yo hey have yo doc in yellow smoke Alexi got to us con agua Heil stuff do Neutron
got to us con agua Heil stuff do Neutron
got to us con agua Heil stuff do Neutron off I want to start off by first
off I want to start off by first
off I want to start off by first acknowledging the ancestral homelands of
acknowledging the ancestral homelands of
acknowledging the ancestral homelands of the malahat people so I’m going to tell
the malahat people so I’m going to tell
the malahat people so I’m going to tell you a story of the salmon people this is
you a story of the salmon people this is
you a story of the salmon people this is a part of Helsing oral history that was
a part of Helsing oral history that was
a part of Helsing oral history that was told to me by my brother
told to me by my brother
told to me by my brother Ajitha in Klotz jaw within Helsing
Ajitha in Klotz jaw within Helsing
Ajitha in Klotz jaw within Helsing territory the people had a fish we’re
territory the people had a fish we’re
territory the people had a fish we’re and the Chiefs had a set of twins and in
and the Chiefs had a set of twins and in
and the Chiefs had a set of twins and in our culture twins signify a good return
our culture twins signify a good return
our culture twins signify a good return of salmon that the year that they’re
of salmon that the year that they’re
of salmon that the year that they’re born and he had a boy and a girl and the
born and he had a boy and a girl and the
born and he had a boy and a girl and the boy misused the salmon the fish we’re he
boy misused the salmon the fish we’re he
boy misused the salmon the fish we’re he left them in there to die he didn’t let
left them in there to die he didn’t let
left them in there to die he didn’t let them return up the river and he also
them return up the river and he also
them return up the river and he also didn’t use them for food so because of
didn’t use them for food so because of
didn’t use them for food so because of his actions
his actions
his actions the salmon did not return to the fishery
the salmon did not return to the fishery
the salmon did not return to the fishery or to the river and his sister became
or to the river and his sister became
or to the river and his sister became very ill and she died because of this
very ill and she died because of this
very ill and she died because of this the boy decided he needed to do
the boy decided he needed to do
the boy decided he needed to do something he went to the river and he
something he went to the river and he
something he went to the river and he prayed and his prayers were heard
prayed and his prayers were heard
prayed and his prayers were heard supernatural forces sucked him beneath
supernatural forces sucked him beneath
supernatural forces sucked him beneath the water into the underwater realm he
the water into the underwater realm he
the water into the underwater realm he was taken to the house of the salmon and
was taken to the house of the salmon and
was taken to the house of the salmon and there the salmon told him of how their
there the salmon told him of how their
there the salmon told him of how their anger for his great disrespect to the
anger for his great disrespect to the
anger for his great disrespect to the salmon but they also offered to teach
salmon but they also offered to teach
salmon but they also offered to teach him to teach him the ways of the salmon
him to teach him the ways of the salmon
him to teach him the ways of the salmon so he stayed there for what he thought
so he stayed there for what he thought
so he stayed there for what he thought was four days and he learned the ways of
was four days and he learned the ways of
was four days and he learned the ways of the salmon but eventually he was sent
the salmon but eventually he was sent
the salmon but eventually he was sent home and as he began to move towards his
home and as he began to move towards his
home and as he began to move towards his village he realized he could breathe
village he realized he could breathe
village he realized he could breathe beneath the water he realized he had
beneath the water he realized he had
beneath the water he realized he had become a sad
become a sad
become a sad and suddenly he was speared he heard
and suddenly he was speared he heard
and suddenly he was speared he heard crying from his mother who recognized
crying from his mother who recognized
crying from his mother who recognized the copper necklace that he always wore
the copper necklace that he always wore
the copper necklace that he always wore all the people of the village gathered
all the people of the village gathered
all the people of the village gathered because this was the first time a salmon
because this was the first time a salmon
because this was the first time a salmon had returned to the river in four years
had returned to the river in four years
had returned to the river in four years and the mother she called a spiritually
and the mother she called a spiritually
and the mother she called a spiritually enlightened individual a shaman and he
enlightened individual a shaman and he
enlightened individual a shaman and he showed the people the salmon with the
showed the people the salmon with the
showed the people the salmon with the copper necklace he then placed a mat
copper necklace he then placed a mat
copper necklace he then placed a mat over top of the salmon he spread some
over top of the salmon he spread some
