Science 8: Local Aquatic System Health (Indigenous Knowledge Lesson Plan)

• Main Authors: Karsgaard, Carrie, Mackay, Mackenzie, Catholique, Alexandria
• Other Authors: Parlee, Brenda
• Format: Course Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: climate change; aquatic ecosystem health; industrial development; hydroelectric development; water quality; Mackenzie River Basin; scientific tests; water pollution; scientific monitoring; impacts of human activities; hands-on experience; Mackenzie River; Mackenzie river
• Online Access: https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/2a2609df-0c30-45c5-a8ad-35d79f8334a2; https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-7ymv-cv20

Aquatic ecosystems are impacted by human induced threats such as climate change, industrial development (oil and gas, mining), and hydroelectric dams. Indigenous knowledge and observations of land users are important sources of information in understanding these threats to water. Western science is also a useful way of investigating water quality. This lesson introduces students to different threats facing the Mackenzie River and types of scientific tests that can explain the health of the water. Students will get firsthand experience completing scientific monitoring by investigating water pollution in order to understand the consequences of human activities on the environment. This lesson gives students the chance to get hands-on experience with western scientific approaches to understand aquatic ecosystem health.