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This is the American Toad (Eastern American Toad). Place of origin of the Eastern American Toad: It's place of origin is in my backyard, Ontario Canada. The range of species of the Eastern American Toad: The range of species can be found from Canada to the United States. You can find this species from Labrador to Alabama, from Nova Scotia to Manitoba. How to identify the Eastern American Toad: 1) You can identify this species by the black spots on its back 2) It has (usually) one to two warts in black spots on its body 3) It has a white belly covered in dark spots 4) It will have a high pitched trilling call 5) Males will have a darker throat and are smaller compared to females 6) The toad is a medium sized critter about 1 to 9 cms in length (the record size is 11 cms) The status of the Eastern American Toad: The current status is of least concern meaning that it has a stable population. This toad is a good find in your backyard, around parks and around ponds. Habitat The Eastern American Toad live in most forested areas of Canada and Eastern United States. Do the Eastern American Toad hibernate? Yes, they will hibernate just under the frost line during the winter months.These toads are usually the last of the amphibian family to enter hibernation. The Eastern American Toad will emerge from hibernation in the spring. Reproduction Males reach reproduction age at 2 years of age while females at 3 years of age. Females will lay up to 15,000 eggs which hatch into tadpoles in 7 to 10 days. Tadpoles become small toads in two months. How long does the Eastern American Toad Live? This depends on the environment and conditions but these toads can live up to 10 years (wither in captivity or the very lucky ones in the natural environment). The average lifespan is around 7 years. What does the Eastern American Toad eat? They will eat anything they can catch! This includes beetles, spiders, flies, mosquitos, slugs, black flies, mites, ants...whatever is available and they are able to handle. They will use their tongue (which extends outward) to snatch unsuspecting prey. Related Articles: What is blue green algae Blueberry foraging methods and techniques How to spot poison ivy in the Fall Different types of seed dispersal

(Video transcription below) This hummingbird food has been purchased from the store but you can make your own hummingbird food at home. 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water so 4 to 1 ratio. One of the biggest mistakes that people do is that they actually add food coloring to the hummingbird food (which is not good). The food coloring is very detrimental to the hummingbird, it's foreign to their systems (it's chemicals). If you are going to make your own hummingbird food, you don't need to add the food coloring to it. You just need to use the sugar and water. If it's good, they (the hummingbirds) will come...If you feed them they will come!! How to Make Hummingbird Water: 1) 1 cup of unrefined sugar 2) 4 cups of distilled water 3) Mix well until sugar dissolves 4) Add as needed to your hummingbird feeder 5) Store any leftovers in a container (for future use) 6) Do NOT add food coloring (it is bad for the hummingbird) Related Articles: What Does Sweetgrass Look Like? Blueberry Foraging Techniques and Methods Different Types of Seed Dispersal How to Spot Poison Ivy in the Fall

Video transcription: The main (medicinal) purpose of the cedar, from what I've been told is that it is a medicinal medicine that can be ingested (drank) in a tea form but also, just the vapors of the cedar can help with those respiratory issues. Cedar (in this time of Covid) is one of those medicines that a lot of people are picking up (just) to boil so that good medicine is in the steam form (within our homes). Also, as a tea to help build up the immunity in your body to help fight viruses (IE: Covid). You can also bath in Cedar which is a good way to help with those kinds of ailments and sicknesses. Cedar helped with scurvy upon contact with the Non-Indigenous population who were dying from diseases such as scurvy. It was the Indigenous people that introduced them (Non Indigenous population) to Cedar and help them survive (I guess). End transcription Cedar tea has an abundance of health benefits due to its chemical make up which is made up of 3 key compounds. Each of these powerful, medicinal compounds have healing properties that when taken in the correct amounts can have a positive health impact. These compounds are Cedrol, Cedrine and Thujopsene and have the following health benefits: Antiseptic which can help dissinfect Anti-inflmmatory which can help reduce pain and inflammation Antispasmodic which can help reduce muscle cramps and spasms Astringent which can help improve skin condition Antifungal which can help combat fungal infections Sedative to help improve mood and sleep patterns Insecticide Expectorant to help with mild respiratory problems The fragrance in Thujopsene provides a soothing, almost sedative scent that is used shampoos, deodarants, body sprays and a host of other self care products. Cedar tree tea has numerous health benefits that can help improve mental acuity and physical health. Cedar tree tea benefits: 1) Cedar helps with respiratory issues 2) Cedar helps boost the bodies immune system 3) Cedar helps to purify indoor air 4) When boiled as a tea, Cedar helps reduce the severity of fevers and sickness 5) Cedar can help relieve chest cold and flu symptoms How to make cedar tea Related Articles: What Does Sweetgrass Look Like? Blueberry Foraging Techniques and Methods Different Types of Seed Dispersal How to Spot Poison Ivy in the Fall