over top of the salmon he spread some eagle down and he began to pray he began
eagle down and he began to pray he began
eagle down and he began to pray he began to chant he then removed the mat from
to chant he then removed the mat from
to chant he then removed the mat from the salmon and beneath the mat was the
the salmon and beneath the mat was the
the salmon and beneath the mat was the boy from that day forward the boy taught
boy from that day forward the boy taught
boy from that day forward the boy taught his people the lessons of the salmon he
his people the lessons of the salmon he
his people the lessons of the salmon he taught them that we should never waste
taught them that we should never waste
taught them that we should never waste that we must respect the salmon we must
that we must respect the salmon we must
that we must respect the salmon we must respect their sacrifice of their life
respect their sacrifice of their life
respect their sacrifice of their life that they give to people and to animals
that they give to people and to animals
that they give to people and to animals to trees and the nutrients that they
to trees and the nutrients that they
to trees and the nutrients that they bring to the forest so this story is
bring to the forest so this story is
bring to the forest so this story is about the ocean and it’s backed up by
about the ocean and it’s backed up by
about the ocean and it’s backed up by archaeal recent archaeological studies
archaeal recent archaeological studies
archaeal recent archaeological studies that prove that reaffirm my nation has
that prove that reaffirm my nation has
that prove that reaffirm my nation has existed in our place for at least
existed in our place for at least
existed in our place for at least fourteen thousand five hundred years
fourteen thousand five hundred years
fourteen thousand five hundred years that’s eight thousand five hundred years
that’s eight thousand five hundred years
that’s eight thousand five hundred years before the pyramids were ever built
before the pyramids were ever built
before the pyramids were ever built I come from an ancient society so the
I come from an ancient society so the
I come from an ancient society so the ocean it’s a magnificent thing it’s a
ocean it’s a magnificent thing it’s a
ocean it’s a magnificent thing it’s a life-giving force we give it all types
life-giving force we give it all types
life-giving force we give it all types of names we call it the Atlantic the end
of names we call it the Atlantic the end
of names we call it the Atlantic the end the Pacific Ocean but in reality there’s
the Pacific Ocean but in reality there’s
the Pacific Ocean but in reality there’s really only one ocean and it covers over
really only one ocean and it covers over
really only one ocean and it covers over 70% of our world it connects us from
70% of our world it connects us from
70% of our world it connects us from coast to coast so I want you all to do
coast to coast so I want you all to do
coast to coast so I want you all to do me a favor right now if you could take a
me a favor right now if you could take a
me a favor right now if you could take a deep breath in and out one more time
deep breath in and out one more time
deep breath in and out one more time take a deep breath in and out
now just think that over 50% of the
now just think that over 50% of the world’s oxygen comes from our ocean but
world’s oxygen comes from our ocean but
world’s oxygen comes from our ocean but it is a tremendous life-giving force to
it is a tremendous life-giving force to
it is a tremendous life-giving force to all living beings on earth we are all
all living beings on earth we are all
all living beings on earth we are all connected to the ocean just as we’re all
connected to the ocean just as we’re all
connected to the ocean just as we’re all connected to one another and to earth
connected to one another and to earth
connected to one another and to earth and it is this relationship that I’m
and it is this relationship that I’m
and it is this relationship that I’m here to talk to you about this
here to talk to you about this
here to talk to you about this relationship that we must uphold to the
relationship that we must uphold to the
relationship that we must uphold to the ocean so the place that I come from on
ocean so the place that I come from on
ocean so the place that I come from on my mother’s side the house that nation
my mother’s side the house that nation
my mother’s side the house that nation of the new channels people and the house
of the new channels people and the house
of the new channels people and the house ik and the Central Coast
ik and the Central Coast
ik and the Central Coast both have recognized this reciprocal
both have recognized this reciprocal
both have recognized this reciprocal relationship with the ocean for
relationship with the ocean for
relationship with the ocean for thousands of years we’ve always realized
thousands of years we’ve always realized
thousands of years we’ve always realized that the ocean gives us sustenance we
that the ocean gives us sustenance we
that the ocean gives us sustenance we worked to maintain sustainability and
worked to maintain sustainability and
worked to maintain sustainability and then enhance our food sources our
then enhance our food sources our
then enhance our food sources our relatives this is my grandmother
relatives this is my grandmother
