EXPERT PANELIST

Erik Blaney is a born and raised Tla'amin Nation citizen who has been very active in his culture while growing up where his ancestors have lived since time immemorial.

Erik is currently on the Executive Council for the Nation and holds the portfolio for the Lands and Resources Department fitting his background in Natural Resource Management and passion for protecting his ancestral territory.

Most people locally know Erik for his many cultural appearances throughout the local community from Kathaumixw and Blackberry Festival to the openings at Sea fair and the annual Cultural Days at Ay'jumish (Willingdon Beach).

Growing up Erik's traditional name given to him was "Menathey" which meant drum keeper and gave Erik the role of keeping the culture for the Nation alive through song.

Being part of the joint working group is an honor for Erik, and as a cultural leader in the region it is vital to tie connection to land, with the connection to the people on the land and bring forward Tla'amin history and culture to the important conversation happening at the table.

ARTIST AND STORYTELLER

Naomi Steinberg has over 20 years experience performing traditional folk and fairytales with diverse communities in contexts such as schools, theatres, forests, festivals and conferences.

She uses movement, clown, contemplation, and vocal dynamics to enhance storytelling performance, all while encouraging awareness of the planet, intercultural sensitivity, and the inclusion of diverse learning styles. www.naomisteinberg.ca

Recently, Naomi went around the planet without taking an airplane, carrying the story of Goosefeather with her. In June 2020, she published a book about the experience. www.goosefeather.ca

EXPERT PANELIST

Chris Morgan has spent over 30 years working as a wildlife researcher, wilderness guide, and environmental educator on every continent where bears exist. His research and education work focuses on the interface between humans and wildlife - especially carnivores.

Chris is the host and co-creator of 'THE WILD with Chris Morgan’, a podcast that transports people back to nature through exquisite storytelling about wildlife, conservation, and the wonders of our wild planet. Within its first year, the podcast hit the top 1% of all podcasts and has become a hub for Chris’s storytelling through audio and film. All part of his mission to reconnect people with nature, so they fall in love with it, and want to protect it.

Chris is executive director of Wildlife Media, the non-profit organization that produced BEARTREK, a feature-length documentary that follows Chris’ journey by motorcycle to Alaska, Peru, the Canadian north, and Borneo. The film’s campaign has generated support and exposure for critical bear conservation projects in these areas.

He has hosted award-winning productions for PBS, BBC, National Geographic and The Discovery Channel.

EXPERT PANELIST

Ms. Aimee Mitchell (MSc, RPBio), has been involved in the field research, data analysis and provincial Wildlife Habitat Area report compilation aspects of various species at risk (SAR) (Western Painted Turtles, Red-legged frogs, Coastal Tailed Frogs, Northern Goshawks, Great Blue Herons) recovery work in B.C. through her position as an Intern Biologist at the B.C. Ministry of Environment in 2008-2010.

She continues to consult and advise governments, first nations, stewardship groups and private landowners all over the South Coast on species at risk conservation and recovery with targeted work on additional SAR including Western Screech Owls, Western Toads and listed Bat species. She has been the Project Manager for the Coastal Painted Turtle Project (CPTP) since 2011 and Executive Director of the umbrella organization, the Coastal Partners in Conservation Society, that operates various SAR and conservation projects (including the CPTP) since its establishment in 2018.

ARIEL PERFORMER

Keely studied modern dance in a three year post-secondary program in Vancouver and graduated in 2003. After touring as a dancer on a tall ship along the American eastern seaboard, she was beckoned into the aerial circus world of extreme play and physicality.

Her performance career led to many adventures... magician’s assistant, aerial stunts, aerialist in the 2010 Olympics, Cuba Cruises, teaching sway poles in India, wall dancing in Hong Kong and creating a culinary show in Mexico.

In 2017 Keely started a multidisciplinary aerial circus program in Powell River, called Aerial Edge Performing Arts.

PANEL FACILITATOR

Kelly Chapman Ph.D., R.P.Bio. is an ecologist and an environmental planner with 30 years experience working with Government, First Nations and NGOs on biodiversity conservation.

She has worked with species and ecosystems at risk in some of the most biologically diverse landscapes in Canada and the world, including the Okanagan’s semi-desert grasslands, West Africa’s Guinean rainforests, and Australia’s southwest eco-region.

For her PhD research she explored how complexity theory can be used to help untangle ‘wicked’ environmental problems. Kelly is currently working on nature-based climate change adaptation for BC’s south coast.