About the Eeyou Coastal Habitat Comprehensive Research Project (CHCRP)
On August 4, 2016, the Agreement Concerning Investigations into the Ecology of the Coastal Region of Eeyou Istchee and its Relationship with Wildlife Important to the Cree was signed between the Cree Nation Government, Hydro-Québec and Niskamoon Corporation, calling for a comprehensive research program to better understand changes witnessed by Cree coastal land users for many years, most importantly the deterioration of eelgrass habitats.
The research would have to, at a minimum, better understand the physical, social and biological components of these changes. To implement this agreement and to oversee the research project, a Steering Committee was appointed made up of representatives from the four coastal James Bay Cree communities, Niskamoon Corporation and Hydro-Québec.
The Role of the Steering Committee
Research oversight is provided by a Steering Committee made up of representatives of the signatory parties to the Agreement, Cree Nation Government, Hydro-Québec and Niskamoon Corporation, as well as from the Cree Nation of Chisasibi, the Cree Nation of Wemindji, the Cree Nation of Eastmain, the Cree Nation of Waskaganish and Canadian Wildlife Service (Environment Canada), the Cree Trappers’ Association and Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board.
The Committee has met over 50 times since its creation in 2016. Among other things, the Committee has developed the overall research protocol (including the central Research Questions), the terms of reference for the individual research components, recruiting researchers, reviewing interim reports, ensuring the links between research components and, finally, providing support to the research teams as they carry out their work.
A major focus of the Steering Committee is combining Cree Knowledge with Western Science. Indeed, Cree coastal land users play a key role in the research project, not only as guides and boat drivers, but as active knowledge contributors throughout the data collection process. While Cree Knowledge is also a focus of one of the research components, it is also omnipresent in all of the components.
A major focus of the Steering Committee is combining Cree Traditional Ecological Knowledge with Western Science. Indeed, Cree coastal land users play a key role in the research project, not only as guides and boat drivers, but as active knowledge contributors throughout the data collection process. While Traditional Knowledge is also a focus of one of the research components, it is also omnipresent in all of the components.
To achieve this end, biologists from the Canada Wildlife Service and Cree Regional Government, as well as three Hydro-Québec representatives provide support in developing the scoping of the research and evaluating deliverables.
Finally, the Steering Committee oversees the work of the Cree field team, made up of the Field Coordinator and the Assistant Field Coordinator.
Steering Committee Members
Marc Dunn
Niskamoon Advisor
Ernest Moses
Cree Nation of Waskaganish Representative
Robbie Tapiatic
Niskamoon Corporation/Cree Nation of Chisasibi Representative
Geraldine Mark
Cree Nation of Wemindji Representative
Ernie Rabbitskin
Niskamoon Representative
Graeme Morin
Cree Nation Government Representative
Mélanie L. Leblanc
Niskamoon Representative
Stephanie Varty
Cree Trappers' Association
Mimie Neacappo
Niskamoon Representative
Félix Boulanger
Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board Representative
Cassandra Weapenicappo
Cree Nation of Eastmain Representative
Daniel Brosseau
Hydro-Québec Representative
James Bobbish
Cree Nation of Chisasibi Representative
Jean-Phillippe Gilbert
Hydro-Québec Representative
John Lameboy
Cree Nation of Chisasibi Representative
Luc Duquette
Hydro-Québec Representative
Louie Kanatewat
Cree Nation of Chisasibi Representative
Marie-Ève Lemieux
Hydro-Québec Representative
Roderick Pachano
Cree Nation of Chisasibi Representative
Josée Lefebvre
Canadian Wildlife Service Representative
The mandate of the Steering Committee, as established by the Agreement signed between the Grand Council of the Crees, Niskamoon Corporation and Hydro-Québec in August 2016 shall be to:
- Elaborate a Comprehensive Program in connection with purpose of this agreement pursuant to Section 1 herein;
- See to the implementation of the Comprehensive Program;
- Review and comment specific aspects of each individual component of the research program, including terms of reference, results and conclusions in a constructive format lending to the credibility of the research.
Photo Credits
The Steering Commitee Figure: Fink-Mercier et al. (2024) Cree-driven community-partnered research on coastal ecosystem change in subarctic Canada: a multiple knowledge approach, Arctic Science. Just-IN https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2023-0061