Exploring Indigenous cultural connections

When learning about environmental science, cool places and the plants and animals that inhabit them, we believe it is equally important to understand how humans have lived in relationship with these lands and beings since time immemorial. Indigenous stewardship has adapted in many ways with increased climate impacts across the landscape. Sierra Club BC aims to honor Indigenous voices and to ensure that unique Nations and worldviews are respectfully acknowledged.

While we’ve shared some publicly available resources below as a starting point, it’s best to engage with local Indigenous communities. Each Nation has distinct perspectives, cultures and governance systems, meaning that different communities will have different connections with this species. Many Nations have websites with a wealth of publicly shared knowledge that you can check out, or you could attend a public event hosted by the community. If you don’t know whose territory you live on, you can visit Native-Land.ca to learn more.

• Learn more about the spring migration and how Indigenous stewardship sustains it (article by Audubon).
• Check out this fun worksheet to learn more about S’amunu (Somenos Marsh) and Migratory Birds.