In July 1997 Selkirk First Nation Citizens or Selkirk First Nation Peoples in the community of Pelly Crossing, Yukon signed the Selkirk First Nation Final Land Claims Agreement (Modern Day Treaty) and the Selkirk First Nation Self-Government Agreement with the Government of Yukon and the Government of Canada. Prior to 1997 they were under the auspices of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (DIAND) and did not have the autonomy to create policy and law for land management. Rather, they were required to adhere to regulations that were mandated by the Yukon Wildlife Act and other institutions created by the Yukon or Federal Governments. The methodology employed in this study was aimed at providing an accurate assessment of change while at the same time ensuring that Selkirk First Nation perspectives remained uppermost. To achieve this, community and personal insights were gained through interviews, family group discussions and the observation of community activities. To ensure that these perspectives were positioned in an accurate historical and political context an examination of public, private, and government records were also undertaken. This research has provided the platform upon which I formed my conceptualizations that Selkirk First Nation Peoples are benefiting both culturally and traditionally. The significance of this research will provide alternatives for other First Nations who pursue land claims and who are building their hunting and fishing laws or Wildlife Acts upon cultural values and traditional pursuits that are distinct from those mandated federally, provincially, or territorially. It is also anticipated that First Nations who are in the process of negotiating Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements acknowledge that certainty regarding Aboriginal rights and title go above and beyond what is defined by the dominant Governments and the Courts.

In July 1997 Selkirk First Nation Citizens or Selkirk First Nation Peoples in the community of Pelly Crossing, Yukon signed the Selkirk First Nation Final Land Claims Agreement (Modern Day Treaty) and the Selkirk First Nation Self-Government Agreement with the Government of Yukon and the Government of Canada. Prior to 1997 they were under the auspices of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (DIAND) and did not have the autonomy to create policy and law for land management. Rather, they were required to adhere to regulations that were mandated by the Yukon Wildlife Act and other institutions created by the Yukon or Federal Governments. The methodology employed in this study was aimed at providing an accurate assessment of change while at the same time ensuring that Selkirk First Nation perspectives remained uppermost. To achieve this, community and personal insights were gained through interviews, family group discussions and the observation of community activities. To ensure that these perspectives were positioned in an accurate historical and political context an examination of public, private, and government records were also undertaken. This research has provided the platform upon which I formed my conceptualizations that Selkirk First Nation Peoples are benefiting both culturally and traditionally. The significance of this research will provide alternatives for other First Nations who pursue land claims and who are building their hunting and fishing laws or Wildlife Acts upon cultural values and traditional pursuits that are distinct from those mandated federally, provincially, or territorially. It is also anticipated that First Nations who are in the process of negotiating Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements acknowledge that certainty regarding Aboriginal rights and title go above and beyond what is defined by the dominant Governments and the Courts.

A presente pesquisa visa a construir uma biografia histórica de Henrique Luiz Roessler (1896-1963), um dos mais importantes agentes da proteção à natureza no Rio Grande do Sul, antes da constituição de movimentos ecologistas no Estado. O trabalho se desdobra em dois eixos, a trajetória de Roessler e a memória construída sobre ele. No eixo da trajetória, tenho como objetivo, a partir da análise de sua produção oral e escrita, bem como de suas estratégias de atuação, acessar, além dos meandros de seu projeto pessoal, uma dimensão mais ampla, a saber, as ideias e práticas da proteção à natureza no Rio Grande do Sul, nos anos 1930-60. Enfoco também os elementos que possibilitaram a construção de uma memória que o situou como precursor do movimento ambientalista/ecologista no Estado, através de suportes escritos e da construção de lugares de memória. Examino elementos da vida pessoal de Roessler, assim como das duas principais fases em que se divide sua atuação em prol da natureza para compreender como seu projeto se desenvolveu no campo de possibilidades a que pertenceu. Esse projeto recebeu apoio, através da rede de relações de Roessler, mas também foi alvo de fortes resistências. Analiso a fiscalização florestal e da caça e pesca no Estado, comandada por ele como Delegado Florestal Regional, e os conflitos originados dessa fiscalização. A pesquisa trata a criação (1955) e o funcionamento da União Protetora da Natureza (UPN), onde Roessler desenvolveu um importante trabalho de educação ambiental. Analiso também as ideias presentes em seus textos (crônicas jornalísticas), palestras e nos cartazes educativos distribuídos pela UPN, com destaque para sua concepção de natureza, articulada a partir de um discurso nacionalista, educativo e sacralizante. Por fim, enfoco a construção das memórias sobre