Session Description: The science that informs landscape level ecological decisions in British Columbia (BC) is limited with respect to the inclusion of Indigenous scientific knowledge. While Eurocentric (western) sciences have their strengths, there continues to be a lack of effective inclusion of Indigenous ecological knowledge to the landscape level decision making processes. Story- works [see also Indigenous Story-works (Archibald, 2008) has historically been marginalized by the western mind as being the quaint methodology or folklore of Indigenous peoples that can often be meaningless.
The captikwl are a collection of teachings (oral stories) about the Okanagan Nation (Indian Alliance in the southern interior of BC) and the laws, customs, values and governance structures that define and inform the Okanagan Peoples of their rights and responsibilities to the land. These stories serve as a reminder of the natural laws and protocols that need to be followed in order for future generations to survive and live in harmony with the land and how to care for the land. Embedded throughout the stories (either directly or subliminally, through imagery, symbolism or metaphors are the natural laws and how they can take on a literary context and how they can also be prophetic in nature.
This workshop will share two to short captikwl stories (Turtle and Eagle story / Crane and Frog story) with the participants that are specific to the land and how the land was traditionally cared for. The intent is to provide participants with a glimpse of Indigenous worldviews and give them an opportunity of breaking down the stories and talking about them through dialogue. The breaking down of the stories will also serve in showing participants an example of some of the aspects of what can be done with building frameworks or models and how these stories are connected to Indigenous protocols, decision-making and/or consensus building. Additionally, this session will provide some insight in how to build a better understanding of some of the ancient processes that guided Indigenous people to be responsible caretakers for the land. It will also help to build a better understanding in how Indigenous knowledge might be effectively included through co-delivery of land management practices. The workshop will be led by Dr. Marlow Sam, Okanagan Nation member from the Colville Confederated Tribes.
