Episodes

  • Episode 25: Sage advice from policy expert, author, and influencer Michael Wernick
    May 6 2024

    This insightful podcast provides a unique perspective on indigenous co-management in Canada from a senior leader with decades of experience navigating the complex world of public service and Indigenous relations. In this conversation, I really enjoyed and learned from the thoughtful reflections from Michael Wernick on his career serving as Deputy Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Clerk of the Privy Council, where he gained intimate knowledge of the challenges and opportunities for reconciliation. Wernick shares sage insights and lessons learned and provides strategic advice to help influence decision-makers. With the benefit of hindsight, he also assesses progress made and the continued hard work ahead for reconciliation. This engaging discussion touches on nation-to-nation relationships, treaty rights, Indigenous co-management, and the importance of building trust through respectful collaboration at all levels of government and society. To get a plethora of co-management resources, visit www.co-management.ca

    To join an excellent learning community on this topic, visit www.cloudberry.cc

    To pick up Michael Wernick's book, visit https://www.ubcpress.ca/governing-canada

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    52 mins
  • Episode 24: Comparing, contrasting and suspending disbelief with Dr. Denis Ndeloh
    May 4 2024

    In this episode of the Co-management Commons Podcast, we get to compare and contrast two different co-management systems. Dr. Denis Ndeloh shares his experiences with wildlife management in Nunavut, Canada and Cameroon. He compares top-down wildlife management approaches in Cameroon versus more collaborative co-management systems in Nunavut and Canada. Dr. Ndeloh stresses the importance of understanding and integrating traditional ecological knowledge from indigenous communities and shares his research journey including the challenges and lessons learned while conducting research on traditional ecological knowledge in Cameroon. Dr. Ndeloh also stresses the need to suspend personal beliefs and truly trust indigenous knowledge systems for decision-making. He is a great storyteller. Stay tuned until the end for a transformative story shared by a research participant in Cameroon about a chimpanzee encounter that changed his worldview.

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Episode 23: Dr. Natalie Ban's reflections on Indigenous research partnerships and her journey
    Apr 22 2024

    n Episode 23 of the Co-management Commons Podcast, Dr. Natalie Ban shares her academic background, positionality, and early research influences in the Amazon that made her reflect on research approaches. Natalie emphasizes the importance of building trust over time with Indigenous communities. She highlights a seaweed harvesting project that deepened her cultural understanding. Natalie also reflects on changing approaches to Indigenous research. Natalie also provides an example of a community-engaged project that influenced policy change. Natalie is optimistic as she sees First Nations increasingly visioning their own futures, and she hopes to mentor more indigenous students and researchers. Chapters 0:00:00 - Introductions 0:01:24 - Positionality 0:03:08 - Post-secondary beginnings and research experiences 0:09:13 - Success in building relationships 0:14:19 - Discussion about methods and terminology 0:19:34 - Opportunities to engage and learn from Indigenous practices 0:23:33 - Thoughts on institutional boundaries and hurdles 0:29:12 - Discussing human well-being 0:35:30 - A research-to-policy case study on Dungeness crab 0:45:11 - Co-governance vs co-management 0:49:54 - Thoughts on First Nations research progress co-management 0:53:44 - Fisheries Congress insights 0:57:29 - Final advice for researchers considering work with Indigenous Peoples Links https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-first-nation...

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Episode 22: Learning about Two-Eyed Seeing from Elder and Dr. Albert Marshall
    Apr 15 2024

    This podcast is adapted from a guest talk that Elder Marshall delivered in the co-management course offered by Cloudberry [http://www.cloudberry.cc] Elder Marshall discusses Two-Eyed Seeing in-depth and emphasizes the importance of respecting nature and coming together to improve planetary health. He has championed the concept of "Two-Eyed Seeing", which focuses on improving perspectives and harmonizing with nature by looking at issues through multiple knowledge systems. Marshall emphasizes the importance of living and acting in an ecologically sustainable way to ensure future generations can thrive. He argues that science should be used to address environmental harm and not to cause further damage. Overall, Elder Marshall stresses the need for collective action and reframing our relationship with the natural world to safeguard it for future generations. Chapters [0:00:00] Introduction [0:03:21] Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo's introduction of Elder Albert Marshall [0:06:39] Elder Albert Marshall's welcome and introduction [0:07:38] Elder Marshall discusses Two-Eyed Seeing [0:18:12] Elder Marshall discusses Two-Eyed Seeing in more detail [0:24:40] The connection between land and sustainability [0:33:15] "...the most profound way that I can express it..." [0:39:01] "...it's an an invitation..." Netukulimk is the use of the natural bounty provided by the Creator for the self-support and well-being of the individual and the community. Netukulimk is achieving adequate standards of community nutrition and economic well-being without jeopardizing the integrity, diversity, or productivity of our environment. - http://www.uinr.ca News Six Nova Scotians among new Order of Canada appointees https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-s...

