{"id":334,"date":"2024-12-03T07:45:27","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T07:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/braidingknowledgescanada.ca\/?page_id=334"},"modified":"2026-01-21T21:17:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T21:17:51","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/braidingknowledgescanada.ca\/en\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Braiding Knowledges Canada (BKC) is a not-for-profit corporation established in 2019 continuing the ground-breaking work of the Canadian Mountain Network<\/a> (CMN) (2019-2024) while broadening its impact beyond mountain landscapes in Canada.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The corporation is supported by a five-year grant from the Government of Canada\u2019s Strategic Science Fund Program<\/a><\/strong> (2024-2029).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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BKC is dedicated to Reconciliation through Research<\/strong><\/em>, focusing on understanding and monitoring environmental change to inform conservation, restoration, and adaptation strategies. This is all in pursuit of our shared goal, enhancing the well-being of our environment and its people.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBKC is committed to cultivating trusting, authentic and reciprocal relationships, while promoting inclusive, decolonizing practices through place-based, community-driven environmental research. This commitment enables us to deliver and mobilize more relevant, representative research, essential for advancing Reconciliation through Research<\/strong><\/em>, training the next generations of leaders, and informing federal policy and practice in Canada.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClick here to read and download our Strategic Plan<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Our Goal<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBraiding Knowledges Canada advances Reconciliation through Research<\/strong><\/em> by enhancing the influence of self-determined, place-based, and co-produced knowledge within Canada\u2019s science culture such that, over time and on a path towards reconciliation, Indigenous and local knowledge approaches equitably contribute to public policy, decision-making, and the advancement of federal science priorities.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This goal will be achieved in 3 phases:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Phase 1<\/h3>

(2024-2027)<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Building<\/h3>

Focus on building and supporting Indigenous led or co-led Knowledge Hubs, Land-Based Learning, training in the braiding of knowledges, knowledge networks, and Impact Connectors across research, training and knowledge mobilization activities.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Phase 2<\/h3>

(2027-2029)<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Impact & Growth<\/h3>

Identify strengths, advance Indigenous and Western knowledge braiding for conservation and well-being, support policy transformation and reconciliation, and begin securing future funding.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Phase 3<\/h3>

(2029-Beyond)<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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DRIVING CHANGE<\/h3>

Focus on ethical knowledge braiding to drive social, environmental, economic, and cultural change, ensuring research directly informs policy and decision-making.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Our Values<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBKC\u2019s core value is \u201cAll Our Relations.<\/strong><\/em>\u201d This recognizes that we are all connected to, dependent on, and responsible for each other and for the land, water, ice, air, plants, and animals that sustain us.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mutual Respect and Positive Reciprocity<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe recognize that there are different ways of knowing, doing, and being. We acknowledge, promote, protect, and respect this diversity and the sharing and exchange of knowledges. We are committed to building trusting, authentic relationships based on truth and inclusive, decolonizing practices so that we can learn and grow together on the path of reconciliation.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe commit to shared governance and will ensure representation of Indigenous individuals in our governance and management. We will hold ourselves mutually accountable to actively ensure that decision-making and actions at all levels are informed by both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing in service to All Our Relations.<\/strong><\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Relevance and Impact<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOur solutions-oriented approach will improve Canada\u2019s understanding of urgent challenges and opportunities by advancing and requiring collaborative, respectful, rights-based research approaches that value and centre local knowledge and wisdom, grow community skills and capacity, and contribute to Indigenous self-determination.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Focus, Collaboration and Innovation<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe will focus our resources on strategies and activities that are developed collaboratively and informed by both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing and doing. We will question assumptions, learn from mistakes and with experience, and aim for continuous improvement.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Our Objectives<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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1.<\/h3>

Lead in culture through continuously learning and improving our management and governance guided by the collective teachings, values, and principles of our partner Indigenous Nations, the application of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada\u2019s (TRC) Calls to Action, the principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice (EDIJ), and Ethical Space.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2<\/h3>

Advance the state of knowledge on Canada\u2019s environmental priorities by enabling research that braids knowledges focused on environmental change to inform conservation, restoration, adaptation, and well-being of All Our Relations<\/b><\/i>.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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3.<\/h3>

Mobilize Indigenous knowledges through knowledge braiding initiatives to advance equity, contribute to self-determination and reconciliation, and initiate transformation in policy and decision-making in Canada.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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4.<\/h3>

Nurture talent and grow capacity in knowledge braiding across a learning continuum and towards a diversity of leadership pathways and networks.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAchieving these objectives requires the braiding of Western and Indigenous knowledges supported by BKC\u2019s core value, All Our Relations<\/strong><\/em>, which recognizes that we are connected to, dependent on, and responsible for each other and for the land, water, plants, and animals that sustain us.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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All Our Relations<\/I><\/B><\/span> refers to everything within the universe, including the universe itself. It is often spoken from the perspective of those relations closest to you outward, and it changes depending on the teaching and the context.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Lawrence Ignace,<\/strong> Vice Chair of BKC\u2019s Board of Directors and Indigenous Circle of Advisors<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Quick Links<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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