What are the goals of the partnership?
The purpose of the Tl’azt’en Nation-UNBC CURA project is to enhance the capacity of Tl’azt’en Nation to effectively engage in culturally and ecologically sustainable natural resource management, and to enhance the capacity of UNBC researchers and their students to effectively contribute to First Nation community needs through collaborative research.
Objectives
 |
To strengthen the cultural development of the Tl’azt’en community by capturing resources and expertise to promote the transfer of TEK from older to younger generations |
|
|
To enhance the social and economic potential of the Tl’azt’en community by providing the expertise to facilitate the development of alternative, culturally appropriate environmental/ science curricula for Tl’azt’en youth; and by providing a map to ecotourism development, informed by robust research and Tl’azt’en values |
|
|
To provide graduate training experience with First Nations partners that will foster knowledge of cross-cultural research requirements and experience in community-relevant research |
|
|
To provide training and enhance research capacity among Tl’azt’enne in areas important to integrated natural resource management |
|
|
To improve First Nations content across the curricula of UNBC’s academic programs |
|
|
To ensure research results are available to regional, national and international audiences; and |
|
|
To enhance the potential of UNBC and Tl’azt’en Nation to develop and strengthen their partnerships. |
Research Projects
Improved Partnership (co-management)
How can the existing co-management partnership between Tl'azt'en Nation and UNBC be strengthened? Answering this question is the main focus of the Improved Partnerships Stream. Co-management of the John Prince Research Forest (JPRF) requires monitoring, evaluation and adjustments. As well, research on the JPRF requires adherence to principles that meet community and researchers' requirements. The current research has two components, including 1) improving the standards of research accountability and 2) enhancing the functioning of the JPRF co-management partnership. (Read more...)
Tl'azt'en Ecological Knowledge
The research stream, "Perpetuation of Tl'azt'en Ecological Knowledge" is researching methods of recording traditional knowledge. We are reviewing information, and providing recommendations for developing these methods further. This will allow Tl'azt'en Nation to record and perpetuate their Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). The study will further Tl'azt'en's goals in developing curriculum material to enhance educational objectives. In addition, it will provide input into Tl'azt'en resource management. (Read more...)
Science and Environmental Education
The intent of the Education research stream is to explore innovative environmental educational programs based on the alliance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and scientific knowledge. This work will be used to develop curriculum for Tl'azt'en and UNBC students. It is our hope that other First Nations and universities can use our work as a template for their own collaborations in the realm of science and environmental curriculum development. (Read more...)
The ecotourism stream will begin research in 2006, the third year of CURA.
© Tl'azt'en Nation and the University of Northern BC CURA - Partnering for Sustainable Resource Management, 2005
For more information or comments on the website, please contact Sarah Parsons, Research Coordinator