Rethink, Recreate & Reinvent

On June 4 and 5, 2009, in partnership with Northwest Science & Innovation Society (NSIS) and Western Economic Diversification Canada, SNCIRE hosted the 'Rethink, Recreate & Reinvent: Three Rs for a New Natural Resource Economy' Forum in Terrace, BC. The objective was to spark discussion amongst regional community stakeholders to rethink, recreate, and reinvent the natural resource economy in the Skeena-Nass region. What would a new economy look like? How can we move to that economy?
 
A variety of local and provincial thinkers and researchers engaged in discussions and provided insights:
 
3rs forumDr. Gail Fondahl joined UNBC's faculty in 1995, shortly after it opened, as a member of the Geography Program.  Her research initially focused on the development of aboriginal land rights in the Russian North. Once in BC, Gail also began working with Tl'azt'en Nation on co-management of forest resources and on co-management of research. In 2004, UNBC and Tl'azt'en Nation embarked on a 5-year, fully collaborative, community-based research program that looked at sustainable forest management, traditional knowledge, appropriate science education and ecotourism potential for Tl'azt'en Nation. Gail chaired UNBC's Geography Program and the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management programs from 2003-2008. She became UNBC's Vice President of Research last September.

Don Gosnell is a registered professional forester with over 30 years experience in BC's forest sector. Don's early career focused primarily on forest engineering, timber and briefly inventory.  Don has worked for industry, as a consultant, and most recently with the provincial government at the local, regional and provincial levels. For the past two years Don has been the point person in the Ministry of Forests and Range dedicated to supporting the implementation of Government's Bioenergy Strategy as it relates to the forest sector. One of his primary responsibilities is to identify key issues affecting the attainment of Government's bioenergy objectives and to recommend policy and program solutions to government decision makers. Recently, Don has been asked to lead the development of carbon sequestration authorizations (tenures) in support of forest carbon offset opportunities.

Dr. Kathy Lewis is a Professor and Chair of Ecosystem Science and Management at the University of Northern British Columbia, where she teaches forestry, natural resources management, and biology. Dr. Lewis' research interests are in the area of ecological roles of biotic disturbance agents in forests, and the relationships between pathogens and their physical and biological environments. She has served on the Board of Directors for the John Prince Research Forest, jointly managed between UNBC and the Tl'azt'en Nation, the Provincial Forest Appeals Commission and the Environmental Appeal Board, the Board of Examiners for the Association of BC Forest Professionals, the External Review Panel for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and the Provincial Forestry Round table. Dr Lewis has a Bachelor's degree in Forestry from UBC (1983), a Masters in Forest Pathology from Virginia Polytech (1985), and a PhD in Forest Pathology from Oregon State University (1990).

Kim Morrison is Upper Mohawk of the Turtle Tribe of Six Nations located in southern Ontario and has spent most of her life working in locations throughout the world.  Kim arrived in Northern BC 1999 where she worked with the Tsimshian in tourism services training and restoration of the North Pacific Historic Fishing Village located in Port Edward. In December 2007, Kim moved to the Nass Valley, where she has effectively implemented tourism initiatives to open the Nass to a world audience while respecting and maintaining the Nisga'a culture and tradition and highlighting the pristine, natural, and unique environment of the Nass Valley. Kim is a catalyst for change.  Her strengths lie in her ability to come into a place or situation, see the opportunity, and then initiate the process to implement the possible while keeping those things that are important to us like our environment. One of the larger projects she is currently involved with is Lisims Backcountry Adventures Tenure Development

Higgs Murphy is presently developing curriculum for the Log and Timber Program at the North West Community College in Terrace, and will instruct courses there in the fall of this year.  This spring and summer, Higgs is working on developing the Log and Timber facilities at the college and will be doing the log work for the long house being presently constructed on the grounds. Higgs was educated in log building by B. Alan Mackie at his school near Prince George in 1978.  Higgs plied his craft mainly in Ontario and Quebec, specializing in dovetail log construction and log framing.  Before teaching at NWCC, Higgs developed and taught the Timber Frame Program at College of the Rockies, Kimberley, BC for three years.

Andrew Pershin is a Wood Products Processing Graduate from the University of British Columbia. His background and interest in carving as well as his passion for Northwest Coast Design drove him to write his undergraduate thesis exploring how Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) can be ethically merged with Northwest Coast Sculpture. The paper focused on resolving issues encountered while Integrating CAD/CAM technology with Native Design, featuring scanned carvings of Nisga'a Artist Roy McKay, as well as his own computer designed carvings. Bringing a practical approach to technology transfer, product development, and marketing, Andrew is developing a Computer Design Program with the Native Education College in association with UBC's Centre for Advanced Wood Processing.  With the resources and industry expertise at UBC, Andrew is interested in developing wood products and programs with Indigenous and Rural Communities.
 
 
Downloadthe  forum program and presentation materials: