Projects

Nature from the Wisdom of Knowledge Keepers

The relationship between Indigenous peoples and Nature spans centuries. Yet, this knowledge and wisdom rarely finds its way to popular awareness and culture. With Nature from the Wisdom of Knowledge Keepers, we aim to change that. Indigenous peoples know things about Nature that we don’t. They know about animal knowledge, the workings of Nature, and natural phenomena that even science discovers later, but undoubtedly, the combination of the two disciplines (Nature and science) can enhance and further learnings that were not evident before. With this project, the Nature Agency plans to partner with First Nations to help amplify Indigenous knowledge and approaches to Nature that have served them for generations – and that we in BC and Canadian society can now learn from and embrace as part of our ongoing heritage, including knowledge inputs for the wellness and sustainability of the land.

Leading this project is Robert Jago, an Indigenous communications and engagement specialist.

Robert Jago is a writer and entrepreneur from the Kwantlen First Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe. He has written on Indigenous issues for the Walrus Magazine, Globe and Mail, Macleans, the Guardian and more. He has most recently hosted the podcast, Pretendians – which investigated false claims of Indigenous identity.

Besides his work in the media, he has been active in governance reform in his home First Nation, and has brought together community members to push for free speech and democracy on reserve. For the last two years he has been working with a downtown eastside charity, to help aspiring entrepreneurs create microbusinesses, with the goal of lifting them out of poverty. In the meantime, he has also created his own business, which provides key data on Indigenous communities to journalists and local government looking to work with First Nations.