2020 Indigenous Forum on Cumulative Effects
February 3 to 6, 2020
Westin Calgary, Calgary AB
Building a new, Indigenous organization that will support the technical and scientific capacity of communities to undertake cumulative effects work.
Join the Conversation
Hosted by the Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects, the inaugural Indigenous Forum on Cumulative Effects brings together Indigenous communities, thought leaders and relevant Indigenous organizations to explore and discuss strategies to effectively manage the cumulative effects resulting from development and other activities, such as climate change, on their lands, resources and communities.
Grounded in Indigenous perspectives and worldviews, the Forum will highlight community-based experiences and best practices to address the cumulative impacts of human activities to the environmental, cultural, social and health of communities.Â
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In this way, the Forum will provide an innovative and engaging opportunity for Indigenous communities to network with each other as well as with experts and practitioners in a unique and interactive format. The Forum will also provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the newly-formed Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects and discuss how it can best serve the needs of Indigenous communities.Â
This event is primarily for First Nation, MÃĐtis and Inuit communities and relevant Indigenous organizations who undertake, or aspire to undertake cumulative effects assessment, monitoring and management in their communities. Two delegates designated from the community or organization will be supported for travel to attend the Forum.
About the Centre
Indigenous peoples have a profound connection to their environment and are best positioned to understand how cumulative effects from development and other activities impact their lands, resources and communities over time. However, with some exceptions, Indigenous participation in the cumulative effects assessment, monitoring and management is often limited by the available capacity in communities. Many communities have expressed a desire to develop this capacity in order to effectively and sustainably manage their lands and waters.
The Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects will help to build and enhance the capacity of Indigenous communities for cumulative effects assessment, monitoring and management, based on the values of First Nations, MÃĐtis and Inuit communities. In this spirit, the Centre will help to facilitate networking and the sharing of knowledge and experience among communities as well as assist in the development of necessary tools for communities to undertake projects related to cumulative effects assessment, monitoring and management. The Centre is being developed in collaboration with Indigenous partners and will operate as a not-for-profit organization.
What Are Cumulative Effects?
The Canadian Council of Ministers on the Environment describes cumulative effects as a change in the environment caused by multiple interactions among human activities and natural processes over time. Cumulative effects can impact a broad array of resources and ecosystem components. Identifying and implementing measures to control, minimize or prevent the adverse consequences of cumulative effects will lead to sound and adaptive environmental management practices.
The goal of cumulative effects assessment and management is to preserve ecological integrity and sustain natural ecological processes for the benefit of future generations.