Islands Community Stability Initiative (ICSI).  Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). 1995-1996

The Islands Community Stability Imitative (ICSI) involved the two Haida Nation communities of Old Massett and Skidegate and four non-Indigenous communities of Sandspit, Queen Charlotte City, Port Clements and Masset.  The intent was to come to an agreement among the communities about setting aside land management areas for the Haida, establishing a more sustainable economy and increasing the level of control and decision making on the island for the communities.

In 1995, based on my research on community forestry and experience working with Indigenous communities, I was invited by the Gowgaia Institute to fly up Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) to carry out six Community Forestry Seminars and a workshop on Community forestry.  Two seminars were carried out on Old Massett and Skidegate Reserves, and the workshop was carried out on the Skidegate Reserve.

In 1996, I was invited by the Gowgaia Institute to return again and was retained for three months to assist in ICSI, where I supported the negotiations table, undertook policy research and advisory work, and wrote articles that were published about land and resource management and planning and the challenges to achieve socioeconomic sustainability for the archipelago.

The ISCI declaration was signed off on by the six communities in March of 1996 and I returned to Thompson Nicola Region shortly after that to take on the role of Forest Renewal BC (FRBC) Tribal Forestry Coordinator for the Nicola Valley Tribal Council.

Cultural Survival Areas Project 2016-2021

As General Manager of Eshknam Cultural Management Services (Four First Nations Joint Venture) I wrote and obtained $500K and then facilitated the Cultural Survival Area Project that involved eight Indigenous Communities from two separate Nations working together to draw up forestry management practices to protect Cultural Survival Areas which represent some of the most sensitive cultural and spiritual aspects of the Indigenous Communities involved.  Cultural Survival Areas involve three types of cultural features:

• Living Beings (Sasquatch and Little People)
• Things or places (Pit Houses, Sweat Houses, Pictographs, Gravesites
• Activities/Spiritual (some examples are Xa?Xa?, Ghosted, Spirted, Heal One Self, Puberty, Birth, Forbidden)

Key aspects of this land use planning included:

• Extensive cultural research and interviews with elders and knowledge keepers
• Learning and appreciating the cultural landscape context of all the CSAs
• Approaching the management of the CSA areas to facilitate contemporary Traditional Use and other activities – activity in the land is essential to monitor and manage
• Facilitating non-impacting or acceptably impacting forestry activities in the area
• Realizing that traditional/contemporary use would overlap with Sasquatch and Little People activities and planning accordingly.
• Focusing on forest practices that are operational, and able to involve a joint management approach by Indigenous Communities/FLNRO/Industry.

Moreforsking (More Research), Senior Researcher, Norway.  2000-2002

Hired as a senior researcher to work at Møre Research Volda, one of three research institute offices that form Møreforsking in Møre og Romsdal Norway.  First international senior researcher hired, with focus on international projects, particularly EU funded projects. Actively involved in business development and promotion of the institute.  Principal author for winning proposal on Green Health submitted to the Norwegian Social and Health Directorate that was one of the largest contracts for the institute. Evaluator for EU funded Intereg projects in German, Austria, and Norway.  Served as country representative, research lead and/or steering committee on multi-country EU projects addressing such topics as:

• • Development of National Forestry Programmes (EU Funding).
  • Forests, Trees, Human Health, and Wellbeing (COST).

• Urban Demand and Rural Production (COST).

Government/Community/NGO Contracted Research 1995-2000

• Research and report on the Crown Tenuring Process for the BC Government.
• Yukon Forest Tenure and Policy – Yukon Conservation Society

Academic Research and Teaching/Lecturing

Paul has taught at universities and has guest-lectured across Canada, Norway, and at Oxford University. He has led or supported six training courses and workshops on Indigenous Engagement and Public Participation.

He has presented at over 60 international conferences and has authored and co-authored chapters for books on Trans-disciplinary research and management, global change, land and resource planning and indigenous people and tourism, indigenous people and treaties and resource access, forestry and communities and legislation.

Paul is an Adjunct Professor and member of the Professional Advisory Team for the University of British Columbia Land and Water Systems Program.