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THIS IS OUR LAND. WETHEARELAND
TSI means Tahltans working together to transform how things are done. Through TSI, the rules are changing. And we are shaping the process.
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A Stewardship Planning Advisory Committee will be started very soon, and we encourage those interested in joining this group to reach out to get involved. Through this group, Tahltans with on the land experience and technical expertise will be reviewing and collaborating with us. This group will make recommendations and advise on how to look after Tahltan Territory now and into the future.
Now, we have a say in decisions that matter for our people in accordance with our values and knowledge. We decide how to protect our culture, care for our lands, water, air, fsh, and wildlife. We decide how to sustainably manage our territory.
The Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) is our opportunity for transformative change based on the recognition of Tahltan Title and Rights.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative is for the Tahltan Nation to fulfll its inherent stewardship responsibilities for all lands, water, air, wildlife, fsh, and natural resources within Tahltan Territory. We will accomplish this vision through the work being done on our projects including the Tahltan Stewardship Plan (TSP) and direction from Tahltan membership. The TSP is being developed for Tahltan Territory and will be based on Tahltan knowledge and worldview on how to properly care for our land.
TAHLTAN INITIATIVESTEWARDSHIPWEBSITE
Interested in learning more or getting involved?
If you do not have a lot of time to commit but would like to contribute – you can. There are many ways for you to stay informed and be a part of this important work. Visit: tsi.tahltan.org at any time to learn about each of our projects, connect with project team leads and members, complete project surveys and mapping exercises, watch previous engagement sessions, and more – whenever it works for you!
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Get Involved!
Reach out to us: communications@tahltan.org
1987 Resource Development Policy 2003
EFFORTS & INITIATIVES
Each of these projects and efforts has helped to advance our Nation and support our unifed goals founded on the principles of mutual respect, recognition, and reconciliation of Tahltan title and rights. Together, we work to protect the environment, safeguard our culture and heritage, ensure shared revenues and other benefts from sustainable development, and strengthen the well-being of our Tahltan Nation family.
Formation of the Tahltan Heritage Resources Environmental Assessment Team (THREAT)
Out of Respect Report 2018–2021202020162013
The Klappan Plan and the Klappan Management Board
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The Tahltan Ancestral Study with Elders
201520192017
Culture & Heritage Department formed within the TCG
Lands Department formed within the Tahltan Central Government
The Collaborative Stewardship Framework with the 3 Nations and the Province of British Columbia
2005
The Shared Decision-Making Agreement with the Province of British Columbia Wildlife Department formed within the TCG Fisheries Department formed within the TCG
1980s
Our approach is supported by the Tahltan Stewardship Plan Methodology which has four priorities:
» Our work is founded on Tahltan knowledge, culture, and language including Tahltan Ancestral Study and other data, Tahltan stories from the past and present, and Tahltan language.
» Tahltan relationships: Maintaining the Tahltan ways of being, including spiritual, physical, and emotional connections with and within the land, and with one another – exercising Tahltan collective rights and title.
Provide
2 A technical approach that centers on Tahltan knowledge supported by current best practices of western knowledge which are aligned and support our work:
» Guided by set core principles including the 1910 Tahltan Declaration, 1987 Resource Development Policy, and Tahltan Law and Values.
1 A relationships-based approach that is grounded in the Tahltan way of being:
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PLAN UPDATES
TSI & TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP
Maintain terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem health
» Using technical data to highlight relationships and connections.
Maintain a focus on the health of the land as a whole – earth, air, water, living beings, spirits, and connections between them.
» Tahltan participation: Tahltans sharing their knowledge, deepening their relationships with the land and community through opportunities for engagement, involvement, and collaboration.
Ensure the land can continue to support the Tahltan way of life. guidelines for land use
» Guiding the incorporation of current best practices of western knowledge to support Tahltan knowledge and values for a holistic approach.
Our collaborative efforts are guided by the work of the Tahltan Central Government Lands, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Culture & Heritage Departments.
There are two areas of focus to our planning approach:
» Setting goals to maintain land and water ecosystem health and the Tahltan way of life at the territory, regional, and site-specifc levels while guiding development in the territory.
As spring changes to summer, Tahltan’s Stewardship planning is ready to blossom. Our sacred Mother Earth relates to our methodology because, “Tahltan recognize that everything has a spirit and Tahltan have obligations to take care of the spirit of everything within our territory, Tahltan have our own way of stewardship and decisionmaking.” Our collective spirits and love of Mother Earth will use Tahltan laws and worldview to guide our planning process.
Ensuring the land can continue to support Tahltan’s way of life; and,
1 This is a Tahltan-led process, grounded in a relational approach. This means it is a process driven by all Tahltans and their relations to Mother Earth.
Kyle Risby TSI Youth Representative
Earth Mother & Tahltan Stewardship Planning
Earth Mother is a Tahltan Story that demonstrates Tahltan’s close relationship with Mother Earth and animals. Earth Mother is animate like our mothers, the rocks are her bones, and water is her milk. All animals are born from a woman and therefore, animals are the same as people with the same blood, and they are our relatives. Our Sun Father is a good man who gives us sunshine and warmth and tries to make people happy. When he is sick or sorrowful, he hides his face and then comes clouds and rain.
Our methodology has the following priorities:
• Providing accessible stewardship demonstrates that Tahltans can plan for shared land uses that third parties can apply to satisfy the objectives and constraints required to maintain ecosystem health and the Tahltan way of life.
Our methodology and stories combine with Tahltan citizens’ ideas, perspectives, and experiences to enhance our stewardship. Our plan requires Tahltans to share how their relations to the land and enjoyment can be protected for future generations. Throughout the next months, Tahltans will have the opportunity to share their voice in the planning process. We hope to hear about Tahltan’s recreational land use, hunting, fshing, and other land uses.
Our planning process believes that the Tahltan Stewardship Plan will directly affect the way that Tahltan people live with the land. Tahltan have obligations which shape the way that they exercise their collective Tahltan rights and title.
David Rattray TSI Elder Representative
Two key components of the methodology are:
2. Indigenous knowledge is centered as the most reliable and primary source of information. This means that Tahltan knowledge will be complemented by all other available information, where appropriate.
Maintaining terrestrial & aquatic ecosystem health;
• Maintaining a focus on the health of the Earth as a whole – land, air, water, living beings, spirits, and connections between them;
By Kyle Risby & David Rattray
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Our planning process believes Tahltan land is healthiest when Tahltans are enjoying, exploring, and exercising rights and title on the land. To collectively build a generational stewardship plan we must put our differences aside and hold on to the love and relations we have with the land. Our Earth Mother requires Tahltans to hold up our relations with honour and to act with love and care.