Children at the youth day of the NSTA Convention in La Ronge. Photo courtesy Northern Saskatchewan Trapper’s Assocation, Facebook.
Northern Saskatchewan trappers wrapped up their three-day annual convention in La Ronge with four resolutions.
One of them involves the Northern Saskatchewan Trappers Association (NSTA) investigating the winter angling season to see if there is a way it can be shortened or limited in traditional trapping areas. They allege anglers are not respecting the land and are leaving their garbage lying around.
Another resolution suggests incorporating trapping into the school curriculum, such as through offering a firearm safety program or trapper training. The group is looking to work with First Nations Schools and tribal council education departments “to advocate for more funding so that these programs can be offered.”
They passed a resolution to remove the $11 Saskatchewan Wildlife Habitat portion of the trapper’s licence for trappers in the Northern Fur Conservation Area, saying “there does not appear to be any benefits received in the north” from that fee.
The trappers are also demanding that fur harvesters over the age of 65 no longer be required to pay for a trapper’s licence.
The group also handed out a number of awards at a Saturday night ceremony.
Pinehouse Lake’s William Lariviere, a George Smith student who spends a week every spring on trappers training, won the youth award.
Nancy Sayezie from Black Lake won the Matriarch Award.
“This goes to the older people that have brought their children up in the bush. They used to take all their children in the bush and they still practice that,” said NSTA President Adam O. Charles.
Sayeze raised 11 children on the trapline.
This year was the first time handing out the memorial Leonard Hardlotte Award. Hardlotte died late last year, after years of working closely with the NSTA in organizing their trapper’s tables and conventions.
“He was a strong supporter for trappers,” Charles said.
He said Jarrett Nelson from Montreal Lake took the award because he is “someone who really loves trapping, hunting, fishing and gathering – basically living off the land.”