Keynote: To fight or to create: One Native's perspectives on decolonization - Steve Hampton

To fight or to create: One Native's perspectives on decolonization
Keynote by Steve Hampton (Cherokee Nation/Choctaw) for Decolonizing Bird Knowledge Symposium 2024
Steve Hampton is a member of the American Ornithological Society's Ad Hoc Committee for English Bird Names, where he helped draft the recommendation to change all honorific names. He worked for the California Dept of Fish & Wildlife for 25 years, involved in oil spill damage assessments, seabird restoration, and tribal coordination. He lives in Port Townsend, Washington (also known as qatáy, S'Klallam lands) and serves as the Conservation Chair of Rainshadow Bird Alliance (formerly known as Admiralty Audubon Society). Deep dive into Indigenous Knowledge and the challenges around Western ornithology. Stephen is at stephen-carr-ha...
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Decolonising Birding Knowledge Symposium
Saturday, November 30th from 10:30am to 4:00pm PT
Birding across Turtle Island is undergoing a long overdue moment of accountability and diversification, and this first-of-its-kind gathering heralds the future for birding. In this symposium, hear inspiring speakers on Indigenous Knowledge and decolonization of birding and bird knowledge. Through outdoor walks, a networking lunch, practical case studies and theoretical sessions this will be an inspiring day!
At its heart, Indigenous Knowledge holders continue to confront the biases embedded in western science that dominates this space, reflecting its colonial roots. Together we want to go further and address land dispossession and other decolonizing birding issues.
Hear and learn from our speakers about:
1. Emerging culture shift in birding communities and efforts to decolonize, diversify, and implement ‘Two Eyed Seeing.’
2. Lessons of tackling bird names and efforts at un-naming from the USA.
3. Amplify projects around building inclusivity and cultural safety.
4. Consider where we bird and First Nations’ land rights beneath our feet. How does UNDRIP impact birding?
5. Be inspired by what Indigenous Knowledge teaches us about biodiversity and birding.
Why is the Wild Bird Trust of BC doing this work?
Wild Bird Trust of BC has worked methodically for 7 years towards land back of the only wildlife sanctuary in Vancouver’s harbour. We now recognize that by creating this celebrated birding conservation area 30+ years ago we displaced Tsleil-Waututh Nations from land and waters they have stewarded for millennia. Today the Wild Bird Trust of BC is controlled by Tsleil-Waututh community members, marking the first time a conservation organisation has surrendered control to a local First Nation.
Through public programs and our magazine ‘Wingspan,’ we educate the community and promote this practice. In 2022 we created a Decolonizing Ornithology Advisory committee including Melissa Hafting (Author, BC Birder Girl), Jeffrey Nichols (President RAVEN Trust), and Irwin Oostindie (WBT Board, Decolonization Planner). Our work proposes a disruption in birding practices here in British Columbia, and beyond, towards inclusive birding that reconsiders bird knowledge through an Indigenous lens.
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The Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia (WBT) is a non-profit society that manages the Conservation Area at Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver. Our mission is to provide wild birds with sanctuary through ecological protection and restoration, and support communities with education, culture, and reconciliation programs.
We acknowledge that the Maplewood Flats Conservation Area is situated within the traditional and unceded territory of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN).
wildbirdtrust.org | coastsalishpla...
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