One of our major take-aways from our Community Survey was that respondents were interested in seeing more work done with the local Indigenous Community. We’re pleased to share that this is already well underway, with Indigenous Outreach Coordinator Gary Elaschuk Pruden making meaningful connections with Indigenous communities and groups.
Over the course of the year, we planned and facilitated tours of our lands with Indigenous Nations, community groups and environmental organizations. We have continued to weave local Indigenous knowledge, languages, and history into our work, from our baseline documentation reports, to our website and outreach materials.
We have continued to add to our Indigenous Connections section for each of our Conservation Lands. To read more check out our Conservations Lands Page and navigate to the Indigenous Connections section of each land.
You can even purchase one of our new stickers of apahkwacis (little brown bat), kihew (bald eagle), or kinepik (red-sided garter snake) from our online shop!
We continue to participate in the Indigenous Relations Working Group of the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts, to support Indigenous-led conservation across Canada. Last year, we reviewed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and continued developing processes in order to decolonize land trusts and conservation practices. This is, of course, not a small task, but in the process of our review, we laid the groundwork for what we view to be a critically important aspect of future operations as a land-owning organization.
Telus World of Science
Through our relationship with the Indigenous Initiatives Team at the Telus World of Science Edmonton (TWOSE), EALT has had the chance to participate in multiple collaborative Indigenous Community events throughout the year.
EALT ran a natural dye/paint making station at the Telus World of Science for National Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2024.
Nature’s Paint
On June 21st, National Indigenous Peoples Day, TWOSE invited EALT to run a workshop in the Northern Lights Indigenous Cultural Space . We created paints from natural sources such as spruce cones, ochre and berries, using a variety of traditional and modern techniques. We instructed youth attending the event on the creation of these paints and talked about the importance of traditional paints and dyes in local Indigenous Nations. The Métis Nation of Alberta provided us with Métis Art coloring pages to distribute, providing a meaningful canvas for participants to test their hand-made paint. This event was a great opportunity to form a relationship with Indigenous initiatives within the city of Edmonton.
Night Sky at Smith Blackburn Homestead
Land Based Astronomy
This fall, EALT and TWOSE collaborated in creating our “Land Based Astronomy” event. We held the event at the Smith-Blackburn Homestead, which began by talking about the importance of Indigenous philosophy and science. We discussed the current revitalization of Indigenous astronomy, followed by Natasha Donahue from TWOSE sharing Indigenous sky knowledge including stories and wisdom surrounding traditional Nehiyaw constellations. The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) kindly provided telescopes and instruction on viewing a diversity of astral bodies. The event was open to all members of local Indigenous communities. We had many families in attendance, Indigenous coordinators from CPAWS, and members of the Edmonton 2 spirit society.
Papaschase First Nation Association Band 136 Tipi set up on our newly secured property.
Papaschase First Nation Association Band 136
We are working on several projects with Papaschase First Nation Association Band 136. We are creating a plan to share important aspects of Papaschase history within Edmonton. More details of this project will be shared as it develops.
This past summer, we opened one of our newly secured properties to Papaschase First Nation Association Band 136 for ceremony to help address the long-standing issue of Indigenous access to land. We are grateful for their help in welcoming in the land as a traditional and sacred space through ceremony.
Last September we assisted Papaschase First Nation Association Band 136 with their Culture Camp held in collaboration with the Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Center and the Beaver Hills Biosphere. 2024 marks the third year since the beginning of the Culture Camp, which has now become an annual tradition. Follow this link to the City Tv New story to learn more about the inception of the camp and it’s historical significance.
Beaver Hills Biosphere
This year we have continued our involvement with all the great work being done through the Beaver Hills Biosphere (BHB). Each month, we participate in the Indigenous Conservation Campfire Conversations, planned and facilitated by Bob Montgomery. We have also recently joined a community of practice for ethical engagement with Indigenous Nations and Community members formed by the BHB and hosted by the Land Stewardship Centre. This community of practice includes several Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders within the conservation nonprofit sector, government, universities and the private sector.
Lastly, we would like to announce the exciting news that we are receiving a grant from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for a Medicine Garden on a newly secured conservation land. We are inviting Indigenous Nations and organizations to participate in the garden. Keep your eye out for volunteer opportunities this summer, as we will need help building the garden!
If you are a leader within an Indigenous Nation, community group or organization and you wish to collaborate with us on any of our projects, if you are interested in land conservation or if you have any ideas for collaboration please reach out to gary.elaschukpruden@ealt.ca.