This thesis investigates whether topography has a quantifiable effect on the spatial distribution of landcover within an inland sand dune ecosystem. To accomplish this, an investigation was undertaken to compare the associations between various topographic characteristics and landcover distribution within the Great Sand Hills (GSH), Saskatchewan. The methodology comprised a spatial analysis of digital topographic and landcover data. In terms of landcover diversity, results shows that there is a moderate association between topography and landcover diversity in the GSH, and that results vary with spatial scale. Similarly, results show modest predictability for one particular community type (trees) thought to be strongly related to topographic position in this region. Several environmental factors are proposed that might overprint the topography-landcover association. Overall, this thesis expands the geographic context of the link between topography and landcover, while also demonstrating the utility of high resolution topographic and landcover data and the importance of spatial scale. / x, 90 leaves : col. ill. ; 29 cm

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ABSTRACT Background. A wealth of data highlights the health disparities and barriers to health care experienced by Aboriginal women and children when compared to non-Aboriginal women and children. The first thousand days time period, from conception to the age of two, is an opportunity for health professionals to positively impact the health of Aboriginal children with effects lasting into adulthood. Cultural safety has been reported to improve access to health care for Aboriginal Canadians, but little is known about the significance of cultural safety from the perspective of Aboriginal women during the first thousand days. Methodology. An interpretive descriptive design and a postcolonial perspective guided this study. In-depth interviews were conducted with six Aboriginal women at a community health centre located in the inner-city of Regina, Saskatchewan, between June and July of 2015. Data was analyzed using principles of interpretive description to determine themes. Findings. Culturally safe and unsafe care was experienced during the first thousand days. Three themes common to participants included: the importance of being able to trust that they are safe when accessing health care, the overwhelming impact of poverty on their ability to achieve or maintain good health, and finally, the experience of worry related to the first thousand days including the worry about being worthy of respectful, culturally safe treatment by all employed in health environments. Discussion. The perception of culturally safe care was significant in affecting access to health care for this group of participants. Findings of this study suggest that more attention needs to be paid to the development of trust in health care encounters, and future research could explore the concept of trust for Aboriginal peoples. Emphasis on awareness of the social determinants of health, including colonialism and racism, should be included in educational programming for health professionals locally.

The Saskatchewan River Delta (SRD) in central Canada, North America’s largest inland delta, is an important spring and fall stopover site for waterfowl with thousands flocking there annually to stage. However there is very little information on their origins prior to arrival and their feeding ecology while in the Delta. To date, band recoveries are largely from birds banded south of the SRD, mostly due to limited banding activity in productive waterfowl habitats to the north such as the Peace-Athabasca Delta and the broader boreal forest. There is also very little information on the importance of the SRD as an overall recruitment area for the North American waterfowl population. No studies have used stable isotopes to infer the origins and diets of these birds. I first used stable isotopes of hydrogen (2H) and sulfur (34S) to infer migratory origins and specifically evaluate the contribution of local and non-local birds to the staging population in the SRD during fall migration. Based on 2H, I found that few birds (34%) originated in the SRD despite its known role as breeding habitat; instead, most birds (56%) were migrants from the north of the SRD and a small fraction (10%) came from south of the SRD. Stable sulfur isotope data proved a useful tool in further delineation of birds into prairie and forest regions, respectively. Secondly, I used stable carbon (13C) and nitrogen (15N) isotopes and mercury concentrations in liver tissue ([Hg]) to trace nutrient sources of these waterfowl using the SRD prior to fall migration, and tested for differences in diets among species, sexes and age groups within species. I demonstrated the importance of macrophytes as a source of food, particularly among the American Widgeon and Northern Pintail (70% of the diet). However, there was some level of partitioning of resources at the species level, as Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal used invertebrate sources, as did a distinct group of Mallards. This is likely a result of birds minimizing competition for resources during the short staging period in the SRD when waterfowl densities are high. Finally, I found that 15N values in liver, a known indicator of trophic position, can be confounded by variation in basal sources; hence, there is the need to use other isotopes or tracers such as [Hg] for verification. Overall, my results suggest an important role for northern ecosystems in central Canada in contributing to the waterfowl breeding population in the Central Flyway, and a key role for the SRD in providing fuel for waterfowl during fall migration. .

