Water Dialogues
Chapter 1 | 17 mins
Chapter 2 |13 mins
Chapter 3 | 21 mins
Water Dialogues is about creating space to share and listen to the stories, knowledge and voices that are too often absent in the discussion around water in Canada. Based on audio-recordings from a national Water Gathering event that brought together First Nations, Inuit, Métis and other Canadian water researchers and experts from across the country, this podcast project explores our conversations around the need to bring our diverse knowledge systems together to address the complex and increasingly critical water issues we face today.
The creation of this podcast was supported by a knowledge translation grant from the Canadian Water Network, a Canadian Network Centre of Excellence.
Music credits: Andy Frech (intro); Will Bangs (“We hear things so differently”); Podington Bear (“Swale”, “Pure Swell”, “Memory Wind”, “Loam”, “Satellite bloom”, “Euphoric”); Kai Engel (“Curtains are Always Drawn”, “Silence”, “Highway to the Stars”); Alex Fitch (“The Tide”); Monamine (“I am only leaving so I could come back again”); Jon Luc Hefferman (“Magnate”); Blue Dot Sessions (“Vittoro”)
Decolonization is really about reorienting ourselves, so that we can create inclusive spaces, that we can allow diverse approaches, that we can respect differing view points.
Khosrow Farahbakhsh
Netukulimk is a Mi’kmaq term for taking what you need for today, but leaving enough for future generations.
Angeline Gillis
These are powerful, powerful gatherings. And I hope as a newcomer Canadian that this is the future for our country, of coming together and working together.
Cheryl Bartlett
Help spread the word: #H2ODialogues on Twitter
ABOUT
This collaborative podcast initiative is part of my MSc thesis and builds on a larger Canadian Water Network-funded project, Examining Methods and Models for Integrative Indigenous and Western Knowledge to Inform Water Management and Research in Canada, that I had the honour and privilege of being a part of.
It represents an effort to share, in a narrative audio-documentary form, the key messages and themes of the project through the voices, stories and experience of those who participated in the second of two national Water Gathering events that were held as part of that project. The podcast was created from the recorded proceedings of the Water Gathering, as well as short interviews with individual participants.
I have learned so much from the people and the process involved in this work, and I remain in awe of the beautiful and profound ways in which these teachings continue to unfold in my life. I am deeply thankful for the gift of this project’s journey, and hope that by contributing to the assembly this podcast I am able to offer something in return.
Lindsay Day
MSc Candidate
University of Guelph
About the Larger Research Project
Examining Methods and Models of Integrative Indigenous and Western Knowledge for Water Research and Management in Canada
The purpose of this 18-month project was to identify and evaluate promising methods and models for effectively and equitably implementing Indigenous and Western knowledge in water research and management in Canada, by exploring what has worked (and, perhaps more importantly, what has not), and why.
Two national Water Gathering events were held: The first to identify shared concerns and inform the direction of the project, and the second a year later to return together to discuss the research findings and the draft summary report. Both gatherings served as a space to share stories, build and strengthen our relationships with one another, and facilitate co-learning.
The final project report, Living with Water: Integrative Indigenous and Western Knowledge Approaches to Transform Water Research and Management, weaves findings from a systematic realist literature review, in-depth interviews, and insights from Water Gathering participants and the project’s National Advisory Committee.
Through the project, key recommendations for three different audiences were developed:
Principal Investigators:
Heather Castleden, Associate Professor, Queen’s University;
Ashlee Cunsolo, Associate Professor, Cape Breton University;
Sherilee Harper, Assistant Professor, University of Guelph;
Debbie Martin, Associate Professor, Dalhousie University
OUR TEAM
Podcast Editing and Production Team
Lindsay Day (Project Lead)
Tim Anaviapik-Soucie
Heather Castleden
Ashlee Cunsolo
Sherilee Harper
Catherine Hart
Debbie Martin
Clifford Paul
George Russell, Jr.
