RESTORING OUR HISTORIC RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE: A Three-Part Lecture 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.
When it comes to supporting local fauna and improving the environment, everyone has a part to play. Planting trees and flowers, learning about traditional uses of our land and understanding how we can move closer to a more sustainable, equitable, regenerative and resilient future often starts in your own backyard.
As part of the Cranbrook History Centre’s monthly Ed Talks, this series will help our communities understand the history of how the land in our region was used by indigenous communities, empowering us to think about how we can restore our own relations with nature.
LECTURES INCLUDE:
May 12th – 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 19th – 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 26th – ELIZABETH LAKE: PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY’S BACKYARD
Elizabeth Lake is an essential ecosystem within Cranbrook city limits. This lecture 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 PIERRE, the 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 are intuitively responsive to the ability of wild places to affect the feelings and state of mind of humans. There is a theme to their work, where people exist in harmony with nature and that things often are better when one pays attention to their surroundings and reads the natural signs with an open and free mind and body. They are passionate about supporting people to create and regenerate spaces that attract and support locally appropriate wildlife.
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.