Skyler Jeddore is community liaison/field technician for the Apoqnmatulti’k project in the Bras d’Or Lake and is the first to be featured in Faces of Apoqnmatulti’k (Ta'n tel-mil-luktijik Apoqnmatulti’k).
Skyler Jeddore, at work in the Bras d’Or Lake in winter 2020.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Eskasoni, Nova Scotia by the majestic Bras D’or lakes.
What is a typical day like in this job?
A typical day can be working in the field or office and both are interesting. Either looking after the animals in the holding facility or being out in the field collecting samples we always interact with wildlife on the Bras d’Or.
What do you enjoy most about your role as Community Liaison?
Being able to orient, or the contact and interaction with fishermen.
How is your role with Apoqnmatulti’k different from other projects that you’ve been a part of?
Being involved in such a large organization.
What does Apoqnmatulti’k mean to you?
To me, Apoqnmatulti’k means working together as one from all corners, not just the scientists, but elders, local knowledge holders and, of course, the fishermen.
American lobsters in a holding tank, waiting to be released after being outfitted with acoustic transmitters.
Why do you think animal tracking is important?
It is important to know how healthy the species are and the ecosystems they live in. Using tracking methods to find out migrations, feeding and reproductive movements helps us to understand.
What is something most people may not know about lobster and/or eel in the Bras d’Or Lake?
The eels go thousands of kilometers from the Bras d’Or Lake to their breeding grounds in the Sargasso sea.
Skyler tagging lobster with an acoustic transmitter on the Bras d’Or Lake.
What is something new you learned from the past year?
I learned that there is a lot of information gathered and placed into coding for research.
What are you most proud of with Apoqnmatulti’k?
I am most proud that I am able to work in my community and to be able to utilize our shared resources and knowledge for research on the Apoqnmatulti’k project.
What do you like to do outside of work? (e.g. hobbies etc.)
I love spending time outdoors and doing lots of fly fishing.