REGINA – Saskatchewan pasture land, held in trust by the federal government is now being transferred to the province – and most likely sold to private individuals. These natural grasslands are used by ranchers to graze their cattle, and are also home to a number of protected species.
“You’re standing on deep time,” is how writer Margaret Atwood describes the grasslands in Saskatchewan’s southwest. “You’re looking at what the glaciers left; you’re looking at what the seas left.”
However, Atwood’s narrative has lately been reduced to 140 characters. “I’ve been tweeting it out there,” she laughed.
With nearly 408,000 followers and counting, she’s trying to draw attention to conservation issues and the potential sale of more than 170 thousand acres in southern Saskatchewan.
Her partner and fellow writer Graeme Gibson said, “There are a lot of us, I imagine even here in the cities of this province who have never seen it.”
“It isn’t merely all agricultural land. The file has been given over to the department of agriculture, which is fine, but the department of the environment and First Nations should also be involved,” said Trevor Herriot from Public Pastures Public Interest and organizer of Atwood and Gibson’s tour.
Herriot hopes a little celebrity can create a real discussion about keeping the common pasture lands public. However, the province doesn’t have any environmental concerns about letting the land enter private hands.
“We have regulations and legislation in place that protect species at risk in the province, regardless of ownership,” said Minister Lyle Stewart.
Atwood said she plans to return to Saskatchewan and the grasslands again soon. This time she’ll bring a group of bird watchers – to enjoy the natural scenery and to keep it top of mind for Canadians.
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