Category:

“My hope lies in local government because local people understand their local area. And at the local scale, we are able to self-organize better on specific execution of executable tasks. I have lived in many communities throughout BC and have learned that those towns each have their own culture. So, local knowledge is important, whether it is Indigenous or non-Indigenous. With the Blue Ecology bridging seminar, my hope lies in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities working together, with a foundation that was designed to be jointly respectful of each other’s way of thinking,” stated Michael Blackstock.

“Are you wondering what local government councillors and directors will learn by attending the Blue Ecology seminar on February 23rd? And are you curious as to how this learning might inform local decision processes for interweaving Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives? 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. Blue Ecology is a water-first approach to interweaving Indigenous and Western perspectives. Oral history, land and water stewardship, and inter-generational baton. These are foundational pieces for water reconciliation,” stated Kim Stephens.

The 5th in the series of Watershed Moments Symposia and Blue Ecology Virtual Seminars looks at experience in the Cowichan region and how it informs a vision for interweaving Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives to achieve water reconciliation.

The seminar features Michael Blackstock, independent Indigenous Scholar and founder of the Blue Ecology Institute, in conversation with Brian Carruthers, former CAO of the Cowichan Valley Regional District. The District of North Vancouver’s Richard Boase is the facilitator.