Municipal-Indigenous Relations in Ontario: Initiatives in Brantford, Hamilton, and Niagara

The relationship between local government and urban Indigenous Peoples in Ontario is understudied, even though over half of Canada’s Indigenous population live in urban centres, one in five of Canada’s Indigenous population live in Ontario, and the Six Nations of the Grand River has the largest reserve population in Canada. Brantford, Hamilton, and Niagara were selected to build on previous research that mapped Municipal-Indigenous relations in seven municipalities across Canada. Studies regarding Municipal-Indigenous relations indicate the degree of inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in policy processes is as unique as each municipality. Some municipalities are urban Indigenous policy innovators with formal mechanisms for Indigenous inclusion in policy processes while others lag. An investigation of three Ontario municipalities is pivotal in partially supporting the finding that larger urban centres with proportionately smaller Indigenous populations are moving toward substantive Indigenous relationship building when compared to smaller municipalities with proportionately higher Indigenous populations.

The effect of copper and manganese on phytoplankton in the Grand River (southern Ontario), Lake Erie and Pacific Ocean ecosystems

With the increased use and loading of metals into the environment, the accumulation of toxic metals by phytoplankton has become a concern. Trace metal interactions with phytoplankton are of particular interest due to the influence of phytoplankton on the biogeochemical cycling of metals in aquatic systems. The study of the accumulation of metals and their toxicity in phytoplantkon is also of interest since phytoplankton lie at the base of many aquatic food webs. Toxic metals therefore have the potential to disrupt food webs and may have important implications on aquatic ecosystems. This study has chosen to focus on the response of phytoplankton to two trace metals in particular: copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn). Although both Cu and Mn are essential elements for phytoplankton, Cu is of particular interest as a toxicant. A number of laboratory studies have suggested that there exists a physiological interaction between Cu and Mn, and that Cu toxicity can be decreased in the presence of high concentrations of Mn. However, few studies have examined the effects of these metals on phytoplankton in their natural environments. The significance of this study is that it is one of the first to examine whether the importance of Cu toxicity and the interaction between Cu and Mn observed in the laboratory is also observable under natural conditions. Short-term bioassays were conducted in order to observe the response of phytoplankton from the Grand River (Southern Ontario) and Lake Erie to additions of various concentrations of eu and Mn under natural conditions. Similar long-term bioassay experiments were also conducted in the Pacific Ocean. Experiments in the Grand River and the Pacific Ocean revealed no significant decrease in phytoplankton biomass or in photosynthetic efficiency with the addition of various concentrations of Cu and Mn. In Lake Erie, phytoplankton biomass was only adversely affected following relatively high additions of Cu of 60 nM, and only under certain conditions. These results seem to indicate that under the tested conditions, Cu toxicity may not be of particular concern to the phytoplankton of the Grand River, Lake Erie and Pacific Ocean ecosystems.

The effect of copper and manganese on phytoplankton in the Grand River (southern Ontario), Lake Erie and Pacific Ocean ecosystems

With the increased use and loading of metals into the environment, the accumulation of toxic metals by phytoplankton has become a concern. Trace metal interactions with phytoplankton are of particular interest due to the influence of phytoplankton on the biogeochemical cycling of metals in aquatic systems. The study of the accumulation of metals and their toxicity in phytoplantkon is also of interest since phytoplankton lie at the base of many aquatic food webs. Toxic metals therefore have the potential to disrupt food webs and may have important implications on aquatic ecosystems. This study has chosen to focus on the response of phytoplankton to two trace metals in particular: copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn). Although both Cu and Mn are essential elements for phytoplankton, Cu is of particular interest as a toxicant. A number of laboratory studies have suggested that there exists a physiological interaction between Cu and Mn, and that Cu toxicity can be decreased in the presence of high concentrations of Mn. However, few studies have examined the effects of these metals on phytoplankton in their natural environments. The significance of this study is that it is one of the first to examine whether the importance of Cu toxicity and the interaction between Cu and Mn observed in the laboratory is also observable under natural conditions. Short-term bioassays were conducted in order to observe the response of phytoplankton from the Grand River (Southern Ontario) and Lake Erie to additions of various concentrations of eu and Mn under natural conditions. Similar long-term bioassay experiments were also conducted in the Pacific Ocean. Experiments in the Grand River and the Pacific Ocean revealed no significant decrease in phytoplankton biomass or in photosynthetic efficiency with the addition of various concentrations of Cu and Mn. In Lake Erie, phytoplankton biomass was only adversely affected following relatively high additions of Cu of 60 nM, and only under certain conditions. These results seem to indicate that under the tested conditions, Cu toxicity may not be of particular concern to the phytoplankton of the Grand River, Lake Erie and Pacific Ocean ecosystems.

