"Memorial Presents" Public Forum

Monday, November 16, 2015, 7:00pm
Hotel North 2, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL 

 

---

 

Event Description

Working with Aboriginal Groups, First Nations, local communities and diverse interest groups toward conservation in and around protected areas

Protected areas have increased in number across the world providing economic, social, cultural and ecological benefits to those who live in and near these special places. While establishment of these areas has been often a top down approach in the past, there is a growing recognition that involving all groups in a meaningful dialogue and gaining consensus is a much better way to ensure success. This “effective listening” has been called human dimensions in natural resource management and involves research and applied aspects.

Speakers

Dr. Alistair Bath is an associate professor at Memorial University with more than 25 years experience in human-wildlife conflicts and human dimensions in natural resource management issues. He has worked on wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park as well as wolf control issues in Yukon. Alistair is a member of the IUCN/SSC Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (http://www.lcie.org/) and has led various research projects throughout Europe on large carnivores. Recently he has achieved consensus through working with diverse interest groups on a national Bulgarian brown bear and wolf management plan, a Croatian wolf management plan, a wood bison reintroduction plan in Alaska and currently is working on Dall sheep management in Alaska. Alistair has worked in Jerusalem getting agreements between Palestinian authorities and Israelis on urban biodiversity initiatives and five faiths agreeing on Green and accessible pilgrimage sites. In Kenya, Dr. Bath has worked with the Masai toward lion conservation and has also been involved with First nations and aboriginal groups in Canada’s North on traditional ecological knowledge issues with bears in Lutsel K’e, caribou issues in NWT and wood bison issues in and around Wood Buffalo National Park. Alistair has worked on designing communication efforts effectively understanding key beliefs linked to attitudes so that efforts can be specifically targeted on those beliefs directly linked to attitude. Through human dimensions research and his applied human dimensions facilitated workshop approach Alistair understands the nature of the conflict and works with groups to understand and address the key issues. He has taught human dimension courses in conservation biology programs in Italy, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Poland, and Portugal and has been an invited keynote speaker to international wolf, bear and moose conferences. Alistair enjoys working with people and finding solutions to the conservation challenges that we face today.

James Thorbourne is the President and Chief Executive Officer of NGC Nunatsiavut Inc., operating as the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies (NGC). Ultimately owned by the Nunatsiavut Government, the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies owns wholly or in partnership, businesses in a variety of sectors including marine transportation, commercial real estate, civil construction, logistics, base camp operations, air transportation (fixed and rotary wing), site services and commercial fishing. James brings over 25 years of business experience to his role. James spent the first half of his career working in the environmental and engineering consulting industry – he practiced in waste management, water resource engineering and contaminated sites in Canada and South East Asia. James has held executive management positions since 2005 including President of IEG Energy Services and President of the Inuvialuit Development Corporation. James moved to Happy Valley Goose Bay in January 2011 to work with Labrador Inuit Capital Strategy Trust and to lead the creation of the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies as its President and CEO. James has gained extensive experience in serving on the Board’s of businesses in the transportation sector with high value capital assets – he served on the Board of Canadian North Airlines, Northern Transportation Company Limited, and Weldco Beales Manufacturing. James presently serves as Chair of Board of Air Labrador Limited and Chair of the Board of Universal Helicopters Newfoundland and Labrador LP. He is an advocate for economic development in Canada’s north through infrastructure investment and procurement strategies. James has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Mount Allison University, a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from the Technical University of Nova Scotia, and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University.

George Russell Jr, Environment and Resource Manager with NunatuKavut, has more than 15 years’ experience working on Environmental, Community and Aboriginal Initiatives. His strong understanding of Aboriginal Community and Industry has greatly enhanced the NunatuKavut Community Council’s engagement with industry and helped provide our Aboriginal Communities with a better understanding of development. George is a strong believer in incorporating Western science and Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge into any potential industry development and has spent a significant portion of his time with the NCC developing our Aboriginal and Traditional Knowledge gathering protocols. He has also worked on incorporating NunatuKavut ATK into many SARA recovery strategies and prevention streams. George has led NunatuKavut negotiations on the Mealy Mountain Park Reserve, he has also served on the Institute for Environmental Monitoring and Research board, Ungava Peninsula Caribou Round Table, the steering committee for the Gilbert’s Bay Marine protected area and numerous other Wildlife and Community based forums. He continues to do volunteer work in the community both through his professional life and outside of his work. George is a member of the NunatuKavut Community council and grew up in William’s Harbour, a small community on the Coast of Labrador where his people relied on the land and ocean to maintain a traditional and subsistence lifestyle. George also holds College Diplomas in Environmental Engineering and Safety Technology as well as formal training in ATK gathering techniques and protocols.

Joe Goudie has a long history working in the Central Labrador region in a variety of areas. He has been a provincial broadcaster for CBC, and has significant experience as a provincial public servant. During this time in provincial politics, he held the posts of Minister of Rural Development (1978–1982), Minister of Rural, Agriculture, and Northern Development (1982–1985), and Minister of Fisheries (1985). He also holds the title of Honorary Colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He has served as a national parks consultant and is widely respected for his knowledge and appreciation of nature. Currently he works as a canoe builder, building cedar and canvas canoes.