For the love of Birds! Highlights of recent activities from the Two-Eyed Seeing to Share Knowledge of Ontario’s Breeding Birds project team

The Two-Eyed Seeing to Share Knowledge of Ontario’s Breeding Birds project, a Plenty Canadaand Ontario Nature partnership, has a “Community First” approach, supporting Indigenous community initiatives that increase the protection and recovery of birds at risk and culturally significant birds. Currently, project support has been primarily focused on two key areas, supporting equipment purchases and training for bird monitoring and secondly, youth-focusedcommunity on the land activities.

Over the summer, the two Indigenous Community Liaisons (Sharon Kimberley, Northern Ontario and Martina Albert, Southern Ontario) worked to expand community outreach, sharing project information with Indigenous communities and to develop programming activities in concert with interested groups.

​The community outreach strategy was to build on existing contacts and develop newrelationships by attending pow wows, anniversary events, and other gatherings. Booth materials, hand-outs, posters, and communications were all developed, and were well received. There was a lot of excitement over the draws for binoculars that were held at every event the Indigenous Community Liaisons attended.  Many people enjoyed looking at the materials, checking out their favourite birds in a copy of Atlas-2 that was on hand for sharing bird stories. The give-away bird stickers were a big hit with both young and old!
 
Activities and events were held in different communities in Ontario. Sharon, the North Liaison, travelled to Fort Severn to facilitate a knowledge exchange between Atlas bird surveyors who had paddled down the Fawn and Severn rivers to Fort Severn, and meet Fort Severn community members. The exchange was lively, with information shared from all participants. The grandmothers told amazing stories of knowing exactly to the day when the snow geese would return. The snow geese return is not as predictable now due to climate change.
 
Bird monitoring training and nature walks also occurred throughout the province. The Sustainable Development team, plus the Youth Land Guardians from Timiskaming First Nation came to the Hilliardton Marsh for a day of bird monitoring training and bird banding. It was a truly educational experience for all involved. Beaverhouse First Nation welcomed Atlas participants and Sharon for their Family Day. The Atlassers led a youth nature walk, inspiring the young people with all their bird stories and knowledge.
 
Martina, the South Liaison, travelled to various powwows and other community events acrosssouthern Ontario. Educational events included a youth birding workshop with Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, where youth learned how to use birding equipment and record survey data, and a birding hike at the Neyaashiinigmiing Powwow.
 
The project has also supported bird surveying for Webequie First Nation and Alderville First Nation.
 

​Are you an Indigenous person interested in hearing more about the Two-Eyed Seeing Knowledge Sharing project? If so, please contact Sharon Kimberley at [email protected].
 
— Emily Morris and Sharon Kimberley

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