relatives this is my grandmother Margaret brown she’s in herself she’s in
Margaret brown she’s in herself she’s in
Margaret brown she’s in herself she’s in her late 70s
her late 70s
her late 70s she’s affluent health six-speaker I
she’s affluent health six-speaker I
she’s affluent health six-speaker I talked to her about the ocean and she
talked to her about the ocean and she
talked to her about the ocean and she told me a story of her late grandfather
told me a story of her late grandfather
told me a story of her late grandfather Louie ha who worked very hard to harvest
Louie ha who worked very hard to harvest
Louie ha who worked very hard to harvest and prepare seafood for his large family
and prepare seafood for his large family
and prepare seafood for his large family her favorite was and dried herring eggs
her favorite was and dried herring eggs
her favorite was and dried herring eggs dipped in to seal grease within her
dipped in to seal grease within her
dipped in to seal grease within her lifetime she has watched her food source
lifetime she has watched her food source
lifetime she has watched her food source degrade before her very eyes
degrade before her very eyes
degrade before her very eyes her grandson still actively harvests the
her grandson still actively harvests the
her grandson still actively harvests the majority of herseif
majority of herseif
majority of herseif but it tastes different the texture
but it tastes different the texture
but it tastes different the texture imagine going from abundance of food
imagine going from abundance of food
imagine going from abundance of food that’s harvest from the ocean by your by
that’s harvest from the ocean by your by
that’s harvest from the ocean by your by your family within your homelands to the
your family within your homelands to the
your family within your homelands to the aisles of a grocery store that all of a
aisles of a grocery store that all of a
aisles of a grocery store that all of a sudden your staples your eggs bacon and
sudden your staples your eggs bacon and
sudden your staples your eggs bacon and bread your daily coffee it’s not
bread your daily coffee it’s not
bread your daily coffee it’s not available to you anymore imagine the
available to you anymore imagine the
available to you anymore imagine the suffering that you would feel the
suffering that you would feel the
suffering that you would feel the desperation of your body for the foods
desperation of your body for the foods
desperation of your body for the foods that you’ve evolved eating your
that you’ve evolved eating your
that you’ve evolved eating your ancestors have evolved eating and too
ancestors have evolved eating and too
ancestors have evolved eating and too often the degradation of indigenous food
often the degradation of indigenous food
often the degradation of indigenous food systems is overlooked for convenience
systems is overlooked for convenience
systems is overlooked for convenience and capitalism this is affected
and capitalism this is affected
and capitalism this is affected indigenous peoples health for example 33
indigenous peoples health for example 33
indigenous peoples health for example 33 percent that’s one in every three people
percent that’s one in every three people
percent that’s one in every three people in my community now has diabetes and
in my community now has diabetes and
in my community now has diabetes and that’s from the rapid introduction of
that’s from the rapid introduction of
that’s from the rapid introduction of Western food and poverty but people
Western food and poverty but people
Western food and poverty but people today up in health of territory along
today up in health of territory along
today up in health of territory along this coast
this coast
this coast they still Buffalo they gather
they still Buffalo they gather
they still Buffalo they gather traditional foods foods that have
traditional foods foods that have
traditional foods foods that have sustained us and our relationship so I
sustained us and our relationship so I
sustained us and our relationship so I want to give you an example of what
want to give you an example of what
want to give you an example of what indigenous science is so the image
indigenous science is so the image
indigenous science is so the image behind me this is herring eggs when I
behind me this is herring eggs when I
behind me this is herring eggs when I talked with my grandmother viking aunt
talked with my grandmother viking aunt
talked with my grandmother viking aunt so for example when you think of
so for example when you think of
so for example when you think of ecological or seasonal indicators so
ecological or seasonal indicators so
ecological or seasonal indicators so those are natural signals that tell us
those are natural signals that tell us
those are natural signals that tell us when it’s time to harvest and so for the
when it’s time to harvest and so for the
when it’s time to harvest and so for the moon when the moon tips over new sea and
moon when the moon tips over new sea and
moon when the moon tips over new sea and it’s at a quarter moon it’s very small
it’s at a quarter moon it’s very small
it’s at a quarter moon it’s very small it signifies that the herring will soon
it signifies that the herring will soon
it signifies that the herring will soon spawn it’s the healthy new year
so this is an example of my people
so this is an example of my people observing the gravitational pull and the
