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Braiding Conservation Futures Collective Impact Connector

The Braiding Conservation Futures Impact Connector is an applied collaborative learning program aimed at increasing receptivity to multiple ways of knowing—specifically Indigenous ways of knowing and doing conservation—in the federal science-based conservation system and parks and protected areas sector through transformative learning and ethical space. Through online workshops; reflective tasks to connect with nature and organizations; and dialogues with Indigenous leaders and knowledge hubs, participants will identify levers for deep systems change and work to uplift BKC Knowledge Hubs—as hubs desire. The program will be informed by the Braiding Conservation Futures Gathering (Talent and Capacity) and will build on programs of the IPCA Innovation Centre and the PARKS+ Collective Innovation Accelerator, ENGO Ethical Space (Pilot), and eSummit.

During the BKC Gathering, Knowledge Hubs will be invited to share content and participate in dialogues with Connector participants—with funds available for creating content or providing honoraria. Then, each year, 14 new and 6 returning participants (mentors) from federal agencies and the park system—and 20 from the ENGO program—will engage with workshops, webinars, and individual tasks. By considering their context, listening to indigenous leaders, and connecting with the land, participants will advance knowledge braiding in and beyond protected areas. 

Dr. Don Carruthers Den Hoed will lead with co-facilitation from Chloe Dragon-Smith, presenters from Knowledge Hubs, and guidance from the IPCA Innovation Centres, Conservation Through Reconciliation, University collaborators, the Canadian Parks Council, and Parks Canada.

The program is virtual with tasks to connect learners to their landscape–ideally near knowledge hubs. Related land-based programs will be held in Indigenous facilities (e.g. IPCA Innovation Centres).

While Indigenous knowledge is often valued in parks and protected areas, the use of Indigenous knowledges to inform policies and decisions is rare. As BKC Knowledge Hubs generate and share common threads, practices, methodologies, and lessons learned, we hope to help decision makers develop the knowledge and institutional flexibility to effectively and ethically braid knowledge.

Project Co-Leads

Don Carruthers Den Hoed
Director, Braiding Conservation Futures

Chloe Dragon-Smith
Indigenous Facilitator, Beb[a]ski

Summary of Overall Project Objectives

  1. Design learning pathway (“curriculum”) and participant action research plan,
  2. Communicate with BKC Knowledge hubs to explain the project and invite them to present webinars and sharing sessions,
  3. Recruit participants and send orientation materials
  4. Hold one-on-one calls with participants in years 2-4
  5. Facilitate program, reflections, and individual or group applied task
  6. Host face-to-face retreat for ENGO pathway (with additional funding) 
  7. Recruit subsequent cohort and select mentors
  8. Compile and share action research progress and participant narratives

Summary of Overall Project Outcomes

Immediate

  • BKC Knowledge Hubs are aware of the project and can present their needs to federal and parks and protected areas decision makers while protecting data sovereignty (e.g. through principles of OCAP and presenter consent)
  • Diverse western decision makers can identify barriers and opportunities to knowledge braiding that they can act upon
  • Indigenous-led and co-led research will have a higher profile in the parks and protected areas sector

Intermediate 

  • Progress is made to increase receptivity to BKC work and knowledge braiding and apply it to policy, research, and decision making
  • Pathways are created for learning and collaboration among diverse government, ENGO, academic, and Indigenous conservation leaders
  • Local connections are made between various decision makers and knowledge hubs/IPCAs to build capacity at a watershed level

Ultimate

  • An interdisciplinary community of transformation can be sustained with opportunities for reciprocity, collaboration, and ongoing programs
  • Participants increase capacity for knowledge braiding and advance policies that uplift indigenous knowledge in parks and conservation decision-making
  • Braiding Knowledges Hubs have pathways to share their needs and knowledge—on their terms—with federal, provincial, and territorial agencies
  • Indigenous led conservation, knowledge braiding, and Reconciliation are integrated into renewed Canadian parks and protected areas narratives

Project Timeline

Year 1 - Scope & Activities
  • Share program and opportunity with BKC Knowledge Hubs at BKC Gathering
  • Develop learning objectives, materials, and tasks (through Gathering project) 
  • Confirm schedule and recruit participants and graduate student
  • Build relationships and understand needs of Indigenous co-facilitator, IPCA Innovation Centers, elders, and Knowledge Hub presenters
  • Develop initial participant action research plan and secure ethics approval
  • Confirm schedule for workshops, webinars, sharing sessions, and retreat
  • Facilitate one-on-one calls, resources, workshops, webinars, sharing sessions, individual and group tasks, and mentorship activities
  • Orient participants to methods for reflective content (e.g. digital journals) and begin to compile participant action research outputs as outreach materials, potentially podcast or short-form videos (as determined by group)
  • Support ~3 Braiding Knowledges Hubs/IPCAs in presenting webinars and sharing sessions, and share content on PARKS+ platform as appropriate
  • Attend Braiding Knowledges Gathering and hold co-facilitator meetings
  • Hold a cost-recovery face-to-face retreat for ENGOs and some prior Connector participants and share braiding knowledges in non-profit conservation sector
  • Refine schedule and program content as required
  • Confirm schedule for workshops, webinars, sharing sessions, and retreat
  • Facilitate one-on-one calls, resources, workshops, webinars, sharing sessions, individual and group tasks, and mentorship activities
  • Orient new participants to methods for reflective content (e.g. digital journals) and begin to compile participant action research outputs as outreach materials, potentially podcast or short-form videos (as determined by group)
  • Support ~3 Braiding Knowledges Hubs/IPCAs in presenting webinars and sharing sessions, and share content on PARKS+ platform as appropriate
  • Attend Braiding Knowledges Gathering and hold co-facilitator meetings
  • Hold a cost-recovery face-to-face retreat for ENGOs and some prior Connector participants and share braiding knowledges in non-profit conservation sector
  • Refine schedule and program content as required
  • Confirm schedule for workshops, webinars, sharing sessions, and retreat
  • Facilitate one-on-one calls, resources, workshops, webinars, sharing sessions, individual and group tasks, and mentorship activities
  • Orient new participants to methods for reflective content (e.g. digital journals) and begin to compile participant action research outputs as outreach materials, potentially podcast or short-form videos (as determined by group)
  • Support ~3 Braiding Knowledges Hubs/IPCAs in presenting webinars and sharing sessions, and share content on PARKS+ platform as appropriate
  • Attend Braiding Knowledges Gathering and hold co-facilitator meetings
  • Hold a cost-recovery face-to-face retreat for ENGOs and some prior Connector participants and share braiding knowledges in non-profit conservation sector
  • Develop and share project narrative and develop plan for ongoing funding (if necessary)