TEK and COMANAGEMENT

Order of Presentation TEK / IK (Naomi) Medicine (Colin) Haida and wood (Teri)

INCOPORATING TEK (Brian) Community Forestry (Becky) Training Programs (Reshaad) Joint Ventures (Nick, Ryan, Scott, Bryce) Future Implications (Bryce)

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)

“a body of knowledge built up by a group of people through generations of living in close contact with nature”

Johnson, Martha. 1992. Lore: Capturing Traditional Environmental Knowledge. Ottawa: Dene Cultural Institute/IDRC.

Emphasis on indigenous peoples Indigenous Knowledge (IK)

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) Western science vs. TEK / IK – an

overrated or underestimated dichotomy?

Viewed out of context: romantic notions of the ‘noble savage’, ethnocentrism.

Viewed in context: geographical, ecological, spiritual, cultural (“knowledge, practices and beliefs”)

Traditional Medical Systems 2 types of ailments

The Shaman

Training and knowledge

Changing Resource Use by the Haida The Warrior Way

Naked No More

A House is a Home

Forest Models in BC Increased community

and First Nations involvement

Recent revival of old concepts

Government initiatives

The future?

Education & Training A way to enter the forestry sector

To increase Aboriginal participation

Various educational and training initiatives have been developed

A.F.T.E.R. Aboriginal Forestry Training and Employment

Review

Aims to develop long term strategic approach to Aboriginal human resource development in forestry

Comprises of Aboriginal organizations, unions, educational establishments and industry and government representatives

What is a Joint Venture partnership arrangements between establish

forest companies and First Nations which allow First Nations access the land and capital to establish forest industry operations

range from brush clearing and silviculture operations to larger scale tenure transfers and forest management options

Joint Venture Benefits Serve as Interim Measures

Reduce conflict/increased stability

Access to restricted resources

Provide First Nations with necessary land, capital, finances and experience to establish themselves

Tax advantages for Forest Companies

Opportunity for First Nations to rectify social and economic situation though increased training and job opportunities

Negative Effects Unequal allocation of Joint Venture profits within

community

Non-Aboriginal job loss

Financial Risk/Investment

Loss of control

Less incentive for Aboriginal involvement in other sectors

The Squamish Nation Development of a

land Use Plan

Values, Vision and Priorities

Interfor and TFL #38 A very contentious area

A statement of intent

Memorandum of understanding

A working relationship

Incorporating TEK

Defining TEK Management Systems

a) the possession of appropriate local ecological knowledge and a suitable means to exploit and use the resource, and

b ) An ethical practice to maintain a balance between land and people by an established set of rules to maintain and regulate the activity.

Concerns About Using TEK Using TEK is seen as a Grey area in using

as a management option because of Social conditions due to the impact of Western Cultures due to

a) loss of Knowledge

b) an alteration to the traditional practice

Complimentary Potential uses in Adaptive Management

schemes, which focus on mainly feedback from observations and recording of ecosystem health.

Moving more towards an ecological based system which focuses more on;

a) ecosystem processes and connections

b) Health and resilience of species

As Conservationists

Most ecosystems with indigenous peoples have a high level of diversity

Monitoring or Assessing Ecological systems

Exploring other resources that are often overlooked by managing a sustained yield for a single species

Social Healing and involvement in Management practices.

Projects Using TEK: GIS/GPSApplications using GIS technology in Resource

Management include ‘data mining’, which correlates relationships among mapped variables (ecological assessment)

Mapping of Native land use from the oral tradition to a more western application of written maps

this would include;a) CMT’s and b) lands significant to social and spiritual needs

West Chilcotin Forest Products Who We Are First Nation-Forest

Industry Joint Venture First Nation Timber

License Holder

West Chilcotin Forest Products Where We Are Located in BC’s

Chilcotin Region An Area of High

Unemployment

West Chilcotin Forest Products What We Do Produce ISO Certified

Lumber Run Several “Spin-

Off” Businesses

QUESTIONS?!?