Canada
The Seal River Watershed is one of the last great wild spaces on Earth.
Find out how five Indigenous communities are working together to conserve the watershed’s 50,000 square kilometres as an Indigenous Protected Area.
You’ll also hear from a woman who braved one of the most challenging rivers in Canada and paddled past polar bears on her way to Hudson Bay.
-- Connecting for Conservation Speaker Series: Paddling Past Polar Bears – Exploring Manitoba’s Seal River Watershed --
In the northernmost reaches of Manitoba, there is a pristine expanse of tundra, wetlands and forests as vast as Nova Scotia.
The Seal River Watershed has no permanent roads. No dams. No mines. No industrial development of any kind. Caribou and polar bears roam beneath massive flocks of birds near a powerful river teeming with beluga whales, seals and fish.
Sayisi Dene First Nation is leading an initiative to protect the Seal River Watershed’s 50,000 square kilometres in partnership with its Cree, Dene and Inuit neighbours.
Join CPAWS Manitoba at noon on January 15 to learn about the importance of protecting the Seal River Watershed and supporting Indigenous-led conservation in our monthly speaker series.
Stephanie Thorassie from the Seal River Watershed Alliance will speak about the cultural significance of the region and the importance of formalizing the traditional stewardship practices of the peoples who have cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial.
The Seal River Watershed Alliance aims to expand tourism opportunities in the region in order to share the beauty of this region — and of their cultures — with travellers from Canada and beyond.
The event will also feature Caroline Wintoniw who explored one of the most challenging rivers in Canada this summer and paddled past polar bears and got dive bombed by terns on her way to Hudson Bay.
Get a sneak peak at what she experienced by checking out Caroline's Instagram.
Protecting the Seal River Watershed is yet another way we can ensure we #KeepManitobaWild.
Visit the Seal River Watershed Initiative website for more information: https://sealriverwatershed.ca/
-- Connecting for Conservation Speaker Series --
This year, people have been spending more time than ever outdoors and establishing meaningful connections with nature. This connection to nature fuels a desire to protect and improve our natural spaces.
It hasn't been easy for us to gather this year to learn from one another and rally for change, so CPAWS Manitoba is launching a monthly webinar series to help us connect for conservation online.
Join us to connect with others in your community, learn about important environmental topics, share stories, and find out how you can make a difference for nature in Manitoba.