RESTORING OUR HISTORIC RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE

UPDATE 12/05/2021 4:00pm:

We have reached capacity to register for the May 12th talk with Sophie Pierre. We are currently working on setting up a livestream so that those who cannot join the Zoom call can still watch the Talk live. Thank you for understanding. Please check back here for the livestream link which will be posted later tonight.

UPDATE 5:00pm :

We will be livestreaming Sophie Pierre’s Talk on our Youtube page at 7pm MST. Please CLICK HERE to go to the livestream. We will have a moderator in the livestream to monitor questions and share them with Sophie during the Q&A.

A Three-Part Speakers Series

The Cranbrook History Centre and Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook are excited to present ‘Restoring Our Historic Relationship with Nature’, a three-part lecture series designed to educate and inspire the community to bring an element of traditional wilderness back to urban yards.

This series looks to contextualize environmental stewardship work being done by individuals and environmental activism groups such as Wildsight in within a much longer history of Indigenous relationships with nature. It will highlight the way the Ktunaxa used this land before colonial settlers arrived, and make connections to how these traditions and history influence current environmental practices.

Attend this series to gain the knowledge and tools help us and our communities move closer to a more sustainable, equitable, regenerative and resilient future, starting with our own backyards.

LECTURES

May 12^th – TRADITIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS LAND

Our opening lecture will bring renowned speaker, Sophie Pierre from the Ktunaxa Nation to talk attendees through the traditional relationship between people and this region’s land. This lecture will also encourage attendees to consider the relationship between Ktunaxa and the land as well as incorporate some of those traditional practices into their outdoor spaces.

May 19^th – RE-WILDING YOUR SPACE

Backyard wilderness enthusiasts Caroline Gregg and Rob Woods will take attendees through the process of creating backyard spaces that attract and support healthy pollinators and fauna. From plant selection to planning and design, this lecture is informative, fun and practical.

May 26^th – ELIZABETH LAKE: PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY’S BACKYARD

Elizabeth Lake is an essential ecosystem within Cranbrook city limits. This lecture titled sees expert Stewart Wilson from the Elizabeth Lake Committee walk attendees through the importance of this ecosystem, noting local wildlife, including what each of us can do to ensure that special areas like this can be preserved for not only ourselves but for future generations.

**Note attendees can register for ONE, TWO or all THREE lectures.

PANELISTS

SOPHIE MAE PIERRE, granddaughter of Chief Eustace, was born in Cranbrook, BC and has lived all her life at ‘Aqam, the St. Mary’s Indian Reserve. She attended the Kootenay Indian Residential School and the Mt. Baker Secondary School in Cranbrook. Sophie served her community of ‘Aqam 30 years, 26 as elected Chief, and was the administrator of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council for 25 years.  She also served as the tribal chair of the Ktunaxa Nation Council. Sophie was recognized as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2016.  She also received the Order of British Columbia in 2002. Sophie retired in 2015 and now spends her time as an elder advisor to her community and to the Ktunaxa Nation.

CAROLINE GREGG AND ROB WOODS moved from Nova Scotia to Kimberley in January 2016, leaving behind their farm and vast vegetable and flower gardens along with a productive greenhouse. Rob is an avid birdwatcher who records 200 species each year throughout the East Kootenays. Caroline loves to get her hands dirty in the soil growing flowering plants, veggies and herbs, stemming from her horticultural education and farm experience. Pairing these passions was a natural starting point to renovate the back yard, incorporating both of our interests. We invite you to join us on our journey to create a private sanctuary for both wildlife and humans.

STEWART WILSON is a former elementary teacher who regularly took his classes from Gordon Terrace Elementary to Elizabeth Lake throughout the school year to foster and develop their awareness and sense of environmental stewardship. Each year his classes would publish A Kid’s Guide to Elizabeth Lake highlighting some of the interesting flora and fauna they learned about during their field trips. Stewart is also an active member of the Rocky Mountain Naturalists, and is Chair of the Elizabeth Lake Committee. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge and passion for this wildlife sanctuary which he continues to visit regularly throughout the year, what it has to offer, and how we can all play our part in ensuring that special areas like this can be preserved for ourselves and future generations.

Thank you to the East Kootenay Community Credit Union, without whose funding Ed Talks would not be possible.