Lake sturgeon emerged as a species more than 100 million years before the Tyrannosaurus rex. They survived the extinction of the dinosaurs, and in Ontario people are working together to make sure their long swim through history doesn’t end here.
Photo: Supplied by Nippissing First Nation
Big fish in a shrinking pondWe spotlight the effort to save prehistoric lake sturgeon in Ontario — where the government plans to gut endangered species laws.
Before I get into the stories we’ve published this week, I want to thank each and every one of you who has read our work this election season (we’ve got a same-same-but-different prime minister, in case you hadn’t heard!). Amid the trade war and Canada’s sovereignty in question, climate change dropped off the agenda just as our leaders turned to the country’s natural resources to pull us out of this mess.
It was in the backdrop of this moment that we set one of our most ambitious goals ever: bring in 400 new Narwhal members, so we can hold the incoming government to account on just how it’ll navigate these troubles. We wanted to tell stories about the natural world for years to come, so Canadians can keep up with the decisions that impact this place we call home.
I, for one, am blown away by the response. We surpassed our goal with ease, with 468 (!!!) of you signing up to join our pod. It’s a clear sign: stories on Indigenous sovereignty, disaster preparedness and how we adapt to the existential threat of a changing climate matter deeply to you, no matter who is in charge. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for giving us this beacon of hope. We’ll stay at it, bringing you story after story, so you’re never left in the dark.
This week, let me tell you about some ancient fish in Ontario, and species at risk who are losing their habitat, well, in a lot of places.
Nikki Commanda remembers the first time she ever saw a lake sturgeon near her grandparents’ home on Nipissing First Nation territory, when she was a kid. It was the biggest fish she’d ever seen — she remembers mistaking it for a shark.
Lake sturgeon have been culturally important and a food source for First Nations since forever. Then came colonization, which brought in a host of issues that put the oldest fish in Ontario at risk.
As a biologist, Commanda is working with Nipissing First Nation to understand the impacts of dams and a history of commercial fishing on lake sturgeon. She’s not alone — a partnership between Moose Cree First Nation and Wildlife Conservation Society Canada aims to study the health of the fish population in another basin. Freelance reporter Leah Borts-Kuperman talked to the people who are trying to save the fish from the extinction they’ve faced elsewhere.
To the west, biodiversity reporter Ainslie Cruickshank got her hands on a government document that shows more than 80 per cent of the critical habitat for at-risk species in British Columbia fails to meet federal protection standards. It’s the same habitat in which the province allows extensive logging that has led to dwindling spotted owl numbers, or oil and gas development that has carved up the forests caribou call home.
Stay informed as we keep shining a light on our wildlife, from Lake Nipissing to B.C.’s boreal.
Take care and don’t put yourself at risk,
Karan Saxena
Audience engagement editor
P.S. It’s possible some of you recognize me in your inbox nearly every Thursday; maybe it’s “Karen” some of you think of, who I hear is also very nice. Either way, I thought I should tell you: I’ll be taking a break from work until the fall. The newsletter will be in great hands — you know our crack team won’t let you down! Until then, keep reading our stories, keep demanding your elected officials do better, and go hug a tree for me. 💓
Amber earned the recognition for a photo essay that includes intimate portraits of residents of Fort Chipewyan, Alta., who told her about their experiences — and fears — downstream from toxic tailings ponds.
“This story represents some of the things that I value most in journalism, including working with a talented, caring and invested team — and also having sustained interest and sustained coverage of issues that affect people’s everyday lives,” Amber said. “It’s not always easy to get to the community of Fort Chipewyan, and it means a lot to me that The Narwhal stood behind me to make a repeat visit and to try to tell these stories.”
Read more about Amber’s recognition — and The Narwhal’s collaboration with The Local that also got a nod — over here.
This week in The Narwhal
The site of an infamous B.C. mining disaster could get even bigger. This First Nation is going to court — and ‘won’t back down’ By Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood
Xatśūll First Nation is challenging B.C.’s approval of Mount Polley mine’s tailings dam raising. Indigenous leaders says it’s an example of how trying to expedite projects without First Nations consent leads to costly delays.
Canada’s fossil fuel companies win battle against climate transparency By Carl Meyer READ MORE
The B.C. agency overseeing oil and gas is about to get more powerful. Here’s why you should care By Matt Simmons READ MORE
Battling a hungry beetle, this Mohawk community hopes to keep its trees — and traditions — alive By Nicole Dainty, Hannah Daramola, Madison Eldridge & Nadja Radakovic READ MORE
‘Cutting corners’: B.C. takes next step to fast-track wind, North Coast transmission line projects By Shannon Waters READ MORE
Shad: ‘Nature isn’t just a pastime, it’s a practical and spiritual need’ By Denise Balkissoon READ MORE
Shout it from the mountain tops (and the bottom of the ocean): The Narwhal’s newsletter has critical environmental reporting you won’t find anywhere else. Tell a friend, and remind them to subscribe!
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Lake sturgeon emerged as a species more than 100 million years before the Tyrannosaurus rex. They survived the extinction of the dinosaurs, and in Ontario people are working together to make sure their long swim through history doesn’t end here.
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Your access to our journalism is free — always. Sign up for our weekly newsletter for investigative reporting on the natural world in Canada you won’t find anywhere else.
Your access to our journalism is free — always. Sign up for our weekly newsletter for investigative reporting on the natural world in Canada you won’t find anywhere else.
