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?!?