station, and Quinton, who helped launch it in 1989, said he has forged numerous friendships and collaborations through it over the years. He described it as a warm location that is significant to children, young people, and those who spend time outside.
He stated, “There are a lot of individuals who are genuinely heartbroken.”
“There is no doubt that the loss is tragic, but at this point we must consider what we have and what we can do with what is left to rebuild.”
There will also be effects on the neighbourhood, according to Cazon. Traveling researchers increase revenue for hotels, eateries, and charter aircraft.
When those extra funds stop flowing into the neighbourhood the following year, “I’m sure folks will feel the hit a little bit,” he said.
The territory’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources came under fire from the Liidlii Kue First Nation for failing to combat the wildfire and dismantling a sprinkler system while the fire was still burning.
Wildfire Information Officer Mike Westwick said sprinklers and other structure protection had successfully protected the site from the first pass of the wildfire, but they were removed last Thursday due to issues with freezing.
According to him, the fire was being driven toward the research station by strong gusts, making it unsafe for firefighters to confront it immediately.
“We will never carelessly put our employees in danger. And given the local fire behaviour, that is what we would be doing if we told them to attack the fire immediately, the man stated in an email.
“We really do feel for everyone affected by the losses at Scotty Creek.
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According to Westwick, a fire crew and a helicopter worked late last week to contain the damage, but gathering up water was challenging due to the ice on the neighbouring water bodies.
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This is only a symptom of the unusual season we are experiencing. When we’re fighting fires and protecting structures, it is highly unusual for there to be the threat of freezing temperatures.
” This year’s wildfire season has been the most severe the territory has seen since the extremes of 2014, with the total area burned surpassing the 10-year average and nearly tripling the five-year average.
30 of the 257 fires that have burned through the region this year are still burning, consuming a total area of about 6,866 square kilometres.
Wildfire damages an indigenously run environmental research site in the NWT.
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