20th - 24th October, Qonaskamkuk, New Brunswick, Canada
Building on the success of the last three years, IOI Canada delivered its fourth interdisciplinary workshop for Indigenous Peoples from 20th – 24th October at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. As before, this customised training on Coastal and Ocean Governance for Indigenous Peoples was planned with and for Indigenous Peoples from Mi’kma’ki, Wolastokuk and Peskotomuhkatik (Maritime Provinces). For the first time, it was held in Peskotomuhkati territory, very close to the US border and about a five-hour drive from Halifax. As a result, after being underrepresented in all the previous workshops, Peskotomuhkati participants made up half this year’s group of 14, and – another first – two of them were from the American side of the border, since the Nation straddles the line dividing Canada and the US.
Presentations, discussions and videos focused on an interdisciplinary range of issues related to coastal and ocean governance, with particular attention to Indigenous needs, perspectives and knowledge systems. Topics covered included law and UNDRIP, fisheries and aquaculture, health of the ocean and the climate crisis, earth observation and GIS, conservation and alternative energy. Lectures were complemented by field trips on four of the five days, with short tours of the Huntsman Aquarium and Laboratories, and longer trips to the 1604 Site, Dam Removal Site and Ministers Island. Indigenous ceremonies and traditions also played an important part throughout the week-long event.
A total of 24 speakers, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, as well as guests and guides, generously shared their knowledge and expertise with the group. We were particularly honoured that these included both the Wolastoq Grand Chief Ron Tremblay - spasaqsit possesom and Sakom Hugh M. Akagi, Chief of the Peskotomuhkati Peoples, who once again kindly served as Co-moderator for the workshop. It was also a pleasure to welcome back two of our Indigenous alumni as presenters, having been participants in our 2022 and 2023 workshops respectively. For details of the speakers and schedule, check out the final workshop report posted on the IOI-Canada website. Major financial support for this event was provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, supplemented by some funding from IOI Headquarters. Acknowledgement should also be made of the Canadian Space Agency for the earth observation sessions, and special thanks extended to the Passamaquoddy Recognition Group Inc. (PRGI), whose assistance with planning and logistics contributed significantly to the success of the workshop.
