Register in advance for this Y2Y facilitated webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y6aVsXRJTyy_oNajP9sDcw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

When:  September 2nd, 2021 from 1:00-3:30 mountain time

Who is invited:  any and all

Purpose: Provide space for those interested to learn about ongoing efforts led by Indigenous Peoples working across what is today the U.S. and Canada border on conservation and connectivity of nature and culture

Approach of the zoom webex:

• Overview of transboundary work relating to the porcupine caribou herd that moves between the Yukon and Alaska, the lands on which they depend, and the transboundary Indigenous Peoples that are intertwined (Norma Kassi, Karlin Itchoak, Meda DeWItt).
• Overview of the transboundary work relating to restoration of bison (Iinnii), the land, and the transboundary people of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Leroy Little Bear, Terry Tatse)
• Panel with all speakers (facilitated by Eli Enns). Listeners can offer comments and questions

*The panelists and facilitator represent an enormous breadth and depth of knowledge. In the next meeting message about this dialogue, we will invite you to read more about them through their bios.

Additional background:

Diversity of life on Earth is rapidly disappearing, and the very survival of humanity also may be imperiled. The combined impact of unprecedented change of the surface of Earth by humans together with a human-caused rapidly changing climate means that up to one million species are at imminent risk of extinction.

In recognition of this human created biodiversity crisis exacerbated by climate change, many countries are making new commitments.  One such commitment is 30x30 or a commitment to protect 30% of their land and waters by 2030. Canada became one of now more than 60 countries to make such a commitment, and the G7 leaders agreed to a ‘historic’ nature compact’ committing to protected 30 percent of lands and waters, including both the U.S. and Canada.  Both countries have expressed interest in working together across their common border on climate change and halting biodiversity loss.

To explore what positive transboundary conservation efforts could be advanced in support of 30x30, a loose knit group have been facilitating transboundary dialogues that include conservation non-profits, regional and federal agency staff, Indigenous Peoples and entities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other interested individuals. The purpose of the open-to-all transboundary dialogues is to explore priorities and opportunities for advancing collaborative transboundary conservation with Indigenous leadership and specifically to explore what kind of federal support we would recommend from both the US and Canadian governments to help advance such efforts.

The entities engaging in these dialogues generally seek “to promote and encourage transboundary conservation for the conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values while promoting peace and co-operation among nations, through enhancing knowledge and capacity for effective planning and management of transboundary conservation areas.” [As stated by the IUCN transboundary conservation group (https://www.iucn.org/commissions/world-commission-protected-areas/our-work/transboundary-conservation].

The wisdom generated from these dialogues is also being incorporated into recommendations that any and all can take/adapt/use to encourage federal governments to help support transboundary Indigenous-led conservation of nature and people.