Canadian Mountain Assessment

Project Overview

The Canadian Mountain Assessment (CMA) provides a first-of-its-kind look at what we know, do not know, and need to know about mountain systems in Canada. The multi-chapter assessment report is based on insights from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit knowledges of mountains, as well as findings from an extensive assessment of pertinent academic literature. The CMA’s inclusive knowledge co-creation approach aims to bring these multiple forms of evidence together in ways that enhance our collective understanding of mountains in Canada, while also respecting and maintaining the integrity of different knowledge systems. This transdisciplinary initiative is catalyzing a community of practice related to mountains in Canada and is expected to set the mountain research agenda for Canada for the coming decade.

CMA Report Released!

The Canadian Mountain Assessment: Walking Together to Enhance Understanding of Mountains in Canada by Graham McDowell, Madison Stevens, Shawn Marshall, et al. November 2023.

The CMA report includes the following chapters:

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Mountain Environments
Chapter 3: Mountains as Homelands
Chapter 4: Gifts of the Mountains
Chapter 5: Mountains Under Pressure
Chapter 6: Desirable Mountain Futures

Conceptual and Ethical Foundations

The CMA’s conceptual foundations are informed by a multiple-evidence-based approach where Indigenous and Western academic knowledge systems are understood as generating different manifestations of valid knowledge. This approach highlights the integrity of knowledge systems on their own terms, while also bringing attention to the possibility of respectfully braiding multiple sources of evidence together to enrich understanding of a particular issue.

Figure 1: Simplified depiction of a multiple-evidence-based approach in the context of the CMA. Much like climbing to the summit of a mountain, respectfully braiding ways of knowing is an aspiration. Such an outcome is not guaranteed. Nevertheless, the process of working together with this aspiration in mind can lead to meaningful collaboration, trust building, and enhanced understanding of mountains in Canada.

The CMA’s involvement with Indigenous Peoples is guided by standards for ethical conduct described in the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans TCPS 2 (2018) , particularly those elaborated in Chapter 9 ‘Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada’. However, members of the CMA aspire to exceed this guidance, and are particularly inspired and motivated by the transformative vision articulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples , the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action , and OCAP Principles (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession). The CMA’s engagement with academic knowledge is guided by principles of scientific integrity––transparency, reproducibility, high quality, avoidance of conflict of interest, and adherence to research ethics––as elaborated in the Government of Canada’s Policy on Scientific Integrity.

Guiding Principles

Five guiding principles that summarise the spirit and intent of the CMA.

Figure 2: CMA Guiding Principles

Timeline

The CMA is a 3.5 yearlong project that was initiated in May 2020 and will conclude in October 2023. The final CMA report will be released as part of the 2023 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival.

Figure 2: CMA Timeline and Key Activities

Project Stewardship

The stewardship of the CMA is shared by a diverse team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Elders/experts who work together to ensure the integrity, relevance, and impact of the project (Figure 3). Those sitting in the Stewardship Circle come from diverse professional, cultural, and geographical settings; many have significant experience directly related to mountains, while others have expertise in policy, praxis, and Indigenous protocols.

Figure 4: CMA Stewardship Circle

Project Leader

The Project Leader is responsibile for defining, coordinating, and delivering the CMA. He works with project Advisors to articulate the spirit and intent of the CMA, and with Authors and Project Assistants to operationalize the vision of the CMA. The Project Leader also leads foundational analyses/publications that underpin the CMA, and is involved in knowledge mobilization activities related to the assessment.

Dr. Graham McDowell

International Advisory Committee

The International Advisory Committee supports the CMA by providing germane insights from prior mountain-focused assessments and other relevant international initiatives. Its members provide perspective and suggestions during formal Advisory Committee meetings, as well as guidance to the Project Leader on practical, methodological, and strategic matters, as needed.

Prof. Martin F. Price
Dr. Carolina Adler
Dr. Philippus (Flip) Wester
Dr. Pasang Dolma Sherpa

Canadian Advisory Committee

The Canadian Advisory Committee is the primary entity involved in providing guidance to the Project Leader. Its members play a key role in defining the CMA’s conceptual and ethical foundations as well as the assessment structure and outline.

Elder Mary Jane Johnson
Prof. Eric Higgs
Dr. Aerin Jacob
Prof. Shawn Marshall
Linda Johnson

Assessment Authors

Assessment Authors work to identify and engage with relevant information and knowledges, to prepare assessment chapters, and to adequately revise chapter content following external review.