ABSTRACT Legumes are becoming increasingly important in cropping systems due to their beneficial effects on soil nutrient availability. Including legumes into a cropping system not only positively affect many soil physical properties and increases soil nitrogen (N) supply, but is also reported to have a positive impact on soil phosphorus (P) availability. Although a series of studies have examined the effect of grain legumes in rotation on increasing soil N and P fertility after several years, the effect of forage legumes like alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) on soil P availability, the yield and P uptake of subsequently grown crops remain unknown in Western Canada. To address this gap, a four year field experiment was conducted in four soil zones of Saskatchewan: Dark Brown soil zone (Saskatoon), thin Black soil zone (Lanigan), Brown soil zone (Swift Current), and Gray soil zone (Melfort). The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the impact of including a two-year period of forage legumes alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) along with annual crops on soil P forms, amounts and availability and uptake of P by the crops in rotation and (ii) to evaluate the effect of the different crop rotations over the four years on soil P dynamics and P balance. After two years of forage legume and annual crop rotations, it was observed that alfalfa and red clover removed more P from the soil in the hay harvest as compared to the amount of P removed in grain in the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) - pea (Pisum sativum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) - flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) rotations at all four sites (P < 0.10). However, the four crop rotations did not significantly affect the amount of soil available P and P supply rate at all four sites (P > 0.10) despite greater P uptake and removal by forage legumes relative to annual crops in 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. Also, similar amounts of labile and stable P were measured in the different sequentially extracted chemical fractions after two years of different crop rotations at all sites (P > 0.10). Grain yields of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) crops grown following two years of forage legume and annual crop rotations were positively affected by forage legume rotations at Saskatoon, Lanigan and Melfort (P < 0.10). Wheat P uptake was improved significantly by two years of red clover at Lanigan, Swift Current and Melfort (P < 0.10) but canola P uptake was not affected by different crop rotations at all locations (P > 0.10). The amount of soil available P and P supply rate measured after wheat and canola harvest were not affected by different crop rotations at all sites (P > 0.10) despite the greater P removal by forage legumes during the first two years of the four year crop rotation period at all sites and the enhanced P removal by wheat and canola crops following forage legume rotations at Lanigan and Melfort. This suggests that forage legumes are able to maintain soil P fertility in the face of greater P removal by crops in rotation, at least in the short-term. Four years of continuous cropping with the minimum amount of fertilizer P addition resulted in a significant reduction of soil P fertility over time at all locations (P < 0.10). The lack of a significant effect of rotation treatment on available P levels in the soil does not rule out that there is an effect but variability prevented its detection. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of several cycles of this rotation over a number of years on soil P availability and the P uptake of crops in rotation.

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No description available.

In 1944, the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) entered northern Saskatchewan with the goal of utilizing natural resources and restructuring the northern economy through conservation and social policy in order to rehabilitate what they viewed as an impoverished Aboriginal population. This thesis analyzes the affects of government policy on the northwestern Saskatchewan Metis during the mid-twentieth century. Specifically, this study will examine how CCF policy affected the trapping economy and the socio-cultural traditions of the northern Metis. The northwestern Saskatchewan Metis participated in trapping as one of their main sources of income, while facing deflating market prices and government intervention. Through an analysis of archival records that included government documents, government employee and northern Metis correspondence, newspapers, community and government research initiatives and transcribed interviews done by previous projects, this study found that the new government policies were met with resistance by Metis trappers who wished to maintain their traditional trapping practices. Trapping for the Metis, was not only a source of income, it was a livelihood inseparable from their socio-cultural identities and worldview. Therefore, Metis worldview had a direct connection to their acceptance and resistance of CCF policy. More specifically, the northwestern Saskatchewan Metis had a specific “work ethic.” In order to explain Metis reactions to CCF policy Max Weber’s theoretical framework of a “work ethic” derived from The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism was utilized. In this thesis it is posited that the Metis work ethic was based upon the concept of wahkootowin, which placed high value on kinship systems and reciprocity. Wahkootowin encompassed all aspects of northern Metis life including the economy. These cultural values were also juxtaposed with living a “northern style of life,” which involved hard work and survival skills that allowed the Metis to flourish within the northern landscape. In the mid-twentieth century CCF conservation and social policy conflicted with the northwestern Saskatchewan Metis work ethic that was based on the principles of wahkootowin and the northern style of life.

