Northern Whooping Crane Festival highlights conservation and collaboration in Fort Smith, N.W.T. | CBC News (2024)

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The festival, which aims to attract tourists who are curious about the rare whooping crane, is the first collaborative effort by the Thebacha Leadership Council following the signing of a memorandum of agreement in July.

Celebration of rare bird is a chance to attract tourists

Northern Whooping Crane Festival highlights conservation and collaboration in Fort Smith, N.W.T. | CBC News (1)

Carla Ulrich · CBC News

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Northern Whooping Crane Festival highlights conservation and collaboration in Fort Smith, N.W.T. | CBC News (2)

This weekend, the town of Fort Smith N.W.T., is hosting its inaugural Northern Whooping Crane Festival. The event celebrates the rare and elusive whooping cranes and highlights the local conservation efforts.

The festival is also the first collaborative effort by the Thebacha Leadership Council which was formed in July 2024 following the signing of a memorandum of agreement, strengthening their ability to work together on shared priorities.

The agreement was designed to formalize a long-standing relationship between the four community governments, the Salt River First Nation, Smith's Landing First Nation, Fort Smith Métis Council, and the Town of Fort Smith.

"The Whooping Crane Festival was a priority of the Thebacha Leadership Council," said Daniel Wiltzen, the economic and tourism development officer for the Town of Fort Smith.

Wiltzen said the mayor and leaders of the respective organizations all shared the same passion for this project, and were able to move it forward.

"I think people will enjoy seeing all of the organizations share resources to put on a large event," he said. "This is really a great opportunity to see what Fort Smith can really do,"

Wiltzen said it's going to be a great weekend full of activities for youth and adults. Attendees can enjoy a new exhibit at the Northern Life Museum, a Drum Dance, a dark sky viewing, on-the-land activities, and a pancake breakfast.

Whooping crane is 'huge' tourism opportunity

Whooping crane conservation efforts have been ongoing for decades, Wiltzen said. At one point in the early 1900s, the species' numbers dwindled to fewer than 40 birds, making its conservation critically important.

"Preserving natural features and wildlife is a huge priority for Fort Smith and I would assume for northern communities."

The festival aims to raise awareness about whooping cranes but Wiltzen said this is also a first attempt at providing a tourism opportunity around the whooping cranes. Guided tours and educational activities will introduce attendees to the crane's habitat.

"They are mysterious birds," he said, adding that tourism that focuses on them is "a huge opportunity for us to investigate further" he said.

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And while spotting a whooping crane during the festival may be difficult, Wiltzen said the mystery of the bird adds to the festival's appeal.

"Typically, they're very hidden, elusive birds," he said. "And I don't even know if we'll be able to see any this weekend, but that's sort of the draw in itself."

Wiltzen said the festival is an opportunity to celebrate a rare species and it's also a testament to Fort Smith's commitment to conservation and collaboration, it's a chance to showcase what the town can do and he's excited for everyone to experience it.

"This is a great opportunity to put Fort Smith on the global map, and we're excited to see it happen."

Guided medicine walk

Emily Prescott, the emergency management and event coordinator for Smith's Landing First Nation (SLFN), said she's excited for people to both experience the event and to have an opportunity to learn about the SLFN's conservation work.

"We have a huge presence on Saturday, on-the-land day," she said.

"We have been taking initiatives in saving the whooping crane clan, and we're excited to share that work with people."

Prescott is also helping to organize a guided medicine walk led by Elder Louie Beaulieu, who will showcase the cultural significance and history of the land at Fort Fitzgerald, Alberta – a roughly 20 minute drive south of Fort Smith.

"The walk will give participants a deeper connection to both the land and the wildlife that inhabits it," Prescott said. "As well as showcase how beautiful the land is there."

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"Fort Fitzgerald is rich in history and culture. I'm really excited that we get to showcase this land and showcase what Smith Landing [First Nation] truly means as a nation," she said.

The whooping crane is a keystone species, Prescott said. It's crucial for maintaining the health of the ecosystem, and she said the festival will serve as a reminder that the protection of these birds has wider environmental impacts.

"People should come out to get a better understanding of this beautiful bird that comes to our area," she said. "We should all be proud of the fact that something so foreign trusts our land and our community to keep it safe."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Northern Whooping Crane Festival highlights conservation and collaboration in Fort Smith, N.W.T. | CBC News (3)

Carla Ulrich

Video journalist

Carla Ulrich is a video journalist with CBC North in Fort Smith, N.W.T. Reach her at carla.ulrich@cbc.ca.

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    Northern Whooping Crane Festival highlights conservation and collaboration in Fort Smith, N.W.T. | CBC News (2024)

    FAQs

    What changes to whooping cranes environment almost wiped out the species in North America in the early 1900s? ›

    Whooping Cranes also were hunted and their eggs collected, leading to increasing pressure on an already small population. Low population numbers, coupled with the loss of habitat and hunting pressures nearly caused the Whooping Crane's extinction in the early 1900s.

    What is the whooping crane Eastern Partnership? ›

    Its primary goal is to plan actions to fully protect the Aransas/Wood Buffalo natural flock, and establish two additional flocks in order to save the species. Using cranes hatched in captivity, they began efforts in 1993 to establish a nonmigratory whooping crane flock in Florida.

    What are the conservation efforts for the whooping cranes? ›

    A combination of both domestic and international legal protection, habitat preservation, captive breeding, and on-going conservation efforts between Canada and the USA has been instrumental in saving the whooping crane from extinction.

    What killed the whooping cranes? ›

    A major hurdle with some of these reintroduced populations has been deaths to illegal hunting. Over a period of two years, five of the approximately 100 whooping cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population were illegally shot and killed. One of the dead cranes was the female known as "First Mom".

    What are three things unusual about whooping cranes? ›

    Despite their height, these tall birds weigh only 11-16 pounds. Whooping cranes live about 22-30 years in the wild. Of the world's 15 crane species, endangered Whooping cranes are the rarest. In 1945-46, only 15 Whooping wild migratory cranes remained.

    What is the current status of the whooping crane? ›

    The species declined to around 20 birds in the 1940s but, through captive breeding, wetland management, and an innovative program that teaches young cranes how to migrate, numbers have risen to about 600 today.

    What caused the whooping crane to become endangered? ›

    Whooping cranes used to number in the tens of thousands across North America, but following English settlement and westward expansion, there were only an estimated 1,400 left in 1860. Habitat loss and overexploitation caused the bird's demise and the population hit an all-time low of just 15 birds in 1938.

    Why did whooping cranes almost become extinct? ›

    Whooping cranes used to number in the tens of thousands across North America, but following English settlement and westward expansion, there were only an estimated 1,400 left in 1860. Habitat loss and overexploitation caused the bird's demise and the population hit an all-time low of just 15 birds in 1938.

    How are whooping cranes being affected by climate change? ›

    Climate Impacts

    Whooping cranes are dependent on freshwater marshes and floodplains habitats which will become highly vulnerable to drought, changes in precipitation patterns and salination from sea level rise under climate change.

    How has the whooping crane population changed over time? ›

    It all started in the 1800's and early 1900s, as habitat loss and hunting drastically reduced the whooping crane population. Before human interference, there were believed to be 15,000 to 20,000 whooping cranes, which fell to roughly 1,400 in 1860 and then plummeted to an all-time low of 15 birds in 1941.

    How has the whooping crane adapted to the environment? ›

    The whooping crane has been adapted for flying. They have a lightweight frame of around 15lbs (6.8kg), even despite their impressive height. Unlike humans, the whooping crane has hollow bones to help make them even lighter when in flight. They also have special flight feathers to help aid them when in the air.

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