Leon Andrew, Caroline Aubry-Wake, David Borish, Stephen Chignell, Ashley-Anne Churchill, Dawn Saunders Dahl, Goota Desmarais, Megan Dicker, Karine Gagne, Erika Gavenus, Stephan Gruber, Jiaao Guo, Katherine Hanly, Nina Hewitt, Eric Higgs, Rod Hunter, Lawrence Ignace, Dani Inkpen, Aerin Jacob, Pnnal Bernard Jerome, Patricia Joe, Gùdia Mary Jane Johnson, Linda Johnson, Stephen Johnston, Knut Kitching, Douglas Kootenay, Michele Koppes, Daniel Kraus, Sydney Lancaster, Rosemary Langford, Keara Lightning, Lachlan MacKinnon, Christopher Marsh, Shawn Marshall, Brandy Mayes, Graham McDowell, Thomas McIlwraith, Hayden Melting Tallow, Charlotte Mitchell, Brenda Parlee, Wanda Pascal, Tim Patterson, Sophie Pheasant, Karen Pheasant, Melissa Quesnelle, PearlAnn Reichwein, Rachel Reimer, Lauren Rethoret, Gabriella Richardson, Brooklyn Rushton, María Elisa Sánchez, Richard Schuster, Joseph Shea, Daniel Sims, Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles, Tonya Smith, Lauren Somers, Chris Springer, Kyra St. Pierre, Madison Stevens, Karson Sudlow, Yan Tapp, julie Theriault, Andrew Trant, Steven M. Vamosi, Vincent Vionnet, John Waldron, Gabrielle Weasel Head, Sonia Wesche, Nicole J. Wilson, Matthew Wiseman, Kristine Wray

Assessment Assistants

Assessment Assistants perform various essential tasks including conducting analyses, providing logistical support, and facilitating report preparation activities.

Madison Stevens – Project Assistant
Kate Hanley – Research Assistant
Jiaao Guo – Research Assistant
Aditya Gandhi – Volunteer

Canadian Mountain Network Leadership

CMN Leadership helps to facilitate coherence between the CMA and the goals and research priorities of the CMN (see CMN Strategic Plan ).

Norma Kassi
Dr. Monique Dube
Murray Humphries (Ph. D.)
Matthew Berry
Nicole Olivier

Selected Project Output

Publications

McDowell, G. (In Press). The Canadian Mountain Assessment: Engaging with multiple ways of knowing to advance understanding of mountains in Canada. 2022 State of the Mountains Report. Alpine Club of Canada.

McDowell, G. & Hanly, K. (In Review). The state of mountain research in Canada. Journal of Mountain Science.

McDowell, G. & Guo, J. (2021). A nationally coherent characterization and quantification of mountain systems in Canada . Mountain Research and Development. https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-20-00071.1

Kassi, N., Humphries, M., McDowell, G. (2020). The Canadian Mountain Network: Advancing innovative, solutions-based research to inform decision-making . Mountain Research and Development.

McDowell, G. (2020). Mountains matter: They sustain use, enrich our lives, and inspire us; why high places are so important in Canada . Canadian Geographic. November/December issue.

Presentations

McDowell, G., Adler, C., Wester, P., Palomo, I., Marshall, S. (September 13, 2022) Approaches to Synthesizing and Assessing Mountain Systems Knowledge . Plenary event, 2nd International Mountain Conference, Innsbruck, Austria.

McDowell, G. & Marshall, S. (September 14, 2022) Recent Advancements in Canadian Mountain Research: Insights from Research Partnerships that Draw on Indigenous and Western Ways of Knowing. Plenary event, 2nd International Mountain Conference, Innsbruck, Austria.

Hanly, K., & McDowell, G. (September 12, 2022) The State of Mountain Research in Canada. 2nd International Mountain Conference, Innsbruck, Austria.

McDowell, G. (June 7, 2022) The Canadian Mountain Assessment: Engaging with multiple ways of knowing to advance understanding of mountains in Canada. Canadian Mountain Network Knowledge Sharing Summit. Banff, Canada.

Hanly, K., & McDowell, G. (June 7, 2022) What we know, don’t know, and need to know: A systematic review of mountain research in Canada. Canadian Mountain Network Knowledge Sharing Summit. Banff, Canada.

McDowell, G. (June 24, 2021) The Canadian Mountain Assessment: Braiding scientific and Indigenous knowledge to advance understanding of mountain systems in Canada. Centre for Hydrology/Coldwater Laboratory.

McDowell, G., et al. (December 11, 2020) Why Mountains Matter: Bringing Indigenous Knowledge and Science Together for International Mountain Day. Reconciling Ways of Knowing: Indigenous Knowledge and Science Forum.

Media coverage

McDowell, G., Adler, C., Wester, P. (May 2022 ). Canadian Mountain Network podcast.

Round table discussion with leaders of the Canadian Mountain Assessment, Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment, and IPCC Mountains chapters

McDowell, G., Provost, I., & Marshall, S. interviewed for ‘UCalgary leads way in launch of Canadian Mountain Assessment: Project to provide a comprehensive view of Canada’s changing mountain systems based on Western scientific and Indigenous knowledge