Fur Institute of Canada

Promoting the sustainable and wise use of Canada's fur resources

The Turton Lake Trapping School 2003
GMVF Trappers Newsletter
Winter 2003

The Turton Lake Trapping School pilot project was a partnership between the Fur Institute of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories. The Turton Lake Trapping School included three months at Turton Lake trapping marten, two weeks in North Bay Ontario studying at the Fur Harvesters Auction House and a month and a half trapping beaver in the Ramparts River area.

Report on the Fur Institute of Canada Workshop

In February, Doug Pollock, Alcide Giroux and Richard Miracle from the Fur Institute of Canada travelled to Yellowknife to conduct a workshop for Aboriginal trapper instructors. This three day workshop updated the instructors on:

• The role of the FIC in the community
• Agreement on the International Humane Trapping Standards
• FIC’s trap research program
• Trap safety and trap Maintenance
• In addition, the workshop included extensive hands-on demonstrations on how to use certified traps and sets.

Another positive spin-off of the program was that Chris Yukon and Ernest Manuel Jr. were able to attend the Fur Institute of Canada Aboriginal Trapper Instructors Workshop in Yellowknife. As a result, they both received certification as NWT Trapping Instructors allowing them to teach trapping skills to the next generation.

The second part of the trapping school involved a visit to the Fur Harvesters Auction House in North Bay Ontario. For two weeks in January, all nine students attended workshops on trap setting, skinning and trap line management. They also worked along side the employees of the auction house, learning how to sort, tag and grade fur. This unique learning opportunity for the students was priceless – not only do these people work in the auction house but they are full-time trappers as well.

In addition to time spent working on furs, the kids also had the chance to see the sights in Ottawa and Sudbury. A special treat was going to an NHL hockey game in Ottawa , thanks to Doug Pollock and the folks at the FIC. For most of the students, it was the furthest they had ever been from the Sahtu region.

There were several visits from the Fort Good Hope teacher Mark Cliff-Phillips who worked with the students throughout the length of the program on their school work and reports. Keith Hickling, the Sahtu Manager of Fish and Wildlife, also visited the beaver camp for a couple of days with four media people doing two separate stories on the program.