The Relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Lake Sturgeon

Indigenous Peoples continue to regard Lake Sturgeon as a gift and as culturally significant. However, the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Lake Sturgeon has been changing. Due to the impacts from overexploitation and habitat change, a species that was once considered a valuable food source and a main component of their diet, can no longer be accessed at many traditional fishing sites, nor in the quantity or quality of the past. Despite these changes, Lake Sturgeon continues to be harvested to some extent by all Indigenous communities participating on the KSNC.

Even though the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Lake Sturgeon has changed, sturgeon remain culturally important.

As Lake Sturgeon are a part of Askiy, any changes that have occurred to the species are considered important to Indigenous Peoples . While Indigenous Peoples traditionally believed that Lake Sturgeon would take care of them, they now feel a responsibility to take care of Lake Sturgeon.

“Although everyone requires food, certain kinds of food are characteristic of distinctive cultures, and can be integral to those cultures. We have traditionally eaten food such as moose, caribou, beaver, gull eggs, sturgeon, ruffed grouse, wild raspberries and many more elements of Mother Earth. This relationship is an integral part of our culture”

– Cree Nation Partners 2012