observing the gravitational pull and the
observing the gravitational pull and the effect the moon has on tides because
effect the moon has on tides because
effect the moon has on tides because when the moon is smallest the tides are
when the moon is smallest the tides are
when the moon is smallest the tides are smallest so our science is not just
smallest so our science is not just
smallest so our science is not just based on what a lot of people deem is
based on what a lot of people deem is
based on what a lot of people deem is folklore story it’s based on a practical
folklore story it’s based on a practical
folklore story it’s based on a practical relationship in place so there is a
relationship in place so there is a
relationship in place so there is a difference between indigenous knowledge
difference between indigenous knowledge
difference between indigenous knowledge digitus science and Western science so I
digitus science and Western science so I
digitus science and Western science so I think I’ll explain that first so the
think I’ll explain that first so the
think I’ll explain that first so the difference is indigenous science we you
difference is indigenous science we you
difference is indigenous science we you can’t have indigenous science without
can’t have indigenous science without
can’t have indigenous science without having indigenous culture we put nature
having indigenous culture we put nature
having indigenous culture we put nature at the center whereas Western science
at the center whereas Western science
at the center whereas Western science often distance itself from culture and
often distance itself from culture and
often distance itself from culture and we often put man at the center of
we often put man at the center of
we often put man at the center of Western science and different scientists
Western science and different scientists
Western science and different scientists and different indigenous people will
and different indigenous people will
and different indigenous people will have different opinions on this it’s
have different opinions on this it’s
have different opinions on this it’s controversial but this is what I believe
controversial but this is what I believe
controversial but this is what I believe this is my grandfather Gaia and I asked
this is my grandfather Gaia and I asked
this is my grandfather Gaia and I asked him about these seasonal indicators
him about these seasonal indicators
him about these seasonal indicators these ecological indicators and their
these ecological indicators and their
these ecological indicators and their importance to our culture he responded
importance to our culture he responded
importance to our culture he responded that these natural signals they’re no
that these natural signals they’re no
that these natural signals they’re no longer as important because our
longer as important because our
longer as important because our environment is changing it’s all
environment is changing it’s all
environment is changing it’s all changing this is showing that Gaia has
changing this is showing that Gaia has
changing this is showing that Gaia has witnessed shifting baselines in his
witnessed shifting baselines in his
witnessed shifting baselines in his lifetime he’s experienced climate change
lifetime he’s experienced climate change
lifetime he’s experienced climate change firsthand within our home territory
firsthand within our home territory
firsthand within our home territory witnessing the collapse of salmon Co
witnessing the collapse of salmon Co
witnessing the collapse of salmon Co abalone and now our herring stocks but
abalone and now our herring stocks but
abalone and now our herring stocks but Western science is telling us this is
Western science is telling us this is
Western science is telling us this is not rare to the house of people on the
not rare to the house of people on the
not rare to the house of people on the Central Coast that global fish stocks
Central Coast that global fish stocks
Central Coast that global fish stocks are collapsing that oxygen deficient
are collapsing that oxygen deficient
are collapsing that oxygen deficient dead zones in the ocean are expanding
dead zones in the ocean are expanding
dead zones in the ocean are expanding that debris and pollution are increasing
that debris and pollution are increasing
that debris and pollution are increasing they’re working really hard to figure
they’re working really hard to figure
they’re working really hard to figure out solutions
out solutions
out solutions Solutions for our relationship with the
Solutions for our relationship with the
Solutions for our relationship with the ocean on ways we can mitigate these
ocean on ways we can mitigate these
ocean on ways we can mitigate these negative effects these changes so as
negative effects these changes so as
negative effects these changes so as Canada celebrated its hundred and fifty
Canada celebrated its hundred and fifty
Canada celebrated its hundred and fifty years of nationhood a lot of indigenous
years of nationhood a lot of indigenous
years of nationhood a lot of indigenous people felt the pain of a hundred of
people felt the pain of a hundred of
people felt the pain of a hundred of fifty years of ongoing colonization
fifty years of ongoing colonization
fifty years of ongoing colonization so it’s this difference in experience
so it’s this difference in experience
so it’s this difference in experience this difference of dichotomy that we