Roessler: ele mesmo já operava uma construção de si como “pioneiro do Serviço Florestal”, que é transformada por diversos agentes, após sua morte, em “pioneiro da ecologia” no Rio Grande do Sul. / This research aims to construct a historical biography of Henrique Luiz Roessler (1896- 1963), one of the most relevant agents for nature protection in Rio Grande do Sul, before the emergence of environmentalist movements in the State. This work opens into two lines: Roessler’s trajectory and memories on him. As for his trajectory, I will analyze his oral and written works and his strategies for action, in order to gain access to his personal project and a broader dimension of his ideas and practices for nature protection in Rio Grande do Sul from 1930 to 1960. I will also focus the elements which enabled the building of records which made him a pioneer of environmental movement in the State, through written reports and the building of places of memory. His personal life facts, as well as his two main periods of action in favor of nature will be explored in order to understand how his project was developed in its possibilities. This project was supported by Roessler’s relations, but also found resistances. Forest control and hunting and fishing surveillance in the State, conducted by Roessler as a Regional Forest Officer, and the conflicts caused by this surveillance, will be analyzed as well. This research deals with creation (1955) and operation of Union for Nature Protection (UPN), where Roessler made an important work for environmental education. His ideas, lectures and posters distributed by UPN will be analyzed, as well as his idea of nature through a nationalist, instructional and sacred discourse. Finally, the memories on Roessler will be focused: he had already made his construction of himself as a “pioneer in Forest Service”, which became “ecology pioneer” in Rio Grande do Sul, after his death.

A presente pesquisa visa a construir uma biografia histórica de Henrique Luiz Roessler (1896-1963), um dos mais importantes agentes da proteção à natureza no Rio Grande do Sul, antes da constituição de movimentos ecologistas no Estado. O trabalho se desdobra em dois eixos, a trajetória de Roessler e a memória construída sobre ele. No eixo da trajetória, tenho como objetivo, a partir da análise de sua produção oral e escrita, bem como de suas estratégias de atuação, acessar, além dos meandros de seu projeto pessoal, uma dimensão mais ampla, a saber, as ideias e práticas da proteção à natureza no Rio Grande do Sul, nos anos 1930-60. Enfoco também os elementos que possibilitaram a construção de uma memória que o situou como precursor do movimento ambientalista/ecologista no Estado, através de suportes escritos e da construção de lugares de memória. Examino elementos da vida pessoal de Roessler, assim como das duas principais fases em que se divide sua atuação em prol da natureza para compreender como seu projeto se desenvolveu no campo de possibilidades a que pertenceu. Esse projeto recebeu apoio, através da rede de relações de Roessler, mas também foi alvo de fortes resistências. Analiso a fiscalização florestal e da caça e pesca no Estado, comandada por ele como Delegado Florestal Regional, e os conflitos originados dessa fiscalização. A pesquisa trata a criação (1955) e o funcionamento da União Protetora da Natureza (UPN), onde Roessler desenvolveu um importante trabalho de educação ambiental. Analiso também as ideias presentes em seus textos (crônicas jornalísticas), palestras e nos cartazes educativos distribuídos pela UPN, com destaque para sua concepção de natureza, articulada a partir de um discurso nacionalista, educativo e sacralizante. Por fim, enfoco a construção das memórias sobre Roessler: ele mesmo já operava uma construção de si como “pioneiro do Serviço Florestal”, que é transformada por diversos agentes, após sua morte, em “pioneiro da ecologia” no Rio Grande do Sul. / This research aims to construct a historical biography of Henrique Luiz Roessler (1896- 1963), one of the most relevant agents for nature protection in Rio Grande do Sul, before the emergence of environmentalist movements in the State. This work opens into two lines: Roessler’s trajectory and memories on him. As for his trajectory, I will analyze his oral and written works and his strategies for action, in order to gain access to his personal project and a broader dimension of his ideas and practices for nature protection in Rio Grande do Sul from 1930 to 1960. I will also focus the elements which enabled the building of records which made him a pioneer of environmental movement in the State, through written reports and the building of places of memory. His personal life facts, as well as his two main periods of action in favor of nature will be explored in order to understand how his project was developed in its possibilities. This project was supported by Roessler’s relations, but also found resistances. Forest control and hunting and fishing surveillance in the State, conducted by Roessler as a Regional Forest Officer, and the conflicts caused by this surveillance, will be analyzed as well. This research deals with creation (1955) and operation of Union for Nature Protection (UPN), where Roessler made an important work for environmental education. His ideas, lectures and posters distributed by UPN will be analyzed, as well as his idea of nature through a nationalist, instructional and sacred discourse. Finally, the memories on Roessler will be focused: he had already made his construction of himself as a “pioneer in Forest Service”, which became “ecology pioneer” in Rio Grande do Sul, after his death.

