Newsletter - March 2025

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Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

NEWSLETTER

March 2025

www.bridgetolandwatersky.ca

CONTENTS

Listening to the Land: Exploring Bird and Bat Diversity on First Nation Communities
Marginal Cropland Potential: The Prairie Precision Sustainability Network (PPSN)
Bridging Relations Podcast
Upcoming Events
Meet our Team!

Listening to the Land: Exploring Bird and Bat Diversity on First Nation Communities

What do Saskatchewan’s wetlands, forests, and grasslands sound like? From April to July 2024, researchers and students from the University of Saskatchewan tuned into these natural soundscapes, uncovering the hidden voices of birds and bats using Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs). This unique study, conducted across First Nations and non-First Nations lands, sheds light on biodiversity patterns and the critical role of First Nations lands as vibrant habitats for wildlife.

The team deployed ARUs across 69 sites in eight rural municipalities, spanning wetlands, forests, and grasslands, including areas within First Nations lands. ARUs provided a non-invasive method for monitoring species diversity, with bird ARUs capturing the songs and calls of various bird species and bat ARUs tracking bat activity at 12 select locations. Together, these recordings are helping researchers understand biodiversity patterns and wildlife behaviour while contributing to future conservation efforts across Saskatchewan.

Marginal Cropland Potential: The Prairie Precision Sustainability Network (PPSN)

The Prairie Precision Sustainability Network (PPSN) is rethinking how we manage marginal croplands in the Canadian Prairies. It began in 2022 with researchers from USask and UCalgary collaborating to identify underperforming areas of cropland using precision yield data and satellite imagery. By 2023, the team secured funding to expand their work to Manitoba, and in 2024, PPSN received a major $3.9M grant, bringing in researchers from UManitoba, UWaterloo, and USask. This paved the way for their next big step: converting problematic croplands into productive and sustainable areas.

Why Focus on Marginal Croplands?

The Prairies have millions of acres of cropland facing challenges—such as saline soils that drastically cut yields or areas prone to erosion. PPSN aims to restore these lands, not only to boost productivity but to benefit the environment. Restoration directly contributes to healthier soils, cleaner water, greater biodiversity, and a measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Bridging Relations Podcast

Here we're exploring diverse perspectives, stories, and experiences, to better understand one another and to enhance agricultural practices for healthy land, water, and sky that support all of our relations now and in the future.

Listen on Spotify

Upcoming Events

Well Grounded: Honouring the Knowledge Keepers

April 9, 2025 | 1pm - 2:10pm CST

In this webinar, Secwépemc Knowledge Keeper Bonnie Thomas and Professor Emerita Dr. Nancy J. Turner share stories and reflections on collaboration and study of ethnobotany and ethnoecology through traditional ways.

Learn More & Register

Roots to Revenue: Integrating Trees for Resilient Agricultural Landscapes

April 23, 2025 | 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm CST

In this webinar, Dr. Shathi Akhter will take a closer look at how trees can play a practical role on the farm—improving soil, supporting biodiversity, and managing challenging spots in the fields.

Learn More & Register

Meet our team!

Anthony Johnston

Special Advisor

Anthony is a member of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and one of the founding members of the Bridge to Land Water Sky project. He has been involved in several conservation and revitalization projects for Mistawasis lands, and his words of wisdom resonate with everyone he meets.

Anthony returned to his community to contribute his life, work, and educational experiences for its benefit. He believes his greatest contribution has been building partnerships, alliances, and friendships with people who care.

With experience working with federal and provincial governments in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Anthony holds a BA in History and a minor in Human Geography from the University of Manitoba. As an advisor for Mistawasis and the Bridge to Land Water Sky project, Anthony provides vital support, wisdom, and maintains cultural traditions.

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