Science and Research committee  I've been fortunate in my career. I spent 25 years in the energy sector—forestry, pulp and paper, uranium-based metal and diamond mining—and that interface or nexus between indigenous knowledge, western knowledge and natural resource development. I have to say that I'm tired of the narrative that these things are at odds, because if in fact you investigate the true experience and you put the time into those relationships on the land, the solution to natural resource development in a sustainable manner that also provides for economic opportunities is in the braiding of knowledge systems together, and that's including areas where this is most significant, like the oil sands of Alberta.

Science and Research committee  I would say there are many examples of how to do this well and there are many examples of how to not do it well. Bring your policy analysts out to the land, in the communities that have concerns in a particular policy area that's of interest to the government, and they will see exactly how this is done well in a good way.

Science and Research committee  We are enablers, and it's about relationships. Our goal is to enable and support, with as few barriers as possible, the research that is being done in a place-based context. We are constantly challenging the system in terms of how funding is allocated, how you fund indigenous communities and how you pay honoraria.

Science and Research committee  Thank you for the question. I think the difference is the partnerships on the land right from the beginning. To be clear, this is work we've supported and enabled. The role of the Canadian Mountain Network is to build the relationships, sustain the relationships and manage all of the administration that takes away from the work on the ground so that the work can be done on the land.

Science and Research committee  An example is that the Klinse-Za caribou herd in northeastern Alberta and British Columbia was on the verge of extirpation. Provincial and federal governments, and their management practices, were unsuccessful in sustaining that herd. We funded research that was led by Clayton Lamb at the University of British Columbia and Chief Roland Willson, who is with West Moberly First Nations.

Science and Research committee  There are many indigenous academic scholars who face this challenge all of the time. Those scholars live, every day, the challenge of publish or perish. One of them is a co-research director with our network. I think what is important is to understand that these academic scholars need to be supported to change requirements with respect to tenure, understanding that when you are braiding knowledges or when you're publishing indigenous knowledge, relationships and time....