Lethbridge’s coulees are a unique ecosystem complete with its own plethora of lifecycles.
Ryan First Diver has been a lifelong naturalist, who always pays attention to the visible plants and animals, in hopes of learning about the local ecology.
“I do a lot of wildlife work. As an augmentation to that, I lead walking tours,” says First Diver.
For years, First Diver has led tours for the Helen Schuler Nature Centre, for school groups, and for U of L and Lethbridge Polytechnic groups.
First Diver has also been doing Sunday morning walk and talk tours every week.
During the week, First Diver would also like to offer an evening walk and talk tour, as well. “I’m thinking more like Thursday evenings.”
“I teach about what I’m observing going on there at the time, and what’s normal. I’ve got a cross-cultural knowledge base. I’m trained in a Blackfoot ecological discipline, and I’m trained in the Western world too I draw off of to show people what’s going on in the environment at the time. And what ecological relationship is being expressed,” First Diver explains.
First Diver takes a walk for about 90 minutes to two hours. “Whatever is happening is what I talk about or whatever anybody brings to the table if they’ve got questions. Questions are the driving force of everything. If you’re coming to one of my walks and you’ve got questions, you’re going to learn a lot more.”
First Diver also has the public Facebook page Rattlesnakes Of Lethbridge, “Where I show videos about what’s going on in the coulees.”
Some of the videos and photos are of First Diver with rattlesnakes in the coulees, and with raccoons being released from a trap into a local wilderness park.
First Diver also offers tours for City of Lethbridge employees. “There’s a lot of people working in different departments that might not know how their jobs are impacting the local ecology. Occasionally, the Nature Centre has me lead City employee groups and show them what’s going on in my neck of the woods – the coulees.”
Moving forward, First Diver hopes to place promotional flyers in local hotels to offer walk and talk tours to visitors. “Come down to the coulees and do a morning or an evening walk and talk with me and learn some things.”
“I’m still learning from the coulees, but I’ve been actively studying them for two decades.”
At least a few days a week First Diver is out in the coulees trying to learn some things. “I know a lot about what’s going on out there. If you’re new to the area or if you just want to pick-up some new information, come for a walk with me,” adds First Diver.
All ages are welcome on the walk and talk tours, and the fee for tours is by donation.