This thesis examines the creation of the Witchekan Lake Reserve in Saskatchewan, the resulting treaty land entitlement (TLE) for Witchekan Lake First Nation, and the 1992 Framework Agreement for Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement (TLEFA). The history of the Witchekan Lake Reserve between 1913 and 1919 is reconstructed and reveals a unique situation within TLE. The creation of a Reserve some thirty seven years prior to adherence to Treaty Six presents a challenge to the interpretation of TLE. It also points to the importance of the historical context of Reserve creation within TLE <p>A study of land use and occupancy of Witchekan Lake First Nation and the area occupied by Settlers was facilitated by the use of Department of Indian Affairs files, map biographies, oral interviews, transcripts of earlier interviews with deceased elders, records and correspondence from Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Mangement (SERM) and the Department of the Interior Homestead Files. The analysis employs a non-traditional definition of the ethnicity of Settlers. That definition is based on their birthplace, their land use and their life experiences before arriving at Witchekan Lake. Employing theoretical concepts of colonization and underlying ideologies of racial inferiority, the work proposes that the existence of two opposing types of land use and occupancy and their respective value systems led to a TLE for Witchekan Lake First Nation. It is argued here that these ideologies were present in the homestead period and have persisted into the present due to the late timing of settlement and the pluralistic composition of Settlers. <p> A review of the events around the acquisition of the Bapaume Community Pasture by Witchekan Lake First Nation demonstrates the continuance of conflict with Settlers. This conflict first arose in the homestead era. A critique of the TLEFA, specific to the case of Witchekan Lake First Nation, proposes that lack of attention to their unique circumstances has left the community with unresolved claims. The community hoped that these unresolved claims would be settled in the TLEFA.

The Saskatchewan Indian Community College (SICC) is an institution of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) having the mandate to deliver occupational training progams to Indian people in Saskatchewan. For the years of this study, 1976-1981,the SICC delivered approximately 250 occupational training programs to nearly 3000 students.This study is the first attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of these training programs in a systematic manner. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of the SICC occupational training programs and to make recommendations regarding the future operation of these programs.<p> The main goal of SICC occupational training programs is to provide their recipients with skills to advance to either further levels of training or to employment, As a result,the Decision Making Model of evaluation was utilized in order to gain adequate information on the results of SICC training in relation to employment. In order to obtain a broader perspective in terms of all the impacts of SICC training, the Goal Free Model was also used.<p> Data for this study was collected through interviews administered by research assistants. Research assistants were trained in a week-long orientation and skill session to prepare them to conduct student follow-up interviews. The research assistants travelled to reserves to interview as many former SICC students as possible. A total of 806 of 2909 former SICC students were interviewed for this study between June,1982 to August,1982.<p> The Adult Basic Education student completion rate was 60.8 per cent and it was 70.5 per cent for skills training. The pre-training Adult Basic Education employment rate was 33.5 per cent as compared to 33.3 per cent after training. The pre-training skills training employment rate was 33.3 per cent as opposed to 54.6 per cent after training. While SICC training is one variable affecting the employability of students, the difference may be the result of a number of variables of which SICC training is only one.<p>Former SICC students generally were satisfied with and perceived their training to have been of high quality but found the training to be of limited value in gaining employment. The training was of limited benefit in such unintended areas of increasing the respondents' self-confidence, their involvement in band affairs, their incomes and their children's attendance in school by their example.<p>There are a number of structural barriers limiting the effectiveness of the College's occupational training programs . These include(a)the lack of positive definition of the type of institution that the College is or should be, b)a complicated program identification, request, and approval process,(c)lack of accreditation of skills and trades programs,d)lack of a student support system and strategy, and (e) inadequate linkages between training and economic development and employment opportunities. Recommendations from the study include ensuring (a) that the nature of the SICC as an educational institution be positively defined and that this definition take into account the complex set of factors affecting the College, (b) that SICC training fits into a larger strategy of economic and employment development, (c) that a comprehensive set of occupational training opportunities exist, (d) that training be fully accredited and recognized, and (e) that links be made between Adult Basic Education programs and skill programs and employment.<p>This study provides a baseline of information on the SICC and the effectiveness of its occupational training programs . There needs to be further research in this area to develop a model for the delivery of occupational training that can be generally applied .