Environmental DNA: An innovative technology for studying natural environments in Indigenous contexts
From May 27 to 29, 2025, a unique training program brought together 16 participants from 12 Indigenous communities and organizations on the territory of the Abitibiwinni First Nation. The goal? To master environmental DNA (eDNA), an innovative technology that is revolutionizing the way wildlife is monitored.
Co-organized with the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) and the Abitibiwinni First Nation, this training provided cutting-edge techniques for detecting animal species in an environment without even observing them!
A fruitful partnership
Since 2021, INRS and the Abitibiwinni First Nation have been working closely together as part of the iTrackDNA project, led by Professor Valérie Langlois. Their goal: to explore the use of eDNA for monitoring species of importance to the Abitibiwinni First Nation.
The training, facilitated by Annie-Claude Bélisle from INRS and the team from the Territory and Environment office of the Abitibiwinni First Nation Council, showcased the results of their work by enabling other First Nations to learn the refined methods. These methods are reliable, easy to use, achievable with materials available at hardware stores, and deployable in remote areas by guardian teams.
Environmental DNA: Why this technology is a game-changer
eDNA offers considerable advantages for wildlife monitoring:
- Respectful of life — Non-destructive and non-invasive sampling, without handling animals
- Accessible everywhere — Ideal for hard-to-reach areas such as fast-flowing rivers
- Effective and economical — Reduced costs in time and money compared to traditional methods
- Reliable and accurate — Enables detection of rare or elusive species
Three days of training
The training took place on the territory of the Abitibiwinni First Nation, in the area around Lake Chicobi and in the community of Pikogan. Participants learned to identify the potential and limitations of eDNA, develop an experimental design, apply appropriate sampling methods, and analyze eDNA data from the laboratory.
Day 1: Laying the groundwork
The first day immersed participants in the theoretical foundations of eDNA. On the agenda: developing experimental designs and planning sampling for different target species — sturgeon, turtles, terrestrial carnivores, and bats. The day concluded with a practical demonstration of material preparation and protocols for preserving samples until they reach the laboratory.
Day 2: A marriage between science and culture
The second day began with a special moment: Sagabon Day. Participants were able to observe the traditional cooking of geese and beavers, a beautiful reminder that wildlife monitoring is part of a deep relationship with the land.
Next, off to Lake Chicobi for the much-anticipated field component! Divided into four teams, participants put the different sampling methods into practice. Extensive preparatory work had been carried out by Abitibiwinni’s Territory and Environment team to deploy sample collection devices, creating real field situations for learning.
Back at base camp, each team prepared their samples for shipment to the laboratory, rigorously following the protocols learned.
The day ended on a particularly touching note: André Mowatt, a community elder, came to share the history of the region. A moment of deep connection appreciated by all, which reminded everyone of the importance of grounding science in the territory and its stories.
Day 3: From data to decision
To conclude the training, time for analysis! Using simulated results, participants learned to interpret laboratory data. Each of the four teams then presented their results based on the species targeted during the previous day’s sampling.
Participants left with much more than knowledge: concrete project ideas for their communities and a sampling equipment kit allowing them to conduct several eDNA analyses in the laboratory.
A collective success
This training would not have been possible without the commitment and generosity of many people:
The organizing team — Annie-Claude Bélisle (INRS and Abitibiwinni First Nation), Marie-Pier Lemieux, Glenn Polson, and Benoit Croteau from the Abitibiwinni First Nation, for their meticulous organizational and field preparation work
The cooks — Geneviève McDougall and Réjeanne Kistabish, who fed the group with care and attention
The Elders — Edouard Kistabish and André Mowatt, for their valuable sharing and generosity
The iTrackDNA team — Julie Couillard and the entire team at Professor Valérie Langlois’s laboratory at INRS
A model of collaboration for the future
This training illustrates the strength of partnerships between scientific institutions and First Nations. By making cutting-edge technology accessible and adapting it to territorial realities, this project demonstrates that it is possible to combine scientific rigor, community autonomy, and respect for traditional knowledge.
Environmental DNA is now emerging as a promising tool for land guardians and environmental teams in Indigenous communities, paving the way for ecological monitoring that is both modern and respectful.