Core Research Team (larger project)
Heather Castleden
Nominated Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, Queen’s University, Canada Research Chair in Reconciling Relations for Health, Environments and Communities
website
Ashlee Cunsolo
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, Cape Breton University, Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Healthy Communities
website
Sherilee Harper
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor, University of Guelph
website
Debbie Martin
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, Dalhousie University
webpage
Catherine Hart
Project Manager
Health, Environment and Communities Lab, Queen’s University
Lindsay Day
Research Assistant
MSc Candidate, University of Guelph
Robert Stefanelli
Research Assistant
MA Candidate, Queen’s University
Kaitlin Lauridsen
Research Assistant
MPH Simon Fraser University
Project Partners and Participants (Second Water Gathering)
Tim Anaviapik-Soucie
Community-Based Water Researcher, Pond Inlet, Nunavut
Cheryl Bartlett
Retired Professor, Cape Breton University
Kerry Black
PhD Candidate, University of Guelph
Khosrow Farahbakhsh
Retired Professor, University of Guelph
Guy Freedman
Water Gathering Facilitator
President, First Peoples Group
Metis from Flin Flon, Manitoba
Angeline Gillis
Eskasoni First Nation
Senior Director, Mi’kmaw Conservation Group
Christina Goldhar
Environmental Protection Analyst, Nunatsiavut Government
Will Goodon
Director, South-West Region, Manitoba Metis Federation
Metis from Turtle Mountains, Manitoba
David Heinrichs
Natural Resources Coordinator, Manitoba Metis Federation
Stewart Hill
God’s Lake First Nation
PhD Student, University of Manitoba
Irving LeBlanc
Assembly of First Nations
Odawa and a member of Wiikwemikoong Unceded Indian Reserve
Diana Lewis
Sipekne’katik First Nation
PhD, Lecturer, Dalhousie University
Elder Albert Marshall
Moose Clan of the Mi’kmaw Nation; Eskasoni, Unama’ki
Clifford Paul
Membertou First Nation
Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources
Ken Paul
Maliseet First Nation
Director of Fisheries at Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs
Erika Perrier
Research & Education Officer, Mi’kmaw Conservation Group
George Russell, Junior
NunatuKavut Community Council
Environment and Resource Manager with NunatuKavut
Bob Sandford
EPCOR Chair for Water and Climate Security, United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health
Jamal Shirley
Research Programs and Partnerships, Nunavut Research Institute
Inez Shiwak
Community-Based Researcher, My Word Digital Storytelling, Rigolet, Nunatsiavut
Corrine Schuster-Wallace
Senior Research Fellow, United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health
Tuma Young
Malagawatch First Nation
Assistant Professor, Cape Breton University
Other Project Partners and Participants
Stephen Augustine
Robert Bailey
Cecilia Brooks
Kate Cave
Ivy Chan
Sue Chiblow
Tim Heron
Amy Hudson
Rob Jamieson
Bu Lam
Georgina Liberty
Audrey Mayes
John Morrisseau
Jo-Anne Muise Lawless
Merrell-Ann Phare
Justin Stapon
Constantine Tikhonov
THANKS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Sincerest thanks to all the committed project partners and participants involved throughout the duration of the larger research project, and to the second Water Gathering participants for sharing their words, wisdom and stories with us through the Water Dialogues podcast. Thanks to the Wabano Aboriginal Health Centre for welcoming us in their beautiful space for that Water Gathering, to Guy Freedman for facilitating our discussion, and to Elders Barbara Hill and Albert Dumont for their stories, teachings and opening and closing prayers and songs.
Special thanks also to my academic advisors Sherilee Harper and Ashlee Cunsolo, the rest of core research team, and the members of our podcast editing and production team. Your support, encouragement and suggestions have been so integral to this podcast project.
A huge thank you to Jeremy Kessler and Mach Sound Studios for audio awesomeness; and Margie Taylor, Erin Noel, and Michael Ridley for audio-documentary advice. Thanks to my sister Megan Barnes for helping to get this website set up, and to the Canadian Water Network for investing in this knowledge mobilization initiative.
Great things happen when we work together! Thank you!!!