this difference of dichotomy that we
this difference of dichotomy that we need to overcome as a society in order
need to overcome as a society in order
need to overcome as a society in order to have effective management of our
to have effective management of our
to have effective management of our oceans so on the Pacific Northwest Coast
oceans so on the Pacific Northwest Coast
oceans so on the Pacific Northwest Coast we have great biodiversity and it’s the
we have great biodiversity and it’s the
we have great biodiversity and it’s the ocean that is the equalizing factor
ocean that is the equalizing factor
ocean that is the equalizing factor giving us this biological diversity and
giving us this biological diversity and
giving us this biological diversity and it is this ecosystem that we need to
it is this ecosystem that we need to
it is this ecosystem that we need to maintain that’s very rare on this planet
maintain that’s very rare on this planet
maintain that’s very rare on this planet in order to obtain our cultural
in order to obtain our cultural
in order to obtain our cultural diversity as coastal indigenous peoples
diversity as coastal indigenous peoples
diversity as coastal indigenous peoples so to work to mitigate the effects or
so to work to mitigate the effects or
so to work to mitigate the effects or the contrast in values between
the contrast in values between
the contrast in values between indigenous science or indigenous science
indigenous science or indigenous science
indigenous science or indigenous science and Western science I work for ocean
and Western science I work for ocean
and Western science I work for ocean networks Canada because I believe we can
networks Canada because I believe we can
networks Canada because I believe we can learn from both ways of thinking we’re a
learn from both ways of thinking we’re a
learn from both ways of thinking we’re a deep-sea research facility out of the
deep-sea research facility out of the
deep-sea research facility out of the University of Victoria we’re world
University of Victoria we’re world
University of Victoria we’re world leading in cabled observatories we have
leading in cabled observatories we have
leading in cabled observatories we have instrumentation in the deep sea in
instrumentation in the deep sea in
instrumentation in the deep sea in coastal communities and in the Arctic
coastal communities and in the Arctic
coastal communities and in the Arctic and we’re looking at our changing ocean
and we’re looking at our changing ocean
and we’re looking at our changing ocean we’re looking at climate change we’re
we’re looking at climate change we’re
we’re looking at climate change we’re putting instruments down and collecting
putting instruments down and collecting
putting instruments down and collecting 24/7 real-time data and what I think is
24/7 real-time data and what I think is
24/7 real-time data and what I think is all people have always adapted to change
all people have always adapted to change
all people have always adapted to change and as coastal indigenous communities we
and as coastal indigenous communities we
and as coastal indigenous communities we were also adapting to change and
were also adapting to change and
were also adapting to change and utilizing for example innovative
utilizing for example innovative
utilizing for example innovative technologies such as ocean networks
technologies such as ocean networks
technologies such as ocean networks Canada to understand
Canada to understand
Canada to understand our natural world we’re no longer
our natural world we’re no longer
our natural world we’re no longer necessarily having those long
necessarily having those long
necessarily having those long observations based in place but we’re
observations based in place but we’re
observations based in place but we’re using these technologies and our
using these technologies and our
using these technologies and our relationship with place so that we can
relationship with place so that we can
relationship with place so that we can understand what is going on in our
understand what is going on in our
understand what is going on in our environment so in conclusion I want to
environment so in conclusion I want to
environment so in conclusion I want to ask each of you to do something for the
ask each of you to do something for the
ask each of you to do something for the ocean to remember our relationship with
ocean to remember our relationship with
ocean to remember our relationship with the ocean to tell at least one other
the ocean to tell at least one other
the ocean to tell at least one other person that every other breath they take
person that every other breath they take
person that every other breath they take comes from the ocean we need to honor
comes from the ocean we need to honor
comes from the ocean we need to honor our agreements with the ocean so she can
our agreements with the ocean so she can
our agreements with the ocean so she can continue to sustain us to sustain human
continue to sustain us to sustain human
continue to sustain us to sustain human society as water is life and ocean is
society as water is life and ocean is
society as water is life and ocean is everything Wallis Gaia Sokka thank you
everything Wallis Gaia Sokka thank you
everything Wallis Gaia Sokka thank you for your time
for your time
for your time [Applause]
”
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