Peggy Revell
Rainy Lake is one of two places in Canada where the Small-flowered Lipocarpha can be found.
Now thanks to a provincial grant, Mitaanjigamiing (Stanjikoming) First Nation will be conducting an inventory of this endangered species.
The $18,000 grant came as part of the Ministry of Natural Resource’s “Species at Risk Stewardship Fund,” which recently announced more than $4 million in funding towards 118 projects across the province.
“We wanted to inform and educate our youth and community members about species at risk,” explained Mitaanjigamiing Chief Janice Henderson, who noted this was the first time the band had submitted a proposal to this provincial program.
While the Small-flowered Lipocarpha can be found all the way from Brazil, throughout Central America, Mexico, and within the U.S., it only has been discovered at Pound Net Bay on Rainy Lake, as well as Lake Osoyoos in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.
According to the Species at Risk public registry, “the greatest threats to this species are loss and degradation of habitat and controlled water level regimes”—something that exists on Rainy Lake—as well as invasive species and recreational use of shoreline that could affect the plant’s habitat.
This new “species at risk” project will see Mitaanjigamiing working together with the MNR, and with help from the Rainy Lake Conservancy, to do an inventory of the species in the North Arm of Rainy Lake, as well as promote community awareness.
“The youth will be working with the elders to identify this rare plant,” Chief Henderson explained.
This community-based project also is one way amongst many that the band council is looking to increase youth involvement in the community—an issue council is trying to focus on, Chief Henderson added.
Youth currently make up the largest age group at Mitaanjigamiing, with 52 of the residents aged 21 and under, including 34 who are 15 and under.
