REGINA — Conversations turned into a call to action.
At the University of Regina, an evening meant to spark dialogue about wetlands is quickly becoming something much bigger. What started as a student-led event is evolving into a growing movement rooted in science, community and shared responsibility.
Wetlands Fest returned for its second year, bringing together students, researchers, Indigenous leaders and policy voices for a night focused on one of Saskatchewan’s most overlooked and essential natural systems.
Why wetlands matter
Wetlands are not just water on the landscape, they are critical to life on the Prairies.
Michela Sisti, a third-year biology undergraduate student and event co-ordinator with the Biology Undergraduate and Graduate Society, explained their importance in practical terms.
“These prairie potholes are absolutely critical for migratory birds,” Sisti said. “Birds travel from Mexico and even South America all the way to the Arctic, and wetlands are essential stopovers where they can rest and breed. Without them, those routes simply don’t work.”
She added that wetlands support entire ecosystems, starting with the smallest forms of life.
“They might seem small or insignificant, but they sustain everything above them. By the time you get to larger animals, they’ve relied on that entire system.”
Wetlands also play a major role in protecting water quality, something that directly affects communities across Saskatchewan.
Sisti described wetlands as “the kidneys of the prairies,” explaining how they trap pollutants like agricultural runoff before they reach rivers and lakes.
“When wetlands are drained, those isolated systems become connected,” she said. “That allows pollutants to flow into lakes, which can lead to algal blooms, fish kills and higher costs for water treatment.”
They also help manage extreme weather.
“They act as natural buffers,” Sisti said. “During heavy rain, they collect water and reduce flooding. During drought, they help retain moisture. That is critical for water security.”
Wetlands are also an important part of the climate solution.
Sisti pointed to research showing wetlands in the Prairies store an estimated 646 million tonnes of soil carbon.
“When wetlands are drained, that carbon is released into the atmosphere,” she said. “Protecting wetlands is directly tied to reducing emissions.”
Policy concerns in Saskatchewan
Despite their importance, Saskatchewan remains the only province in Canada without a dedicated wetland conservation policy, Sisti said, noting that reality helped inspire the creation of Wetlands Fest.
“We’re learning all this science in class, and then we realize people aren’t talking about what’s happening here at home,” she said. “We wanted to start that conversation.”
She noted that current policies allow for significant drainage, raising concerns about long-term environmental impacts.
Students driving the conversation
For Shivangi Sharma, a final-year biology student and one of the event’s organizers, the urgency is clear.
“If we don’t start now, we’re going to see much more extreme effects in the near future,” Sharma said. “But if we begin conserving wetlands today, we can still mitigate some of that damage.”
She emphasized that meaningful change will take time.
“Change is incremental,” Sharma said. “We’re not going to fix everything overnight, but this is a step forward.”
Sharma also highlighted the importance of collaboration.
“Science can’t stay isolated,” she said. “We need policymakers, Indigenous leaders, students and the community working together to create solutions that actually work.”
Indigenous perspectives are essential
A key theme throughout the evening was the importance of Indigenous knowledge.
Sharma said those perspectives must be included from the beginning.
“These are Indigenous lands, and that knowledge comes from generations of lived experience,” she said. “It should be part of decision-making from the start.”
That message was reinforced by the event’s panel, which included former chief Matthew T. Peigan of Pasqua First Nation, alongside scientific and policy experts.
Growing interest and impact
Attendance increased in the event’s second year, drawing students, researchers, industry professionals and community members from multiple disciplines.
“That tells us people want to have these conversations,” Sharma said. “There’s a real demand for spaces like this.”
The evening also featured a performance by the University of Regina Chamber Singers, adding a cultural element.
Organizers say Wetlands Fest is about bringing people together to better understand complex issues.
“We don’t have all the answers,” Sisti said. “But when people come together and share perspectives, we get closer to understanding the problem and finding solutions.”
With plans to continue the event in the years ahead, the goal is to build awareness, influence policy and protect wetlands before more are lost.
