By talking to older members of the community you can often develop
a surprisingly detailed history of your area. Oral history is
especially important in stream rehabilitation work because often
there are no written descriptions of the area. Use the appropriate
form on the following pages as a guide for collecting information.
Gathering oral history is a great project for schoolchildren
or youth groups because it asks them to contact people they
already know, such as their grandparents. Oral history is a
two-way street: Children usually enjoy this kind of interactive
task, while older people like telling stories to the younger
generation. You may want to contact a local senior's group and
get its members formally involved in the project. In Antigonish,
seniors visit the classroom in an innovative program called
Grandparents in the Classroom. You could use this concept to
enhance your Adopt-A-Stream program.
Interviewing
Tips
-Start
by telling the older person why you are conducting the
interview. Tell them how valuable their role is in the
project.
-Using a tape recorder
is easier than taking notes. However, some people don't
like being tape-recorded; if this is the case, take careful
notes. Don't be afraid to go over these notes with the
person after the interview. You'll find that people are
generally eager to make sure you have "got their words
down right".
-Give your subject a copy of the map that shows what the
watercourse looks like today. Ask them to take a pencil
and show you how it has changed.
-It is not necessary to ask all the questions on the form.
They're a guide only. Feel free to be as conversational
as possible. Your goal is to discover the questions that
trigger the memory of the person who is being interviewed.
-Ask the person if there is anyone else you should talk
to who might help you get more information on the past
history of the river/stream.
Oral
History Form Streams/Rivers
Name of Interviewer
Name of Person Interviewed
Phone Number
Name of Stream or River
How long have you lived in this community?
Has the width of the stream/river
changed?
Yes
No
Please describe:
Are the flooding patterns different today
from when you were younger?
Please describe:
Yes
No
Has any "flood control" work been done on the river?
Please describe:
Yes
No
Was the river/stream ever straightened?
Where?
Yes
No
Were stones/boulders piled on the banks to keep the
bends from changing?
Where?
Yes
No
Were there ever any log drives on the river?
Yes
No
Were there any factories/industries that polluted the
river/stream?
Yes
No
Were there any dams on the river/stream?
Where?
Yes
No
If so, were there fishways constructed for fish?
When were they removed?
Yes
No
Did you ever fish in the stream or remember someone
who did?
Yes
No
If so, what do you remember about the fish?
What kind
Their size?
How many?
Where are/were the good fishing places?
Where do the fish spawn?
Where have you seen small fish (fry) in the spring?
Did a commercial or organized fishery exist on the watercourse
in the past?
Why do you think this stream doesn't have as many fish
today?
Yes
No
Did you ever swim in the river?
Where were the swimming holes?
Yes
No
Do you know of any feeder streams that aren't there
now or are much smaller than they used to be?
Yes
No
Are ice jams common in the spring?
Yes
No
Have there always been ice jams in the spring?
Yes
No
Do you remember things that were dumped into the river
that are not dumped now?
What other kinds of changes have you seen?
Yes
No
Are there old farm areas that have now grown over?
Yes
No
Where were these farms?
How was sewage disposed in the past?
What do you think could be done to make this stream more
like it was when you were younger?
Do you remember anything about birds or animals around
or near the water that is different today?
Please describe:
Yes
No
Do you have any old photographs of the stream
Comments:
Yes
No
Oral History
Form Wetlands
Name of Interviewer:
Name of Person Interviewed
Phone Number
Were wetlands in the area filled
or drained in for construction?
Yes
No
Were wetlands drained for agriculture?
Yes
No
Were wet or marshy lands in the area ever
filled in for farming?
Yes
No
Were wet or marshy lands ever filled in
to help control flooding?
Yes
No
Have wet areas that you remember now gone
dry?
Yes
No
Were wetlands or meadows harvested for
feed?
Yes
No
Do you remember places where you saw large
flocks of ducks and geese feeding and resting that you
don't see now?
Yes
No
Oral
History Form Estuaries
Name of Interviewer:
Name of Person Interviewed:
Phone Number:
Name of Stream or River:
How long have you lived in this community?
What changes in land use have you seen around the estuary?
What industries were here in the past that aren't here
now? (sawmills, pulp mills, boat building etc.)
Did they put waste into the
estuary?
What kind?
Yes
No
When did these industries stop?
Yes
No
Were parts of the estuary or salt marsh ever filled
in or dyked?
When did this happen and what was it for?
Yes
No
Did you dig clams in places where you can't dig them
now?
Where were these places?
Yes
No
Did you find oysters and mussels in places where you
can't get them now?
Where?
Yes
No
Did you ever fish in the area?
Yes
No
What was the fishing like compared to now?
If there are any causeways, large wharves or constructions
near the estuary, find out when they were built and if
the person noticed changes after they were built.
Do you remember any differences in the number of birds
or animals in or around the estuary?
