Turtle release project on Magnetawan First Nation featured in documentary series

On Monday, community members in Magnetawan First Nation will gather in the band hall to watch an episode of the documentary series Water Worlds that features their turtle project.

"I hope that we are proud of ourselves and the work that we do," said Samantha Noganosh, a former lands, resources and environment department manager who helped bring the film crew in to the community.

"We are not boastful people, right, and so to be showcased and to be out there and to be talking about ourselves, it's hard and intimidating, but I hope that everyone is really proud." 

Water Worlds is a 13-part documentary airing on APTN exploring Canada's underwater ecosystems and the communities protecting them, narrated by Tantoo Cardinal in English and Cree.

Magnetawan, an Ojibway community on Georgian Bay about 250 kilometres north of Toronto, has been monitoring local snake and turtle populations since 2011. It has since added a turtle egg incubation program for species at risk and releases hatchlings every summer in a community event.

"When you drop a pebble in the water, and it has like that ripple effect? We might just be doing something small in a small area, but I've really seen a huge ripple effect," said Noganosh.

"It's really cool to know that we're a little part of something bigger. We're living with other creatures on our land, we're living with other beings, and we need to protect them, too. I think being able to share that message is important." 

Water Worlds director Len Morissette said he hopes communities around Canada will feel inspired to continue conservation efforts.

"I really feel it's important, especially in this day and age, to uplift our communities," said Morissette.

"Part of this, too, is just showing us that we can control and can contribute. Our stories do matter. They do have substance." 

Water Worlds is airing Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on APTN in English, and in Cree on APTN Languages.