Register Now for Saulteau’s Healing the Land Conference

MOBERLY LAKE, B.C. — Early bird registration has begun for Saulteau First Nations’ “Healing the Land” conference scheduled for this fall.

A June 27th release states that the event is designed to “raise awareness of on-the-ground actions having a direct impact” on Canadian protection and restoration targets.

According to Teena Demeulemeester, assistant manager of treaty rights and environmental protection for the First Nation, the event will continue the discussions that began with The Reclamation Trade Show hosted by Saulteau in 2019.

“We’re going to be moving off of this,” said Demeulemeester. “This event is really about healing the land and building collaborative relationships with government and industry.”

“What we’ll be looking at is innovative cultural techniques, protective efforts, and collaborative planning around reclamation projects.”

A website promoting the event says the conference will include insightful presentations and panel discussions, with optional interactive cultural courses, tours, and social events.

It will allow participants to build relationships and the cultural connections needed to maintain the health and productivity of ecosystems while meeting the needs of present and future generations, says Demeulemeester.

“There’s a variety of industries that are doing jobs on the ground today,” said Demeulemeester.  “You got oil and gas, digging wells, pipelines, mining, coal mining, areas that are getting developed.”

“After these jobs are done, what happens to the site after they’re done? What education programs are available to support youth and build the skills needed to get jobs in restoration?” “

“How does it come back to be a healthy ecosystem that supports wildlife and human interaction?”

Indigenous leaders, federal, provincial, and local government representatives, restoration practitioners, educators, and industry representatives are all invited to participate in the conference.

The keynote speaker for the event will be Dr. Judith Sayers. 

Sayers is president of the Nuu-Chan-nulth Tribal Council in Port Alberni. 

She is an adjunct professor with the Gustavson School of Business and the School of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria, according to the website Indigenous Clean Energy.

The website says she has been involved with clean energy for over 20 years. She oversaw the 6.5 MW China Creek Run of the River project, located and operated by Hupacasath First Nation on West Vancouver Island.

One of the takeaways Demeulemeester hopes attendees have is the opportunity to network with other parties and celebrate planning, protection, and restoration successes.

“I want people to understand there is a network of people all striving to figure out how to do pursue land protections, and do reclamation on the ground in the best possible way,” said Demeulemeester. 

“It is about making connections through  understanding all the people who are working and shaping the future of restoration in the treaty area and the north and south peace.”

The conference will be held from October 7th to October 10th at Saulteau First Nations’ Cultural and Recreation Centre in Moberly Lake.

Further details and how to register can be found at the event’s website.