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The Blue Ecology video documentary seeds the idea that hope lies within the spheres of influence for local governments, whether Indigenous OR non-Indigenous. At its heart, Blue Ecology is about taking responsibility for care of the land and passing on the intergenerational baton. The video also seeds the idea that making it so requires a change in attitude to achieve the five Blue Ecology principles – Spirit, Balance, Harmony, Respect, Unity. The primary audience is local government. The Watershed Moments goal is to help remove their fear of saying or doing the wrong thing.

“The earliest inhabitants on the land, BC’s First Nations, settled near rivers. More recent settlements have followed suit, settling near rivers for fresh water supply, travel, commerce, food supply, recreation, and in our built environments storm water and wastewater services. Climate change has compounded the stresses our modern practices and settlements impose on watershed health and healthy functioning. The new normal includes drought, flood and fire on a seasonal basis. A hopeful way forward is found in Blue Ecology,” stated Paul Chapman.

“In 2017, 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 is 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. 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,” stated Kim Stephens.

“Our job as chiefs is to take care of the members of the wilp and the land base that we have. The concept of that responsibility is found in the word gwelx ye’enst which means leaving things for the future generations. That is the ethic that we need to uphold. We have based that experience on what we have been doing since the last glaciation period. That is some 15,000 years of experience. We take our Gitxsan science and we meld it and weave it in with Western science and look at how those two systems can co-exist,” stated Chief Hanamuxw.

“For 30 years, I have used only Western science in my efforts to make changes in water resources. For the most part, I have not been successful. I asked a First Nations elder what can I do differently? By viewing everything around us in the natural world as having spirit, and having a personality and a purpose in how it relates to the people who live on the land, you are starting on the right path, the elder explained. This was a profound moment for me. It dawned on me that if we redirect water into a wetland, for example, life is going to happen. Water will create life with little or no help from us,” stated Richard Boase.

“When I think about the experience in the Cowichan, in many ways the region is still in the theoretical stage in terms of weaving Indigenous knowledge and Western science. We created the framework for that to happen. The foundation for interweaving in the Cowichan region is really with the Cowichan Tribes. Everything the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) has done has been shoulder to shoulder with them. The framework is in place and the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection service exists. However, a reality is that things do take time,” stated Brian Carruthers.

“We have landed at the crux of two of the most important issues facing Canadians – relationships with First Nations and relationships with water – in an era when we must also adapt to a changing climate. Communities have a once in a generation opportunity to get our relationships with both right, and then start back down the river of time – this time together. To move this bold idea forward, the Watershed Moments Team is showcasing the Blue Ecology vision for interweaving Western science and Indigenous knowledge,” stated Richard Boase.

“The question was, and still is, how do we rekindle that energy and fire in the belly? How do we rekindle that support for this important work amongst our elected officials? How do we bring the Cowichan Tribes, Cowichan Watershed Board and CVRD, as well as the other groups back together again? You need to have that political will to say, this is important. Only when someone who is elected takes the lead, and is the champion, does something happen. With a new Board, I believe there is a real opportunity to strike early and bring CVRD and Cowichan Tribes together to re-start the water conversation,” stated Brian Carruthers.

“From 7PM until 9PM on February 23rd, the team of Michael Blackstock, Brian Carruthers and Richard Boase will seed the idea that hope lies within the sphere of local government, whether that be non-Indigenous or Indigenous That is the scale where actions do matter. In an interactive online broadcast via YouTube, Richard will moderate a free-flowing conversation between Michael and Brian. The goal is that this dynamic trio will light a spark with their enthusiasm and leave the audience with hope,” states Paul Chapman, Chair of the Watershed Moments Symposia Series.

Richard Boase will moderate a conversation between Michael Blackstock, creator of the Blue Ecology methodologhy, and Brian Carruthers, a respected and long-time Chief Administrative Officer in local government. Richard Boase brings passion, enthusiasm and a sense of humour to the moderator role. “In a preview story about the seminar, the Partnership has published reflections by Michael Blackstock and Brian Carruthers. These were recorded during a ‘proof of concept’ conversation and foreshadow the chemistry and candour that the audience can expect from a free-flowing conversation,” stated Richard Boase