General Wildlife Sample Collections

Under this task, the consultant will provide "upon request" support to ECCC staff in the collections, processing, and subsequent shipping of environmental samples collected from Mikisew Cree First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Metis traditional lands in the Peace Athabasca Delta. Examples of the types of activities include (but not limited to):

• Collections of terrestrial biota, including (but not limited to) muskrat, fisher, mink and river otter whole carcasses from hunting and trapping activities
• Collections of aquatic biota, including (but not limited to) snails, prey and predatory fish samples from various watersheds and sites of traditional importance for community members
• Collections of sediment cores, including sectioning of cores and storage in WhirlPacks ^TM
• Collection of traditional land use data and indigenous knowledge data on the impacts of industrial contaminants on traditional lifestyles
• The consultant will be responsible for the safe delivery, and proper handling and storing of samples in an ECCC freezer stored at the local Parks Canada office in Fort Chipewyan (MacKenzie Avenue). Costs will include all expenses related to sample data, archiving, storage, and administration. Access to the storage facility will be provided to the consultant on an “as-needed” basis to enter and store all environmental samples.

Task 2: River Otter Latrine Site Monitoring in the Peace Athabasca Delta

The Athabasca River and the Peace–Athabasca Delta may be impacted by industrial development in the upstream region of the oil sands. Recent reports of aquatic contamination have raised concerns on the impacts of metals (e.g. Hg, As), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and naphthenic acids (NAs) on wildlife (assessed through Task #1). The river otter could be considered a sentinel species for monitoring programs because of the specie’s niche in the environment. The proposed monitoring of river otters will proceed primarily through a study of population health and structure by use of feces and anal jellies collected at various latrine sites in the Peace Athabasca Delta (n=12-15 latrine sites, or more if possible). Contaminant signatures will be determined in feces, as well as fecal hormone metabolite levels. Various other molecular endpoints will be assessed such as microsatellite mutations, DNA methylation and gene expression levels. Extracted DNA will also be used for population demographic measures allowing for assessments of population level responses to environmental contaminants. Under this task, activities undertaken by the consultant will include (but will not be limited to):

• Collection of fresh (< 24 hrs) fecal samples and anal jellies at identified latrine sites
• Habitat assessments of identified latrine sites, including geospatial assessments (ie- georeferencing habitat attributes + latrine sites) and community ID app development
• Capture of site-specific information through visual records (ex: pictures, videos)
• Synthesis of Indigenous Knowledge related to monitoring program design, identified latrine site locations, traditional use of area and its natural resources
• After latrine sites are identified, they will be monitored for 4 consecutive weeks/year, coinciding with trapping season (if possible)

As the nature of the requirement is not fully known until proper consultations with indigenous stakeholders are completed, work under this contract will proceed through task authorizations. While the deliverables will be explicitly reflected in the Task Authorizations, they will generally consist of:

• Transferring to Environment and Climate Change Canada all collected biological samples (whole carcasses, or specific tissues) as well as all associated collection data.
• Transferring to Environment and Climate Change Canada all collected latrine site samples, including feces and anal jellies as well as all associated collection data.
• Transferring to Environment and Climate Change Canada all collected DNA samples stored in appropriate micro-centrifuge tubes + DNA lysis buffer.
• Transferring to Environment and Climate Change Canada compiled and synthesized indigenous knowledge and traditional land use data in Microsoft Word or Excel formats (or under a format acceptable with the consultant).

Activities for tasks authorized will be performed off-site in the Peace-Athabasca Delta, Alberta, Canada at locations determined to hold traditional importance to local indigenous communities.

As the tasks will be requested for on-demand services, tasks authorizations will be used to initiate specific tasks. Task authorizations will include: activities to be performed, identification of general or explicit deliverables, and an estimate of the time required. Tasks that are expected to span several months, the bidder will provide, via email, an end-of-month report that accounts for time used and remaining.