This week we will be honouring Region 3 Captain, Marlene Beattie! Marlene is dedicated to her community and to the land. For years, Marlene has worked to capture the voices of Metis harvesters through the online harvester surveys. She is the person behind the voice that calls you every year and reminds you to log in and share your land use data with us. Because of Marlene’s dedication and passion for this work she has increased our survey fill out rate by over 70%! Incredible! The survey work gives Marlene the opportunity to connect with community members, which she says is a highlight for her. Marlene grew-up hunting and harvesting with her father, who taught her the ways of the land, to this day Marlene calls her dad he greatest teacher and mentor. We appreciate her dedication and connection with the Nation and the communities! Marsii, Marlene!
What’s your favorite thing about being a Captain? Going to the communities and meeting all the members and doing the survey’s and getting to know all the different people, it had been very rewarding. And we have a real good group Captain’s, we all get along very well.
What does stewardship mean to you? Being Captain’s, we are “keepers of the land”, everything we do is for the betterment of the environment, respecting mother nature and the land.
What made you want to become a Captain? I was the president of Vernon Metis Association and wanted to continue to give back to the Nation. My whole family is involved with the Nation, I thought it would be nice to include myself with my family. I also have a real love for the land. My father and I would go hunting and he was my mentor.
What are three things you’d take with you on a deserted island? My husband, food, and water.