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 "The land is so important to us it is just like sacred or holy ground." - John Charles McDonald, Elder |
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Canada R0B 0Z0 P:204-244-2267 F:204-244-2690  "The Creator has given us life, he has given us land to live from, without that land our people will die." -Norway Bittern, Elder  "Today nobody is motivated to do what people from the past have done. Sustainability was a traditional process." -Evelyn Bruce, Elder  "We need to protect our land, to tell people what to do and not to do. The Elders did that. When they spoke everyone listened." -Edward Valiquette, Elder  "Life is about healing and nurturing your body, your spirit. Without the life we receive from the air, the trees, the water, and animals, we will not survive. Let us do all we can to help keep the natural forests that we have to sustain us." -Poplar River community member |
Values and VisionThe Elders of Poplar River First Nation have stated, "The Creator has given us life, he has given us land to live from, without that land our people will die." They have taught that it is our job to protect and care for this land for the benefit of our children and grandchildren. The Elders have also recognized the importance to all people of living on a healthy planet. The current leaders and community members, who are actively seeking to protect this intact boreal forest region, have recognized this world vision.
Through the centuries our people have lived in this region and using their intimate knowledge of all forms of life, have practiced true sustainability. They have lived by hunting & fishing, gathering food and medicines as well as making a living through trapping and fishing without destroying the environment.Our community has used these practices as the foundation for our long-term management plan, the Asatiwisipe Aki Lands Management Plan. The plan combines traditional methods and knowledge along with scientific techniques and data and is based on the best knowledge currently available in terms of forestlands, water, wildlife, plants and fish management. Anishinabek relationships, needs and requirements for the land are the primary basis for protection and management of the area. The very being, and future well being of the Poplar River Anishinabek is defined by our place in this land. The traditional lands being planned for are a fundamental and non-changing part of who the Poplar River Anishinabek are and who we always want to be. The land must be protected to sustain the culture and very life of our community, our people. Protection of the land is the key to our future. Therefore, to suggest that our traditional lands need not be protected, or that only a part of our traditional territory needs to be protected, is to suggest to us that our lives will be threatened; that our children's future can be compromised or forfeited for some other purpose. Our First Nation community has initiated and completed a variety of technical projects to identify characteristics of our traditional territory and document the values of community members. All the steps taken have been integrated into our long-term plan for management and protection of this intact boreal forest region. Protecting Poplar River First Nation traditional lands from industrial development and the continuation of traditional practices are the combined goals of our community. Our Traditional LandsThe Poplar River Reserve #16 is a Treaty 5 Adhesion, and is situated at the mouth of the Poplar River (Asatiwisipe). The Poplar River, the North Poplar River (Opakwepananuswisipe), the Mukutawa River (Mukatewisipe) and the Nanowin River (Maominwisipe) are the major waterways that flow through the area. These unpolluted and unaltered waters flow from east to west through a landscape where undisturbed natural ecological processes and patterns of natural disturbance continue as they have for the millennia. These waters also contribute to clean nutrient cycles and flows from the east into the lakes and wetlands to the west.Poplar River First Nation has a population of approximately 1,200 (over 900 on reserve). Our community lies about 400 kilometers north of Winnipeg and is accessible by air, and by winter road between January and March. In the summer months, a barge service also operates on Lake Winnipeg. Poplar River Anishinabek Traditional Territory, as reflected by the registered trapline district of Poplar lies between 50 and 55 degrees north latitude and extends east from the Lake Winnipeg shoreline, almost to the Ontario border. The area is a significant and ecologically intact part of the Lac Seul Upland Ecoregion and is also recognized as a part of Manitoba's Precambrian Boreal Forest Natural Region, Natural Region 4C.
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Contact Ray Rabliauskas, Lands Management Coordinator
Poplar River, Manitoba, Canada R0B 0Z0 Ph: 204-244-2267 Fax: 204-244-2690
E-mail: info@PoplarRiverFirstNation.ca or the webmaster@PoplarRiverFirstNation.ca
Poplar River, Manitoba, Canada R0B 0Z0 Ph: 204-244-2267 Fax: 204-244-2690
E-mail: info@PoplarRiverFirstNation.ca or the webmaster@PoplarRiverFirstNation.ca
© Copyright Poplar River First Nation 2004-2009