For nearly fifty years, the people of West Moberly First Nations have been dealing with the unassessed and unmitigated impacts caused by the construction of the W.A.C. Bennett hydroelectric dam and the flooding of approximately 1,700 km of terrestrial habitats in northeastern British Columbia (BC). Beneath the surface of BC’s most profitable development is the legacy of methlymercury (Hg) contamination impacting the health and welfare of Aboriginal people. Trout harvested in accordance with the traditional seasonal round from the Williston Reservoir have elevated levels of methlymercury. While the seriousness of the health implications for sensitive populations is generally understood, the potential geographic extent of the risk to human health from exercising traditional fishing practices is not. Our Elders determined that an investigation into the mercury levels in Bull Trout harvested during the Spring Fish Camp from the Crooked River, BC was necessary. Analysis determined that 98% of the samples (n=57) contained levels of mercury that exceeded health guidelines. Chief Willson will discuss the cultural effects arising from the loss of harvesting Bull Trout in a watershed that has sustained our practices for thousands of years, as well as additional threats from the discharge of selenium (Se) from coal mines, intentional release of alien fish into the watershed, and the proposed construction of the Site C dam, have adversely affected to traditional mode of life guaranteed by Treaty No. 8.

The Natural Resources & Environmental Studies Institute (NRESi) at UNBC hosts a weekly lecture series at the Prince George campus. Anyone from the university or wider community with interest in the topic area is welcome to attend. Presentations are also made available to remote participants through Livestream or Blackboard Elluminate. More information will be posted about the presentation as it becomes available.

Past NRESi colloquia and special lectures can be viewed on our video archive, available here.