Whitefeather Forest Management Corporation

Pikangikum First Nation Atlas - Cultural Values / Historical Occupancy

Organization
Whitefeather Forest Management Corporation - A joint venture company of Pikangikum First Nation and Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants

Author
Marcel Morin and the Elders of Pikangikum First Nation

ESRI Software
ArcGIS

Data Sources
Indigenous Knowledge (Elders of Pikangikum) and Digital Forest Resource Inventory

Description
The Whitefeather Forest is an Indigenous Cultural Landscape of Pikangikum people. Since time immemorial, they have protected and enhanced the biodiversity of the landscape and nurtured the abundance of its diverse resources. Their people have achieved this through customary indigenous resource stewardship practices and management tools supported by a rich Indigenous Knowledge tradition.

Under the care of their people, the Whitefeather Forest cultural landscape has been protected and enhanced as a rich, boreal ecosystem inhabited by black bear (Mahkwa), caribou (Atik), moose (Moos), timber wolves (Maaingan), wolverine (Kwiingwaagway), fox (Waagoosh), ducks (Shiishiib), bald eagles (Migisi), sandhill cranes (Oochiichaag), and many others.

From its vast tracts of jack pine to wild rice (Manomin) fields planted by Pikangikum people, to rich muskrat marshes that were historically burned to increase food for these fur-bearing animals as well as the ducks and other animals that live there, the Whitefeather Forest cultural landscape is of international ecological significance.

The ecological richness of the Whitefeather Forest landscape is complemented by a cultural heritage legacy that includes features such as pictographs, campgrounds, portages, and canoe channels. These enhance the numerous pristine waterways that flow through the forest.

It is the intention of Pikangikum First Nation in the Whitefeather Forest Initiative to provide economic opportunities for their members while protecting the rich ecological and cultural heritage of their ancestral forests.

Acknowledgements
Community Research Team: Jake I. Quill, Coordinator. Reaseachers: Marlene Quill; Regie Peters; Murray Quill; and Randolph Suggashie. Translator: Victoria Moose