A presente pesquisa visa a construir uma biografia histórica de Henrique Luiz Roessler (1896-1963), um dos mais importantes agentes da proteção à natureza no Rio Grande do Sul, antes da constituição de movimentos ecologistas no Estado. O trabalho se desdobra em dois eixos, a trajetória de Roessler e a memória construída sobre ele. No eixo da trajetória, tenho como objetivo, a partir da análise de sua produção oral e escrita, bem como de suas estratégias de atuação, acessar, além dos meandros de seu projeto pessoal, uma dimensão mais ampla, a saber, as ideias e práticas da proteção à natureza no Rio Grande do Sul, nos anos 1930-60. Enfoco também os elementos que possibilitaram a construção de uma memória que o situou como precursor do movimento ambientalista/ecologista no Estado, através de suportes escritos e da construção de lugares de memória. Examino elementos da vida pessoal de Roessler, assim como das duas principais fases em que se divide sua atuação em prol da natureza para compreender como seu projeto se desenvolveu no campo de possibilidades a que pertenceu. Esse projeto recebeu apoio, através da rede de relações de Roessler, mas também foi alvo de fortes resistências. Analiso a fiscalização florestal e da caça e pesca no Estado, comandada por ele como Delegado Florestal Regional, e os conflitos originados dessa fiscalização. A pesquisa trata a criação (1955) e o funcionamento da União Protetora da Natureza (UPN), onde Roessler desenvolveu um importante trabalho de educação ambiental. Analiso também as ideias presentes em seus textos (crônicas jornalísticas), palestras e nos cartazes educativos distribuídos pela UPN, com destaque para sua concepção de natureza, articulada a partir de um discurso nacionalista, educativo e sacralizante. Por fim, enfoco a construção das memórias sobre Roessler: ele mesmo já operava uma construção de si como “pioneiro do Serviço Florestal”, que é transformada por diversos agentes, após sua morte, em “pioneiro da ecologia” no Rio Grande do Sul. / This research aims to construct a historical biography of Henrique Luiz Roessler (1896- 1963), one of the most relevant agents for nature protection in Rio Grande do Sul, before the emergence of environmentalist movements in the State. This work opens into two lines: Roessler’s trajectory and memories on him. As for his trajectory, I will analyze his oral and written works and his strategies for action, in order to gain access to his personal project and a broader dimension of his ideas and practices for nature protection in Rio Grande do Sul from 1930 to 1960. I will also focus the elements which enabled the building of records which made him a pioneer of environmental movement in the State, through written reports and the building of places of memory. His personal life facts, as well as his two main periods of action in favor of nature will be explored in order to understand how his project was developed in its possibilities. This project was supported by Roessler’s relations, but also found resistances. Forest control and hunting and fishing surveillance in the State, conducted by Roessler as a Regional Forest Officer, and the conflicts caused by this surveillance, will be analyzed as well. This research deals with creation (1955) and operation of Union for Nature Protection (UPN), where Roessler made an important work for environmental education. His ideas, lectures and posters distributed by UPN will be analyzed, as well as his idea of nature through a nationalist, instructional and sacred discourse. Finally, the memories on Roessler will be focused: he had already made his construction of himself as a “pioneer in Forest Service”, which became “ecology pioneer” in Rio Grande do Sul, after his death.