Unexploded Ordnance Program

This page details the history, safety and current UXO work areas. For the safety of all please avoid the work areas.  

  • XO crews are currently working on the Madeline Lake Range. 

UXO are bombs that did not explode or function as intended when the military was using the land for training. Due to the length of time the unexploded devices have been in the ground, they may look corroded or are missing parts, looking similarly to old pipe, an old car muffler, a pop can or small pieces of corroded metals. 

UXO pose a serious risk because they can explode if disturbed, resulting in injury or death. In certain circumstances, UXO and munitions scrap may also cause environmental contamination. 

You’ll notice signage is posted in the areas where the UXO crews are working. Several Band Member UXO Technicians are employed for this project. The Project has been undertaken with OKIB control and oversight, to ensure that clearance work is being performed to an acceptable standard and OKIB understands the costs associated with that level of safety. 

UXO devises become more dangerous and unstable overtime and can move or become exposed with weather changes. Do not touch or disturb corroded old metal that you find in the ground or in the water, even if you are not in an area where military training had taken place.

  1. Do not touch it – when disturbed, UXO devises can explode causing death or serious injury.  
  2. Not the location and leave the area immediately – remember where you saw the object and go back the same way you came.  
  3. Call 911 or local police – immediately after leaving the spot, report what you found  

The Department of National Defence (DND) has made and continues to make some efforts to clear UXO from the reserve; to that end, there is a memorandum of understanding which provides funding to support the UXO Liaison, to work with DND and OKIB on the survey and clearance work on Goose Lake and Glenemma Ranges.