March 19, 2021
Moving towards a decolonized conservation practice in Canada: Successes, challenges and opportunities
Dr. Robin Roth
Associate Professor, University of Guelph
Abstract
It is well established that colonial logics have informed the vision and practice of mainstream conservation and helped shape its practice. State-led protected areas have become nearly synonymous with the displacement and marginalization of Indigenous Peoples and can be understood as part of the very fabric of colonialism, used as a means through which colonial and modern states gain and maintain control over Indigenous territory. Moving away from such logics of separation and disconnection towards logics of connection and re-attachment is what drives a movement supporting Indigenous-led conservation in Canada. The presentation will introduce the Conservation Through Reconciliation Partnership, a growing network of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, conservation organizations and agencies who are weaving together research, (virtual) gatherings, capacity building and education in Ethical Space and with a commitment to Two-Eyed Seeing. I will identify some of the successes, as well as potential challenges and opportunities associated with our collective desire to catalyze transformative, decolonial change in the conservation sector.
Biosketch
Robin Roth is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics at the University of Guelph, Canada. She is a political ecologist interested in the relationship between state led conservation practice and Indigenous peoples with research projects in Southeast Asia and Canada. She currently co-leads and is PI on the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership, which is a collective effort to support Indigenous-led conservation and transform existing conservation practice to be better aligned with Indigenous knowledge systems, governance and law.