Indigenous Knowledge

Position: Indigenous Knowledge Expert, Species Identification
Organization: Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-OV
Location: Greater Madawaska, ON (near Griffith/Matawatchan)

Eligibility: Indigenous applicants only

Type: Short-term contract
Dates: September 20-22

Compensation: 60$/hour (for a total of approximately 20 hours over 3 days) + meals included

Who we are

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society is a non-profit registered environmental charity working towards the conservation of public lands in the Ottawa River watershed. At CPAWS-OV, we are dedicated to fostering a deep connection between communities and their natural environments, advocating for the protection of public wilderness, and upholding Indigenous rights and values. We are excited to host a series of Bioblitz events aimed at documenting local biodiversity and promoting conservation efforts in the Madawaska Highlands. These events are an opportunity to engage with nature, enhance scientific understanding, and honor the rich traditions and knowledge of Indigenous cultures.

We currently have several ongoing conservation projects in both Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. These bioblitzes fall under our Madawaska Highlands project which seeks to improve conservation efforts in the region and increase public awareness of its ecological value. We know this beautiful region is home to many species, including many that are at risk but there is still a general lack of data on species and ecosystems. The data we collect during these events will help us demonstrate the ecological and cultural value of the Madawaska Highlands to decision makers, stakeholders, and the public and will be used as a tool to advocate for better environmental protection in the region. We have found that there is a lack of data available for the region, especially data on species and biodiversity and we hope that these citizen science bioblitz events can begin to fill in the data and knowledge gaps.

We would like to prioritize the protection of species that have special significance to Indigenous communities such as American Eel, Black Ash, sturgeon, moose, etc. We are dedicated to protecting these species and ensuring that Indigenous communities have access to them.

Description

CPAWS-OV is looking for an Indigenous individual who is knowledgeable on culturally important species for Indigenous communities, the species’ role in cultural practices, and current Indigenous conservation efforts in Ontario.

The Indigenous Knowledge Expert will partake in our upcoming bioblitz event in the Madawaska Highlands region from Sept. 20-22.

The bioblitz event will take place over the course of a weekend with two nights of camping overnight (arriving Friday afternoon, departing Sunday afternoon). The successful candidate will be expected to stay for the duration of the entire bioblitz event (Friday to Sunday of the respective weekend). For transportation to and from the event, we can provide carpooling from Ottawa or anywhere between Ottawa and the Greater Madawaska region. Meals will be provided, and we are happy to accommodate any allergies or dietary restrictions.

We are looking for a candidate who is knowledgeable about species that are culturally important to Indigenous communities and is willing to share their knowledge to the volunteers participating in the bioblitz. The bioblitz will involve species surveys in a variety of habitats (forests, wetlands, lakes, rivers). We would also like volunteers to learn the importance of conservation and the role of species in ecosystems and Indigenous cultures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist volunteers with identifying culturally important species during the species surveys
• On the Saturday evening, give a short talk on a few culturally important species and their role in the community (food, medicine, rituals, etc.) and how the species has been affected by industrial development, resource extraction, and climate change. Other knowledge such as Indigenous history, values, traditions, and personal experiences is also welcome. This talk is meant to be very informal, hopefully taking place while we are sitting around the campfire.

Desired Qualifications:

• Species identification skills
• Previous experience with performing species surveys and collecting data in the field
• Knowledge of Indigenous culture, history, values; knowledge of Indigenous names of culturally significant species is also considered an asset
• Comfortable with camping, heat, rain, and bugs.
• Previous experience with teaching or engaging with volunteers is considered an asset but not required.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply be emailing Sasha at madawaska@cpaws.org . Please provide a brief description of your relevant experience and a copy of your resume. Please note this position is reserved for Indigenous applicants only.

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