Dennis Wright, a project manager at the Rat River Development Corporation, is deeply troubled by the projected loss of more than half of Fort McPherson’s cemetery within the next three decades. The erosion threat looms over St. Matthew’s Anglican Church and the burial grounds adjacent to it on the plateau east of the Peel River in the Northwest Territories.
Attributing the instability of the slope to climate change, thawing permafrost, and urbanization, Wright voiced concerns about the potential need to relocate graves, a decision no one wishes to make. This issue is not unique to Fort McPherson, as various northern communities face similar challenges due to erosion, albeit stemming from different causes.
Miki Ehrlich, a collaboration facilitator with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, highlighted the complexities communities face when addressing erosion-related concerns. She underscored the need for a coordinated approach involving multiple agencies to tackle issues like infrastructure relocation, informed decision-making, and securing necessary funding.
In a proactive response, the Yukon government has engaged an environmental consultant to study shoreline erosion, offering guidance on assessment and mitigation strategies. This joint initiative involving several territorial departments aims to bridge the gap between disciplines like hydrology, geology, and infrastructure management, mirroring Ehrlich’s call for integrated efforts in addressing erosion challenges.
Ehrlich outlined three potential solutions for communities grappling with threatened cemeteries: safeguarding and slowing erosion, relocating the burial sites, or accepting natural processes. She emphasized the importance of community involvement and access to critical information to make well-informed decisions amidst changing environmental conditions.
In another instance, the Carcross/Tagish First Nation swiftly responded to a grave exposed by riverbank erosion near Tagish in 2018. A community-driven approach, guided by elders’ wisdom, led to the protection of the burial site with a cedar plank and earth cover, underscoring the significance of cultural sensitivity and transparent communication in such delicate matters.
The Kitikmeot community in Nunavut faces a similar predicament on Graveyard Island, where historical imagery reveals significant shoreline retreat threatening an old cemetery. The community’s MLA, Simon Kuliktana, acknowledged the emotional gravity of potentially relocating the burial site, highlighting the profound attachment to ancestral resting places and the challenges posed by such decisions.
In Fort McPherson, ongoing efforts to address erosion risks include seeking conservation funding from Parks Canada to evaluate ground stability, monitor slope movement, and implement erosion mitigation measures. Nehtruh-EBA Consulting’s assessment projected severe erosion impacts on the community within three decades, prompting the implementation of measures like planting birch trees, filling tension cracks, and discouraging detrimental practices on the slope.
As discussions at the erosion workshop concluded, Wright emphasized the community’s urgent need to secure a safe resting place for their departed loved ones amidst the looming erosion threat, underscoring the imperative of proactive measures to safeguard cultural heritage sites in the face of environmental challenges.