Co-developing a Bio-cultural Framework for Fish Habitat and Water Assessment with Lower Fraser First Nations

In partnership with the First Nations Fisheries Legacy Fund and their partner First Nations, Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Tsawwassen, the proposed interns aim to develop a framework of aquatic health indicators that are identified and shaped by cultural values and priorities laid out by the involved First Nations in the Lower Fraser River Region. Through relationship building exercises including interviews, workshops, and field site visits to assess culturally important locations and indicators of aquatic health, the interns will build a ‘bio-cultural’ indicator framework, which will then be implemented at pilot sites in the Lower Fraser Region in conjunction with the above partner First Nations. In bringing First Nations priorities to the fore, the proposed project has important implications for Indigenous engagement in aquatic resource management and creation of increased agency of First Nations and their cultural traditions and practices in land and resource monitoring and management.

Faculty Supervisor:

Andrea Reid

Student:

Kate Mussett;Kasey Stirling

Partner:

First Nations Fisheries Legacy Fund

Discipline:

Oceanography

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

University of British Columbia