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    50 mins
  • Episode 21: Being gifted knowledge from Anishinaabe scholar, Dr. Deborah McGregor
    Apr 8 2024
    This podcast is adapted from a guest talk that Dr. Deborah McGregor delivered in the co-management course offered by Cloudberry [http://www.cloudberry.cc] She shares her wisdom and expertise on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and she begins by emphasizing that Indigenous Peoples were complete societies with their own laws and governance for thousands of years. She discusses working at Environment Canada to help scientists understand Indigenous Knowledge in the context of their science-based work. Dr. McGregor also shares insights on how Indigenous Knowledge exists within holistic systems and is often embedded in everyday life, not just as isolated facts. She describes the challenges in integrating Indigenous worldviews into management, articulates the action-oriented "verb" nature of IKS and the importance of supporting community efforts to revitalize knowledge systems for the long term. Chapters 0:00:00 Introduction 0:03:51 Where Indigenous Knowledge has been and is going 0:13:47 Indigenous Knowledge sharing and ethical responsibilities 0:17:59 Indigenous Knowledge and its use in various contexts 0:27:27 Indigenous Knowledge and its protection 0:35:31 Thoughts on Indigenous Science 0:38:22 Question about moving from extraction to reconciliation 0:42:18 A question about the spiritual aspect of IKS News UCalgary awarded 2 prestigious Canada Excellence Research Chairs https://ucalgary.ca/news/ucalgary-awa... Selected publication Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Environmental Governance in Canada https://kula.uvic.ca/index.php/kula/a...
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    48 mins
  • Episode 20: Learning about the Wekʼèezhìi Renewable Resources Board (WRRB)
    Apr 2 2024
    This podcast talks about wildlife co-management in the Tłįcho territory of the Northwest Territories. Jody Pellissey, Executive Director of the Wekʼèezhìi Renewable Resources Board (WRRB), shares her 25 years of experience with co-management boards. She describes the WRRB structure and mandate, as well as their use of both Indigenous knowledge and science in decision-making. A major focus is caribou management due to population declines, total hunting bans, and predator control programs. The importance of Indigenous knowledge systems and balancing traditional knowledge with science-based research is emphasized. The challenges of coordinating management across jurisdictions have also been addressed. 0:00:00 - Coal management board meetings and their importance 0:11:34 - Co-management board's use of indigenous knowledge systems 0:20:11 - Indigenous knowledge and caribou management 0:31:02 - Caribou management and population decline in Canada 0:37:51 - Caribou management and co-management in Labrador and Nunavut 0:44:36 - Wildlife management and conservation efforts 0:46:03 - Caribou conservation and co-management board decisions Additional reading www.wrrb.ca
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    46 mins
  • Episode 19: Dipping into a co-management led project with Quinna Laver
    Mar 24 2024

    In this episode of the Co-management Commons Show, Quinn Laver a graduate student from the Dalhousie Marine Affairs program, discussed her work and contributions to a co-management led research project with the Torngat Wildlife Plants and Fisheries Secretariat in Nunatsiavut. Listen to learn about developing learning activity kits on species like snow crab that are culturally and economically important in the Nunatsiavut region. Quinna highlights the importance of incorporating Inuit knowledge, community engagement, and hands-on learning in these kits. She also shares her observations from visiting the community of Makkovik and seeing the crucial role the snow crab fishery plays in the local economy and culture. The podcast showcases the value of collaborative research and education that bridges scientific and Indigenous knowledge systems. You can access Quinna's complete graduate project at the link below. Chapters: 0:02:04: Quinna's background 0:03:41: Finding the Marine Affairs program 0:05:46: An interest in co-management 0:08:16: Exploring the North 0:14:42: The Snow Crab learning activity kit 0:24:39: Snow crab lifecycle and lessons 0:29:14: Importance of snow crab fishery in Makkovik 0:35:12: Learning from colleagues in Makkovik 0:38:45: Benefits of aligning with co-management institutions Other readings: Culture, Community, Language, and Land: A Case Study of Co-management Led Marine Stewardship Education Resources in Nunatsiavut http://hdl.handle.net/10222/83664 Co-management-led research https://doi.org/10.32388/JJV8XM

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    45 mins
  • Episode 18: Through the red tape with Trevor Swerdfager
    Mar 19 2024

    In this Co-management Commons show I am in conversation with Trevor Swerdfager, from the University of Waterloo and former senior bureaucrat with the Government of Canada. Trevor had a long career in public service and through this experience, he gained unique insights into how co-management agreements are developed and implemented from the bureaucratic perspective. Trevor also spent time in private industry and academia, providing additional perspectives. In this wide-ranging discussion, Trevor shares his thoughts on co-management models, challenges, and opportunities based on his diverse career path. He offers valuable insights for both practitioners and students of co-management and Indigenous resource governance. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 11:00 - Co-management in government with a focus on political staff and senior bureaucrats 20:00 - We advise, ministers decide 21:00 - Decision making process 31:15 - Co-management policy vacuum 41:30 - Data sharing and transparency 46:40 - Thoughts on the future of co-management Additional reading: T. Swerdfager and D. Armitage. 2023. Co-management at a crossroads in Canada: issues, opportunities, and emerging challenges in fisheries and marine contexts. FACETS. 8: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2022-0217

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    1 hr and 4 mins