Vancouver Island Water

BLUE ECOLOGY IS A PATHWAY TO WATER RECONCILIATION: “Water brings people together. It is a natural starting point for any conversation about common interests, and by extension, our shared future,” stated Kim Stephens, co-producer of the Watershed Moments 2023 documentary video released on World Rivers Day 2023

Note to Reader:

Published by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. The edition published on September 26, 2023 announced release of the Blue Ecology video documentary titled Watershed Moments 2023: A Pathway to Water Reconciliation and Resilience at the Local Scale. The video features Michael Blackstock, independent Indigenous scholar.

Watershed Moments 2023 showcases a free-flowing conversation, with Richard Boase steering the process. This allows the chemistry with Brian Carruthers and Michael Blackstock to take its natural course. Brian and Michael have direct experience in interweaving two cultures. This makes the documentary relevant, timely and timeless. The Watershed Moments message is compelling.

Blue Ecology offers HOPE and removes the FEAR

“Circa 2008, international recognition gave Blue Ecology early credibility and profile when Michael Blackstock was a member of the UNESCO Expert Panel. Within BC, however, there was limited awareness of what he had accomplished. In 2008, I first learned about Blue Ecology when a colleague forwarded an article by Michael Blackstock,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Partnership Executive Director.

“Fast forward to 2016 when the Partnership and the Irrigation Industry Association of BC co-hosted the 4th annual event in the Water Sustainability Workshop Series, held in Kelowna. Through the series, each year we showcased a “big idea” with the objective of giving it profile and raising awareness.”

BLUE ECOLOGY 101: Local is the scale where actions matter

“So, we made Blue Ecology the theme for the 2017 workshop in Metro Vancouver. Again, Blue Ecology resonated. And we commenced the process of mainstreaming awareness of Michael Blackstock’s work and ecological philosophy into the local government setting. Watershed Moments 2023 is the latest evolution.”

“The Partnership and Watershed Moments Team are on a journey with Michael Blackstock. It is taking us time to build trust and relationships with First Nations to the point of being able to showcase Blue Ecology in action. But that is okay. Our philosophy is that it is more important to get it right than to get it done.”

BLUE ECOLOGY 101: Water brings us together

“Watershed Moments 2023 showcases a free-flowing conversation, with Richard Boase steering the process. This allows the chemistry with Brian Carruthers and Michael Blackstock to take its natural course. Brian and Michael have direct experience in interweaving two cultures. This makes the documentary relevant, timely and timeless. The Watershed Moments message is compelling.”

“Water brings us together, keynote speaker Angus McCallister demonstrated through a group exercise at our 2014 Water Sustainability Workshop. It is no accident, he stated, that we like to gather around water coolers and watering holes. That is why we focus on Water Reconciliation as our Watershed Moments destination. It is a safe space.”

“Water brings people together. It is a natural starting point for any conversation about common interests, and by extension, our shared future. Stories unite us. Water does it. And his polling research provides proof, Angus McCallister informed us in 2014.”

TO LEARN MORE:

To read the complete story, download a copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia; Blue Ecology offers HOPE and removes the FEAR.