Ethical Space: Indigenous Engagement for Environmental Science Professionals

March 20-21, 2025, 10-1 PT/ 1-4 ET  |  March 27-28, 2025   10-1 PT/ 1-4 ET  |  April 3-4, 2025,  10-1 PT/ 1-4 ET

Led by Gwen Bridge (Gwen Bridge Consulting) and James Rattling Leaf (Wolakota Lab)  in partnership with COMPASS, this interactive two-day workshop will introduce you to the practice of Ethical Space, a powerful conceptual framework designed to support the reconciliation of Indigenous and western worldviews in order to co-create a just and vibrant future. This is a unique opportunity to learn from two leaders in this space; there is nothing else quite like this in North America.

Indigenous Peoples are key partners for achieving natural resource management and conservation goals. But first, western science professionals need to understand how to collaborate with Indigenous partners in a spirit of respect and reciprocity. The practice of Ethical Space will expand your understanding of Indigenous worldviews and help transform your relationships and collaborations with Indigenous partners.

In this workshop you will:  

  • Learn about tools and resources to develop your plan for incorporating Ethical Space into your work with Indigenous Peoples
  • Build your foundation of core knowledge about Indigenous issues in Canada and the United States, including the impacts of historical and contemporary policies on Indigenous land management
  • Understand preparatory steps for ensuring a smooth engagement process with Indigenous communities
  • Explore traditional ecological management and research in an Indigenous cultural context

Virtual Details

Our virtual workshops aren’t your typical webinar. We keep things moving and engagement high through  a combination of facilitated group discussion; brief, relevant and interesting content presentation; and meaningful activities in breakout rooms. This workshop will be six hours over two consecutive days (3 hours per day), with less than an hour of prep work/homework. 

By registering for this workshop, you are committing to active participation in the workshop, for the benefit of both yourself and the group. Please also plan to use a webcam whenever possible during discussion and breakout room portions of the workshop. Due to the progression of materials presented and the paired exercises, we cannot admit participants who are more than 15 minutes late. More information can be found in the FAQ below.

Technology

The workshop will be held on the video conferencing platform Zoom. If you are unfamiliar with the platform, this one-minute video explains how to join a meeting. You will need a webcam, microphone, and stable internet connection. Recommended upload/download speed is 5Mbps/5Mbps. Test your internet speed here by clicking “run speed test.”

During the workshop, we will also use MURAL, an online visual collaboration tool that facilitates real-time interaction. Mural does not require an account or software, just an up-to-date web browser. We’ll do a quick how-to during the workshop as well, but playing with it in advance can be helpful. Click on this link to watch our 11-minute tutorial video. If you’d like to try MURAL yourself, click this link and then select ‘View as Visitor’ when the popup opens each time (it will open twice).

“

You illuminated a path forward for one of the most complex social and economic challenges of our time.

~Christopher Nicolson, CEO CWSAA

Frequently Asked Questions

 

I need to arrive late/leave early. Is that ok?

We are unable to admit participants who arrive more than 15 minutes late due to the progression of material presented. You will not receive a refund if you are more than 15 minutes late. If you unexpectedly need to leave the workshop during a portion of the event or early, we cannot guarantee we will be able to readmit you to the workshop, depending on how long you are gone. Part of the magic of our workshops is the peer feedback and peer-to-peer learning that takes place. To ensure that is possible, we need everyone to be present for the full workshop.

My webcam doesn’t work. Can I still attend?

A functional webcam is highly recommend, but you can still attend as long as you are able to verbally participate in group discussion and paired exercises in breakout rooms.

Can I call in to the workshop?

This workshop includes visual content viewed via Zoom screen sharing and browser-based content, so we do not recommend that you solely call in to the workshop.

Will the workshop be recorded?

No. For the privacy and comfort of all participants, this workshop will not be recorded.

Will there be other dates or opportunities to join a COMPASS virtual workshop?

Yes! To stay up to date on our virtual offerings, sign up for our newsletter.

What does it mean to be waitlisted?

We create a waitlist for workshops that reach capacity so that we can offer spots as they become available. If there is a cancellation and a spot becomes available, we will open up registration for the first person on the waitlist and then work our way down the list as other spots become available. We will contact you directly to let you know if a spot has opened for you.

What is your refund policy?

If you have to cancel up to 7 days before the start of the event, you will receive an automatic full refund minus the Eventbrite processing fee if paid through Eventbrite. If you cancel within 7 days of the event, you will receive a 50% refund. If you cancel within 24 hours of the event, you will not be eligible to receive a refund. If you cancel within 24 hours, have technological issues during the workshop, or unexpectedly need to leave the workshop early, we will determine on a case-by-case basis whether or not you can receive credit for a future workshop.

Can I transfer my ticket to another person if I can no longer attend the event?

Yes! Participants are allowed to transfer their registration up to 24 hours in advance of the event. There is no charge to transfer registration, unless there is a price difference between the tickets.

Can I purchase tickets for other people?

Yes! You will need to have the names and email addresses of the people for whom you are purchasing tickets. To complete the purchase, you may enter “N/A” for the additional questions in the order form. Once the tickets are purchased, an order confirmation will be sent to the purchaser and to each participant. The participants can then retroactively fill out the additional questions in the order form.

Still have questions?

Contact us at trainings@COMPASSscicomm.org and we’ll do our best to answer them!