Applying GIS and SWAT to understand the stream network, hydrology, sediment and nutrient export from the Grand River watershed into Lake Erie

Headwater streams are important lotic systems that represent more than 80% of the total stream lengths in watersheds. The dynamic coupling of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in headwaters is responsible for regulating the chemical form, residence time and longitudinal transport of nutrients. Over time, stream modification (e.g. to enhance drainage in agricultural watershed) has altered natural stream flow-paths and thus, stream functionality. Such alteration has resulted in degradation of habitat and water quality, both in upland and downstream waters. Currently, nutrients exported from the Grand River (Ontario) watershed are contributing to eutrophication and Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie. With respect to the Grand River watershed, this thesis examined (1) the impact of agriculture on the existing stream network, (2) the utility of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool to simulate hydrology, sediment and nutrient export that closely correlate with measured data, and (3) the application of Best Management Practices in the watershed with the intent of meeting provincial and transnational nutrient targets. The results showed that compared to the actual ground-truthed stream network, the predicted stream network based on topography underpredicted a total of 2,535 km of actual channel present in the watershed. Channels not anticipated by topography were mostly first-order, with low sinuosity, and were most common in areas with high agricultural land use, and are likely excavated extensions to headwater streams to facilitate drainage. Then, the sediment and nutrient loading at Dunnville, discharging to entering Lake Erie, was predicted to be 2.3[superscript⁻1] 105 t yr[superscript-1] of total suspended sediment, 7.9 [superscript⁻1] 103 t yr-1 of total nitrogen, and 2.5 ⁻1 102 t yr-1 of total phosphorus. Finally, implementing wide buffer strips, stabilizing channel banks and grassed waterways were found to be the most effective practices for reducing sediment and phosphorus loading into Lake Erie.

Applying GIS and SWAT to understand the stream network, hydrology, sediment and nutrient export from the Grand River watershed into Lake Erie

Headwater streams are important lotic systems that represent more than 80% of the total stream lengths in watersheds. The dynamic coupling of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in headwaters is responsible for regulating the chemical form, residence time and longitudinal transport of nutrients. Over time, stream modification (e.g. to enhance drainage in agricultural watershed) has altered natural stream flow-paths and thus, stream functionality. Such alteration has resulted in degradation of habitat and water quality, both in upland and downstream waters. Currently, nutrients exported from the Grand River (Ontario) watershed are contributing to eutrophication and Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie. With respect to the Grand River watershed, this thesis examined (1) the impact of agriculture on the existing stream network, (2) the utility of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool to simulate hydrology, sediment and nutrient export that closely correlate with measured data, and (3) the application of Best Management Practices in the watershed with the intent of meeting provincial and transnational nutrient targets. The results showed that compared to the actual ground-truthed stream network, the predicted stream network based on topography underpredicted a total of 2,535 km of actual channel present in the watershed. Channels not anticipated by topography were mostly first-order, with low sinuosity, and were most common in areas with high agricultural land use, and are likely excavated extensions to headwater streams to facilitate drainage. Then, the sediment and nutrient loading at Dunnville, discharging to entering Lake Erie, was predicted to be 2.3[superscript⁻1] 105 t yr[superscript-1] of total suspended sediment, 7.9 [superscript⁻1] 103 t yr-1 of total nitrogen, and 2.5 ⁻1 102 t yr-1 of total phosphorus. Finally, implementing wide buffer strips, stabilizing channel banks and grassed waterways were found to be the most effective practices for reducing sediment and phosphorus loading into Lake Erie.

Medicine Masks of the Iroquois People as Revealed by the False Faces Society

Present-day Iroquois are seeking to preserve traditional healing methods. Members of the False Faces Society routinely perform cleansing rituals using Hodo masks. The spiritual significance and proceedings of the rituals were conveyed by the employees of the Iroquois community center (Longhouse) and the fellow tribesmen gathered around these centers. The participants provided information on the ways of acquiring, crafting, invoking, storage, and honoring the sanctified, animated artifact – the mask. The author of the article confronts the current position of the Onondaga Reserve and the Grand River Reserve Iroquois with historical teachings. The elder generation of Indians has maintained their faith in the mystical power of the rituals, while the secularized new generation approaches them with a strong skepticism.