Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge in Integrated Land Use Planning

Moderator Valérie Courtois facilitated a conversation with Dahti Tsetso, Larry Innes, Dr. Monique Dubé, JP Gladu, and Paul Griss, and on the ways in which Indigenous knowledge and science can be brought together in collaborative decision making about land use and resource management (also known as ‘integrated land use planning’ or ‘integrated land management’), to best care for the health of the land and planet.

After the initial round of discussion, Moderator Valérie Courtois turned to our Reconciling Ways of Knowing Convenors for their thoughts connecting the discussion to our ongoing online dialogue series and then turned to registered guests for their thoughts and questions for the speakers. 

Speaker biographies

Valérie Courtois

Valérie Courtois is the Director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, a position in which she has served since 2013. She is a member of the Innu Nation. She a registered professional forester, specializing in Indigenous issues, forest ecology and ecosystem-based management and planning. She holds a degree in forestry sciences from the Université de Moncton. Ms. Courtois has served as a forestry advisor for the Assembly of First Nations of Québec and Labrador, forestry planner for the Innu Nation, and as a consultant in Aboriginal forestry, including certification and spatial planning, and caribou planning. In 2007, she was awarded the James M. Kitz award from the Canadian Institute of Forestry for her early-career contributions to the forestry profession.

dahti tsetso

Dahti Tsetso is the deputy director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative. She is Tłı̨chǫ Dene and played a leading role in the launch and operation of the Dehcho K'éhodi Stewardship and Guardians Program and the establishment of the Edéhzhíe Dehcho Protected Area and National Wildlife Area. Before joining the ILI, Tsetso served as the director of Lands & Resources for Dehcho First Nations in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, working collaboratively with the Nation’s 10 member communities to develop the Dehcho K'éhodi Guardians program that approaches conservation from the Dene perspective, founded on honouring Dene Laws, strengthening the Dene language, and fostering connections between Elders and youth, currently employing about 20 Guardians. Tsetso led a Dehcho First Nations team that finalized negotiations to protect Edéhzhíe – a 14,200-square-kilometre sweep of boreal forest, headwater lakes and caribou grounds west of Yellowknife – as joint Dehcho Protected Area and National Wildlife Area. Tsetso graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Conservation Sciences and Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies. She also holds a Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization from the University of Victoria. She lives in Łíídlįį Kų́ę́ (Fort Simpson), NT, with her husband and three children.

JP GLADU

Jean Paul (JP) Gladu is Anishinaabe from Thunder Bay. He is a member of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek located on Lake Nipigon, Ontario. Mr. Gladu has over 25 years of experience in the natural resource sector including with Indigenous communities and organizations, environmental non-government organizations, industry, and governments across Canada. He is the President of the Alaska–Alberta Railway Development Corporation (A2A Rail). He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business for approximately eight years. Chair of Mikisew Group of Companies, Mr. Gladu also serves on the board of Noront Resources. He was appointed as the Chancellor of St. Paul’s University College Waterloo in 2017 and served on the board of Ontario Power Generation. Mr. Gladu has a forestry technician diploma, an undergraduate degree in forestry from Northern Arizona University, an Executive MBA from Queen’s University, and the ICD.D from Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
 

Dr. Monique Dubé

Dr. Monique Dubé is an executive leader and environmental scientist with over 25 years experience in executive management, environmental research and education, multi-stakeholder negotiations and collaborations, environmental monitoring and compliance, policy and regulation, development of decision support systems, and strategic assessment of environment issues with specialization in cumulative environmental effects assessment. Her strength is in finding solutions to complex, high profile, nexus environmental issues utilizing her experience and strong relationships with governments, industry, academia, Indigenous (First Nations and Métis) communities and the private sector.

Dr. Dubé has published over 250 contributions and is a recognized expert in the field of energy and industrial development, cumulative effects assessment, and environmental science and monitoring. Her leadership in the energy sector has influenced policy and regulation, developed landmark agreements between industries, governments and Indigenous communities, ensured emergency preparedness and community protection, and resulted in development and commercialization of innovative technologies. Dr. Dubé is currently Executive Director of the Canadian Mountain Network at the University of Alberta. Her professional background includes Executive Director (Environment and Analytics Branch, Alberta Environment and Parks) and Alberta Lead of the Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring Program (Government of Alberta), Chief Environmental Scientist (Alberta Energy Regulator), Industry Environmental Lead  (Shell Canada, TOTAL), Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair (University of Saskatchewan), Research Scientist (Environment and Climate Change Canada) and Impact Assessment Lead (Government of British Columbia). She is also the founder and President of Cumulative Effects Environmental Inc (CEEI).