Cambium Indigenous Professional Services (CIPS) is proud to announce that our very own Kerry-Ann Charles has been asked to be a moderator at the Latornell Conservation Symposium Webinar entitled "Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas: What Does That Mean, and What Could That Look Like?" This webinar will feature several Indigenous speakers who will share their experiences in regards to the development of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) in Ontario. Kerry-Ann will be moderating this very important webinar which will be examining the evolution of IPCA's and other Indigenous Governance structures developing in Ontario. Through a moderated question and answer period the speakers will dive into questions such as: - How can First Nations partner with ENGOs and land trusts to protect these lands? - Can IPCAs be a tool for reconciliation? - What does ‘land back” mean? Kerry-Ann who is the Environmental Partnership Coordinator (at CIPS) as well as a Latornell Symposium Steering Committee Member since 2017 has over 20 years experience and is a well sought after moderator and guest speaker. Her valuable input and insights will help provide direction to participants and speakers with key ideas and information regarding Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. CIPS is honored to be a part of the Latornell Conservation Symposium Webinar and look forward to participating in this very important webinar session. Moderator: Kerry-Ann Charles Environment Partnership Co-ordinator CIPS (Cambium Indigenous Professional Services) Speakers Include: Danika Littlechild Co-Chair Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE) Chris Burtch IPCA Coordinator Shawanaga First Nation Gary Williams Curve Lake First Nation To register for this webinar: Date and time: Tuesday, November 16th | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Cost: Free however registration is required To register: Click here To talk to Kerry-Ann directly, please click here.

A contaminated site is defined as an area of land in which the soil or underlying groundwater or sediment contains a hazardous waste or substance in an amount or concentration that exceeds numerical levels specified in provincial and federal policies and regulations. A site is contaminated if it is unsuitable for specific uses of land, water and sediment. A site can also be contaminated naturally due to the geology of the area (asbestos or radiation) Many sites in First Nations in Canada became contaminated during past industrial or commercial uses as well as a result of aging or damaged heating fuel tanks. Such activities often resulted in chemicals and other toxic materials being spilled or deposited on land. The most common substances found at sites in Canada are heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Organic chemicals, including benzene and toluene in gasoline, occur at about two-thirds of the sites. Chlorophenols are common at wood treatment operations, as are benzo[a]pyrene and naphthalene from creosote. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) often occur at sites where electrical equipment was used. Related: Understanding waste management: Creating a First Nations plan that works! In Canada, there are over 23,000 known and suspected Federal contaminated sites, and in Ontario specifically there are over 1,000 sites on First Nations. Petroleum hydrocarbons are especially common on reserve land as many communities rely on diesel generated power and heat. Many First Nations communities are not connected to the electrical grid. The reliance on diesel fuel for electricity and heat has contributed greatly to the amount of sites contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons on reserve land. Communities in the North are shown to have more contaminated sites. This is partly due to the fact that a lot of these communities do not have all season road access making transportation of remediation materials and workers difficult, in comparison to communities with all season road access. Why are Contaminated Sites a concern? Contaminants pose a threat to human health, the environment, and safety. Their potential effects on humans range from minor physical symptoms to life-threatening diseases such as cancer. Children are often most at risk from exposure to contaminated soil, air, water, and food. Even if a site does not pose a threat to people, it can still be an environmental hazard. Soil, water, and sediment at a site may contain substances that can negatively impact fish or mammals; impair the reproduction of birds; and accumulate in the food web. These effects can be severe enough to impair, or cause imbalance in, ecological functions or systems. How are Contaminated Sites Identified? There are several different ways in which potentially contaminated sites can be identified. The majority of these avenues are dependent upon previous investigations and/or reports that may have been generated for the site. Ways in which a site may be identified without accessing the actual property include: previous environmental