Moving From Model to Application: Cultural Keystone Species and Reclamation in Fort McKay, Alberta

Abstract

Abstract Located within the boreal forest of northern Alberta, the Cree, Dene and Metis community of Fort McKay lies at the center of a large-scale oil sands (bitumen) extraction area. For people who view human and environmental health as inextricably linked, the effects of developmental activities, including subsequent restoration or reclamation processes, are experienced on both social and ecological levels. Consequently, for reclamation efforts to be meaningful to local people, they must take into consideration more than ecological functionality and address the linked social factors. This paper assesses the use and value of the Cultural Keystone Species (CKS) model in the community of Fort McKay, Alberta as a mechanism to address social, ecological and spiritual values in regional land reclamation. As salient species with a defining influence on culture, CKS offer a culturally meaningful tether for communities with landscapes in transition. As part of the Fort McKay Traditional Environmental Knowledge ...