New NCES series explores hunting & gathering with Revelstoke experts

By Erin Wilkins

It may take some people by surprise to see that the North Columbia Environmental Society (NCES) is offering a workshop series on hunting & gathering. While the expectation may be that the NCES would be critical of these practices we are, in fact, interested in providing the opportunity for people without experience to learn how to harvest their own food ethically, and with the conservation of the target species (plant or animal) and their habitat in mind.

For the past four years the local food movement in our town has gained a lot of momentum, to the extent that the Local Food Initiative (LFI) of the NCES has now become its own society. Revelstokians are taking a closer look at where their food comes from, how it is grown and the distance it has to travel.

Much of the food we find in our grocery stores does not offer us a sustainable, healthy or environmental friendly choice. Up to this point, the LFI has primarily focused on gardening, but hunting, fishing, and harvesting of wild plants is also a part of the same conversation.

For example, conventional meat may have been raised in inhumane conditions, consumed food and supplements that target growth over health, and may be harmful to the environment and atmosphere. If meat is a part of your diet you may rather consume an animal that has lived in a natural environment, able to express its natural instincts.

Although some of us may imagine loud ATVs and a pile of empty beer cans when we think of hunting, there are many in our community who hunt and fish and see it as an art form and a way to practice conservation. These same people consider the well-being of the animal and believe their connection to the environment essential to this practice.

The NCES recognizes the opportunity to provide a discussion about how to practice hunting and fishing in an ethical way that weighs the impact on the environment and local habitats. We are engaging experienced locals to enhance people‘s understanding and approaches in a way that benefits all involved.

We will be hosting a number of workshops where we hope that people who are new to (or interested in) hunting and fishing will come together with those who have practiced these skills for a number of years.

If you are interested in exploring the practices of Hunting & Gathering join us on any of our upcoming workshops:

Thursday Sept 10: Hunting Q&A for beginners             

7 p.m. @ RCC w/ Brian Gadbois

Tuesday Sept 15: Making Sausage    

7 p.m. at United Church Kitchen w/ Tanya Kempard

Fri./Sat. Sept 25/26: Mushrooms & Forage  

Pre-Registration Required & $20 workshop fees

Monday, Oct. 5: A Fishy Reality: Fish Talk                         

7 p.m. at RCC w/ Jeff Burrows, Senior Fish Biology with Ministry of Forest, Land & Natural Resources

Sunday, Oct. 17: Medicinal Plants Field Trip                    

10 a.m. meeting at United Church w/ Chic Sharpe. Pre-Registration Required

TBA October: Wild Butchering Techniques                       

w/ Adam Croxnall, Pre-registration to be on call list

All workshops (unless indicated) are by donation. For more information visit the North Columbia Environmental Society Facebook pages events or the northcolumbia.org. To pre-register email Erin Wilkins at [email protected].