Worksheet #3 – Mapping Community Values about Biocultural Conservation Biocultural Conservation Biocultural diversity is "the diversity of life in all its manifestations: biological, cultural, and lin

Rekindling Respectful and Reciprocal Land Relations towards a Center of Excellence Walpole Island First Nation, Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Magnetawan First Nation, Shawanaga First Nation, and the University of Guelph T5 - Decolonizing Science and Education T7 - Re -establishing Healthy Relationships to Wild Species T9 - Healing Physical and Spiritual Relationships to Nature. To develop and implement an intercommunity and intergenerational pilot program braiding Indigenous pedagogy and environmental science. Over two years, this program would strengthen and unite existing Land - based youth education experiences in the Great Lake s region in hopes of strengthening relationships towards the establishment of a 'Centre of Excellence' hub led and administered by First Nations members. The program will engage Indigenous and non -Indigenous youth in Land -based learning exchanges among Fir st Nations and academia. Walpole Island First Nation, Wiikwemkoong Unceded territory, Magnetawan First Nation, Shawanaga First Nation, and the University of Guelph Arboretum will offer programs that aim to decolonize science, braid knowledge systems in env ironmental monitoring and research, foster good relationships among all our relations (human and non -human) while prioritising Indigenous knowledge, values, and ways of knowing. Inter -nation exchanges will begin to heal the disconnections between communiti es imposed by colonial violence. At the same time, the movement of youth will allow them to connect with a declining number of Elders and language speakers across the geographic region, lightening the load placed on too few individuals.