Newsletter - July 2024

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Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

NEWSLETTER

July 2024

www.bridgetolandwatersky.ca

CONTENTS

What is regenerative agriculture?
Crop Report
Greenhouse Gas Sampling
Improving Our Understanding of Wetlands
We the Bad: Facing hard choices in Saskatchewan farmland
Water Research Update

What is regenerative agriculture?

According to our partners, Nature United, 'regenerative agriculture refers to a set of practices that promote healthier soil and fewer negative effects on the ecosystem'. Unlike modern industrial agriculture, which often relies on monoculture, intensive soil disturbance, and intensive fertilizer and pesticide use, regenerative farming takes a different approach. Regenerative practices prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration to ensure long-term food security and resilience to extreme weather events.

More farmers are adopting regenerative practices. Small farms thrive by growing crops and raising animals sustainably. Even large farms are changing, reducing their size and diversifying crops and livestock.

Regenerative agriculture is gaining support because it helps restore healthy ecosystems and captures more carbon in the soil, with increasing financial support from the government and new markets encouraging these methods.

Crop Report

Curious about what's happening in the field? Our latest crop report spills the beans!

Stay in the loop with updates on crop conditions, weather, activities happening in the field, and what the focus is for the week ahead.

Greenhouse Gas Sampling

Technician, Leah Richard using greenhouse gas sampling equipment

Our focus has been completing our ambitious greenhouse gas sampling campaign. The latest addition to our gas sampling arsenal, the Licor 7820, is a laser-based detector designed specifically for quantifying the concentration of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. This technology enables us to collect high-quality samples previously only possible on small plot studies. Now we can collect data on farmland seeded by local grain producers that represent the real-world scenario of grain farming in Saskatchewan.

Improving Our Understanding of Wetlands

Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan (Global Institute for Water Security) are in Mistawasis Nêhiyawak this summer, studying wetlands and their vital role in our ecosystem. Ana (Anita), Connor, and Lauren will be visiting wetlands (also called sloughs) every two weeks from May to September this year. Say “Hi” if you see us!

Our research is about understanding how land management affects wetland water quality and how wetlands store and release greenhouse gases (GHGs). We are contributing to two Bridge Project goals: (1) Improve land management strategies and (2) Protect biodiversity and water.

Wetlands provide vital ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water storage during droughts and floods, and habitat for plants and animals. By improving our understanding of wetlands, we can learn how to better manage agricultural lands to keep these ecosystems healthy now and in the future.

We the Bad: Facing hard choices in Saskatchewan farmland

The harvest season is well past and we have all found our scarves, gloves and wool coats. It is not winter yet but it is on its way. Coming out of the post office I smile and stop to chat with Ben. We have known each other for sixteen years and he has attended many of our land stewardship workshops through the Redberry Lake Biosphere Region. Our conversation covers politics, stewardship funding, the shame that kids spend more time watching screens than playing outside, to harvest and how this year was compared to last – the hardest drought we had had in 20 years. Ben says how he has shifted from ranching to farming, having had such a hard year and having lost so many cattle last year. Ben looks at the ground as if he can’t look me in the eye, as he shares that he will have to push 400 acres of bush.

I’ve spent the last 25 years building up my soil. I don’t want to bulldoze the bush. All I want is to be able to pass down my land to my kids. I don’t know if I’ll even be able to do that.

Read full story

Together, We're Making Waves: Water Research Update

Mistawasis Nêhiyawak, Cumberland House Cree Nation and the Village of Cumberland House are partners with the U of S-led Global Water Futures (GWF) initiative. Both communities had university water researchers visiting and working in and with their communities.

The U of S invited Anthony Johnston and Michelle Watson of Mistawasis to visit and explore the beautiful Cumberland House region in April. As water research partners, they were eager to connect with everyone in support of Nation to Nation and partner community to partner community relations and to share experiences and benefits of university water research.

Graham Strickert with the University of Saskatchewan brought a drone along which was used at Big Eddy to capture stunning visuals and gain insights into the water landscape. The visit was also paired with school visits and discussions of the upcoming Cumberland House 250th Celebration.

In April 2023 Mistawasis Nehiyawak hosted a GWF National Indigenous Water Gathering that created and presented an Indigenous Water Statement that was presented at a GWF national gathering in Saskatoon in May 2023. Three representatives from Cumberland House Cree Nation and the Village visited Mistawasis in April 2023 as part of the Indigenous Water Gathering.

Meet our team!

Roger Daniels

Roger has been married for 31 years and has 2 daughters 2 sons and 15 grandchildren. Lived on Mistawasis for all but 3 years of his life. Roger started his career humbly as a Receptionist, then moved on to Maintenance Worker, Land Manager, Band Councilor, Governance Officer with ISC, Casino Security, Truck Driver and finally as Trust Coordinator. He spent the majority of his career in the lands area. 10 years as Land Manager, and 15 years as Trust Coordinator. He has tried many different jobs but always comes back to lands because that is where his passion is.

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