Notice Board

The Centre for Oral History and Tradition (COHT) and the Lethbridge Public Library will present the following:

Traditional Knowledge in Policy and Practice
Day/Date: Thursday, October 25, 2018
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: North Wing Community Room (Lethbridge Public Library; 810 - 5th Avenue South)

Traditional Knowledge is understood as “knowledge, know-how, skills and practices that are developed, sustained and passed on from generation to generation within a community, often forming part of its cultural or spiritual identity.” Traditional Knowledge is relevant in many circumstances, “agricultural, scientific, technical, ecological and medicinal knowledge as well as biodiversity-related knowledge” (http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/tk/)

While Traditional Knowledge is valued within its community of origin to sustain and reinforce culture, affirm spiritual identity, and traditional ceremony or practises, traditional forms of knowledge are also instructive for “outsiders.”  For example, the collection and application of Traditional Knowledge may support the interests of Indigenous communities when it comes to how Indigenous traditions and heritage are understood or utilized in cities by city planners.

When Traditional Knowledge is shared in a culturally-sensitive environment, where intellectual property and protocol are respected, and when Traditional Knowledge is acknowledged as equivalent to Western-based knowledge, Traditional Knowledge may strengthen the origin community’s needs and aspirations as well as those of Western scientific pursuits and broader public interest.

This gathering features three presenters—Ira Provost, Neil Mirau, and Perry Stein—who will share their experiences collecting and applying TK within the Traditional Territory of the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Peoples) and beyond.

Speakers:

Ira Provost is the Manager of Piikani Consultation and Piikani Traditional Knowledge Services, at Piikani First Nation. In this capacity, Ira works as an advocate for his Nation as an intermediary between industry, government and his people. The role as Manager carries a mandate of creating meaningful relationships with proponents and building capacity in and the protection of Piikani educational and historical resources. Prior to working with Piikani Administration, Ira was an Educator and Administrator of cultural programs in the Lethbridge School District for over a decade, teaching and working with various levels of the school environment and governance. Ira is also an avid educator, performer, and singer-songwriter.

Neil Mirau is a senior archaeologist and partner at Arrow Archaeology Ltd, a historical resource consulting firm that operates in the four western provinces. Neil and Arrow Archaeology have worked with First Nations, particularly the Nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy for more than 15 years recording, assessing and working to preserve and protect archaeological and traditional resources. Neil has taught archaeology, geography and biological anthropology at universities in Alberta and BC.  Just this year, Neil had the honour of being inducted into the Kainai Chieftainship on the 100th anniversary of the Chieftainship.

Perry Stein is Project Manager and Intermediate Community Planner at Aaron Aubin Consulting Inc. (AACI) and is based in Lethbridge, Alberta. Perry is a Community Planner by training and has worked extensively with urban, rural, regional, and Indigenous communities in Alberta and BC. Perry’s professional work has most recently supported enhanced relationship building between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in the areas such as heritage, environmental, infrastructure, and intergovernmental planning. Prior to joining AACI, Perry worked with the City of Lethbridge and led the City’s first ever Indigenous heritage identification project in partnership with the Blackfoot Confederacy Nations.