record(s); internal environmental programs; complaints by citizens; off-site impacts; similarities to other known contaminated sites; visual or olfactory (smell) evidence of previous leaks, spills or discharges; and the nature of current or past activities at the site or adjacent properties. Who is Responsible for Remediating a Contaminated Site? In Canada, the “polluter pays” principle applies to legal liability in regards to contaminated sites. Therefore, the private company or owners of the property are typically liable for the costs of cleaning up (remediating) the land in which they contaminate. The nature and extent of any liability is not always clear. Liability depends on many factors, including the location of the contaminated site and the role of the Government of Canada regarding the site. With regards to the location of the site, under the Constitution and other laws, provinces and territories have authority to make laws regarding property and commerce. As such, responsibility and legislative authority over contaminated sites is primarily the responsibility of the provinces and territories. With regards to the role or actions of the Government of Canada, there may be liability where it owns, leases or manages contaminated sites - in whole or in part. Similarly, provinces or territories may also be liable under the same circumstances. In some cases, liability may be shared between multiple parties. In addition, there may be some cases, such as First Nation reserve lands, where the Government of Canada concludes that it is appropriate to assume some responsibility for the contaminated site. Related: The duty to consult and accommodate primer: Where do we begin? For example, when private companies who caused the contamination have gone out of business or were unable to pay for dealing with these sites and where no governments are legally liable, one or more levels of government have assumed responsibility of these ‘orphan’ sites. This has occurred in the North and in close proximity to First Nations, where mining companies have gone bankrupt and there is a need to remediate the contaminated site. Contaminated Sites on First Nations The Crown exercises a limited amount of environmental regulations through federal laws of general application, such as the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act, and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. However, these laws are not specific to First Nation lands and are of limited use in these locations. The primary legislation through which the Crown exercises its jurisdiction over reserve lands is the Indian Act. There are no provisions in the Indian Act specific to environmental management of reserve land or the protection of the environment. The large number of contaminated sites on reserve land can be in a large part attributed to this gap in legislation. The lack of enforcement in regards to environmental issues has caused the remediation process of these sites to be a slow process. Related: Community energy planning for First Nations: The fundamentals The Indian and Inuit Affairs Program (IIAP) of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) is responsible for the Contaminated Sites Management Program. The program's focus is to provide financial assistance to assess and remediate contaminated sites on reserve lands and determine the location and severity of contaminants on inhabited reserves. Sites which pose a risk to human and environmental health and safety are ranked by priority and remediated accordingly. Why is it Important to Remediate Contaminated Sites? Indigenous people have an inherent interest and responsibility to be stewards of the land and the environment. This encompasses all living and non-living things and understanding each ones importance to life. Related: 3 ways to effectively communicate technical information to First Nations communities This responsibility extends seven generations into the future, and ensuring the land, air and the water are both healthy to sustain life on Mother Earth. Cleaning up these sites is of significant importance to First Nations people to make sure our children, their children and theirs have access to healthy and safe drinking water and thriving plant and animal life to sustain them. Want to See a Contaminated Site Return to Pre-use Health in Your Community? If you or your community has knowledge of a site that has historical federal commercial/ industrial use that is confirmed or suspected to be contaminated and it is the community’s priority to see it remediated, there is funding available from the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) to begin the process. Many communities have Land Relationship Visions or Environmental Management Plans already in place that may have already identified contaminated sites. Knowing the priorities of the community will help guide the process for contaminated site remediation. Contact us today about how we can help with your community contaminated site remediation planning needs. Call us at: 705-657-1126 or by email at: spirit@indigenousaware.com. To book a zoom meeting directly with our CEO to discuss how we can help with your contaminated site needs, click here

