When the Tlicho GovernmentSA国际影视传媒檚 Lands Protection and Renewable Resources department offered Behchoko resident 脡t茅 Lafferty-Zoe a trip to Churchill, Man., to present about caribou conservation, she jumped at the chance.

SA国际影视传媒淚 got asked by [wildlife and fisheries biologist] Stephanie Behrens,SA国际影视传媒� the 21-year-old said. SA国际影视传媒淪he said I would have to do a presentation. I thought about it, and I told her ISA国际影视传媒檇 be interested in going.SA国际影视传媒�

For two consecutive summers, Lafferty-Zoe has participated in the Tlicho GovernmentSA国际影视传媒檚 Boots on the Ground program, which enlists people from the four Tlicho communities to spend time on the land monitoring the Bathurst, Bluenose and Beverly caribou herds that migrate through the region.

SA国际影视传媒淲e monitor caribou, we look at their health, we look for any injuries on them, we see if theySA国际影视传媒檙e fat or not and if they have calves,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e watch everything when weSA国际影视传媒檙e out there, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 not just the caribou we monitor. We watch the landscape for predators and everything thatSA国际影视传媒檚 out there.SA国际影视传媒�

In Churchill, Lafferty-Zoe shared her experiences from the program with members of the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board (BQCMB), an organization that aims to safeguard those particular herds.

Her presentation was part of the boardSA国际影视传媒檚 95th annual public meeting during the second-last week of November.

She admits she battled some nerves before making her speech, but said it ultimately went well.

SA国际影视传媒淸BQCMB is] really watching the caribou because theySA国际影视传媒檙e declining, so I just told them my experience and why I do what I do out on the land,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 usually talk in front of people like that, so I was kind of nervous, but it went OK. They liked what I said. It was very touching. They said it was a really good speech and they enjoyed it.SA国际影视传媒�

Lafferty-Zoe also had the chance to meet with local Elders, as well as Shakayla Antsanen, a youth from Northlands Denesuline First Nation in Lac Brochet, Man., who was presenting on the Seal River Watershed Initiative.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was good meeting new people,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Now back in Behchoko, Lafferty-Zoe said she will continue to advocate for caribou conservation. She plans to participate in the Boots on the Ground program again next year.

Her main source of motivation is preserving the caribou for the next generation SA国际影视传媒� including her own son.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e dependent on caribou,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 good that weSA国际影视传媒檙e protecting them for our younger generation.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been looking at the numbers, and ISA国际影视传媒檝e noticed the caribou are declining. I have a four-year-old, and I want him to hunt caribou and see caribou. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why I do this and why ISA国际影视传媒檓 part of the Boots on the Ground program.SA国际影视传媒