Buckhorn Talking Circle to Explore Changes in Local Wildlife and Landscape

Kate Dickson, The Land Between

KAWARTHA LAKES: Residents, who spend time on the land, are being invited to share what they’re seeing in local forests, wetlands, and waterways at an upcoming community event, focused on environmental change.

The The Land Between, working with Indigenous partners, is hosting a series of Talking Circles this spring, aimed at gathering community observations about shifting conditions across the region’s ecosystems.

Organizers say, people who live and work closest to the land, such as farmers, hunters, anglers, and hikers, are often the first to notice changes in wildlife populations, water levels, and habitat health. Those insights can provide valuable information which may not always appear in formal research or environmental decision-making.

Questions the group hopes to explore include: whether wetlands are functioning as they should; whether populations of animals, like beavers, are changing; and whether canids, such as coyotes and related species, are becoming overly abundant.

Talking Circles are rooted in long-standing Indigenous traditions and are designed to encourage respectful listening and constructive dialogue. Organizers emphasize the gatherings are not debates or political forums, but rather welcoming spaces, where participants can share observations and learn from one another.

Information gathered during the discussions will help guide future research, stewardship priorities, and community-led responses to environmental challenges in the region.

Alongside the discussion sessions, an open-house poster display will be available, for those who prefer a more informal experience. The display will feature summaries of the organization’s work, related to fish and wildlife, lakes, forests, and species at risk.

The next event in the four-part series will take place on Wednesday, April 9th, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Buckhorn Community Centre.

The event is free and open to anyone who has a connection to the land, including farmers, hunters, anglers, gardeners, naturalists, hikers, and local residents.

Registration is encouraged, though drop-ins are welcome. Participants can sign up online, at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAlpQLSfJMEbiPuQSlyKtVrEND8OY-h8AkAl5G4DdUSb-6jplOVHQwA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=110419121875719686680