Cambium Indigenous Professional Services (CIPS) is proud to announce that our very own Kerry-Ann Charles has been asked to speak (on behalf of the CIPS team) at the Greenbelt Foundation's Information Session to be held on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. The primary goal of the information session will be to communicate the findings and recommendations as outlined in the Near-Urban Nature Network Report and profile the Southern Ontario Nature Coalition (SONC) partners' roles in driving this project. Other key topics include: - Updating key government officials on project milestones - Communicating the project’s alignment with national and global biodiversity commitments, including the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity - Demonstrating the benefits that a near-urban nature network contributes to the health and well-being of people, and that of all life in the area Kerry-Ann who is the Environmental Partnership Coordinator (at CIPS) will be discussing Indigenous Engagement as it pertains to climate change and adaptation for the protection, preservation, connection, restoration and stewardship of near-urban nature and lands. Kerry-Ann has over 20 years experience and is a well sought after guest speaker for Indigenous Climate change perspectives. Her valuable input and insights will help provide the Southern Ontario Nature Coalition with key ideas and information on Indigenous Perspectives when it comes to climate change and adaptation. CIPS is honored to be a part of the Greenbelt's Information Session and look forward to participating in this very important session. CIPS would also like to acknowledge Kassie McKeown (Technical Advisor, Indigenous Projects) and Tiffany Taylor (Project Administrative Coordinator) for their contribution to this very important initiative. Kassie McKeown: CIPS Technical Advisor, Indigenous Projects Tiffany Taylor: CIPS Project Administrative Coordinator Session Information Date: July 27, 2021 Time: 12:00-1:15/1:30pm Timeframe: Approx 1 hour Platform: Zoom Attendance: Invitation only to all partners, key government officials, key stakeholders, and select media To contact Kerry-Ann directly, please see this page here: Kerry-Ann Charles, Environmental Partnership Coordinator About the Greenbelt Foundation: The Greenbelt Foundation stewards Ontario's Greenbelt, two million acres of protected land that provide clean air, fresh water, climate resilience, and a reliable local food source to help Ontario thrive. We are the only charitable organization solely dedicated to the health and prosperity of Ontario's Greenbelt. For more information, please www.greenbelt.ca. Please share this page with your network. The html for this page is: Climate Change Solutions Information Session Thank you! Michael Jacobs CEO, Cambium Indigenous Professional Services https://www.indigenousaware.com (705) 657-1126

Join our very own Kerry-Ann Charles (CIPS Environment Partnership Coordinator) and Michael Jacobs (CIPS CEO) at this year's Pollution Probe’s annual conference and gala entitled "Pollution Probe’s N-O-T (Not Our Typical!) Conference & Gala" on Tuesday, November 17 at 1 PM. This year’s conference and gala will focus on key elements of environmental protections that will help ensure that social equity becomes a fundamental part of sustainable development. The event will feature two panel discussions that will examine 1) the equitable access to clean and healthy environments; and 2) the equitable participation in climate change solutions. Panel 1 will examine the disproportionate burden placed on vulnerable and marginalized communities with respect to environmental pollutants, and the gaps between people of different socioeconomic backgrounds with respect to access to clean energy, water, transportation, and other elements of a low-carbon society. Moderator: Michael Jacobs (CIPS, CEO) Panelists: Kerry-Ann Charles (CIPS, Environment Partnership Coordinator) Dr. Anna Banerji (Faculty Lead, Indigenous and Refugee Health, Post MD Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto) Dr. Heather Castleden (Canada Research Chair in Reconciling Relations for Health, Environments, Communities, Queens University) Ana Gonzalez Guerrero (Co-Founder and Managing Director, Youth Climate Lab) Panel 2 will discuss how to ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to provide input into approaches to addressing climate change, environmental degradation and human health challenges, as well as the opportunity to actively contribute to efforts within these areas. Moderator: Chris Henderson (Executive Director, Indigenous Clean Energy and Chair, GLOBE Series) Panelists: Sam Arons (Director of Sustainability, Lyft) Dr. Runa Das (Assistant Professor, Royal Roads University) Armi De Francia (Active Transportation Coordinator, Town of Ajax) AJ Esquega (Mashkawiziiwin Energy Projects Coordinator, Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek - Gull Bay First Nation) Meaghon Reid (Executive Director, Vibrant Calgary) CIPS is honoured to be a part of Pollution Probe's N-O-T (Not Our Typical!) Conference & Gala and look forward to participating in this very important conference and gala. This is a FREE event and open to everyone. To register, please see the Pollution Probe's sign up page at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2020-pollution-probe-conference-gala-tickets-125488504495 For more information on the event, please see Pollution Probe's event page at: https://www.pollutionprobe.org/gala/ Date of event: Tuesday, November 17 starting at 1 PM