Research To Link Science And Traditional Knowledge
December 8, 2003 For Immediate
Release
UNBC and the
Tl'azt'en Nation will partner on a significant research project that will
help to realize the vision of First Nations to effectively manage natural
resources in ways that are ecologically and culturally sustainable.
The research will be based at the John Prince Research Forest near Fort
St James, which is jointly managed by the Tl'azt'en Nation and UNBC. The
study will examine how the co-management partnership can be strengthened,
how traditional ecological knowledge can inform resource management, how
educational programs for Tl'azt'en youth can integrate traditional knowledge
with western science, and how tourism opportunities can be developed.
"This project will go a long way to strengthening our relationship
with the University of northern BC, as we build capacity to manage our
natural resources within the context of traditional practices," says
Deborah Page, Adult Education Coordinator for the Tl'azt'en Nation and
a member of the research team. "Our land is our teacher and we need
to re-incorporate this knowledge into our children's curriculum."
"Linking faculty and students with First Nations will help to build
local capacity for the Tl'azt'en to more actively engage in managing the
resources on their traditional territory," says Geography professor
Gail Fondahl, who is the principal investigator for the project. "The
project has many vital elements: designing relevant education for young
people, linking elders with youth, exploring options for tourism, and
providing opportunities for UNBC students and local residents to engage
in research together."
The research project will occur over five years and involve dozens of
people. The federal Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
is providing $1 million in funding. The Tl'azt'en/UNBC project is one
of only 15 projects nationwide that have received funding this year from
the SSHRC Community University Research Alliance program. There were nearly
80 proposals for funding.
The John Prince Research Forest is comprised of 13,000 ha of Tl'azt'en
traditional territory and currently supports about half-a-dozen research
projects.