Starting your own business is a risk. You risk the stability of a regular job, you risk committing to contracts and projects that are outside of your expertise or skill set, you risk underpaying yourself, you risk overcommitting in terms of workload, you risk financial standing if you fail to file your taxes properly or miss important deadlines. There are many inherent and unexpected risks. Navigating these has been both a challenge, but also in the adversity there is a sense of adventure, and when successful, the enjoyment that accompanies it. 

2022 has been a year of learning to work smarter. Welcoming work that fulfills my core values and objectives of environmental sustainability and upholding Indigenous rights, knowing that this requires dedication and tireless work, and so yes, the hours will be longer. That being said, my greatest contribution, and not surprisingly my greatest gift to myself, is to only do that work which matches my skills and expertise. The joy of getting older as a woman, is realizing you do not have to be all things to all people. Working as a member of a team, whether with employees of an organization, or mixtures of students and academic researchers, or collaborating with other contractors, everyone has their own unique contribution that deserves celebration and honouring. 

Here are some of the highlights from 2022 for Hlimoo Sustainable Solutions:

-Concluded my work as Senior Indigenous Advisor for Healthy Watersheds Initiative as the majority of the 60+ watersheds projects drew to a close. Authored and launched the report: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Healthy Watersheds Initiative Evaluation Framework and Report.

-Continued my collaboration with the Real Estate Foundation of BC and established a unique and ground-breaking Fellowship aimed at advancing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Fellowship has allowed me to continue, among other objectives, advising and supporting the wrap-up of Healthy Watersheds Initiative, including co-authoring an Op-Ed highlighting some of HWI’s Major Outcomes. 

-Began phase two of the work on Cultural Indicators for the Skeena Environmental Stewardship Initiative, which included providing customized training in Cultural Indicator data collection to over 20 representatives of the Skeena First Nations and the provincial government. We were also able to pilot the data collection for Fish and Fish Habitat with Gitksan Watershed Authorities. I will be working on the final report this January. Coordinated and facilitated a Cultural Learning Session in Smithers/Gitumden Yintah, introducing 130+ provincial government representatives to the cultures, laws, territories, and languages of the Gitanyow, Gitksan, Wet’suwet’en, and Lake Babine Nation.

-Also with the Environmental Stewardship Initiative (and Collaborative Stewardship Framework Forums) saw our Joint Recommendations finally receive provincial Cabinet endorsement, which will now guide the important and long-term work of collaborative stewardship between 65 First Nations and 4 provincial ministries. 

-Provided advisory services to the BC Freshwater Legacy Initiative as they convened various groups to help inform the establishment of the BC Watershed Security Fund.

-Completed data compilation and analysis and authored the report Forestry Survey Summary Report for the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, bringing diverse and thoughtful voices from the Upper Skeena region together to help shape significant change in the forestry sector.

-Delivered customized training to more than 20 academic researchers in the University of Victoria Water Sustainability Collective on building meaningful partnerships with Indigenous peoples to advance watershed research and action. 

-Coordinated the celebration of the 10^th Anniversary of the Gitanyow Lax’yip Land Use Plan with the provincial Minister Josie Osborne and the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs at the Legislative Assembly in Victoria. 

-Commenced the first Wilp Sustainability Assessment Process for Gitanyow assessing the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project under the Gitanyow Ayookxw, applying principles of Gwelx ye’enst and a new climate test for all projects. 

-Finalized and distributed the Management Plan for the Wilp Wii Litsxw Meziadin Indigenous Protected Area, and achieved interim protection with the provincial government as final negotiations continue towards provincial legal designations. 

-Supported and joined the Gitxaala Nation in their efforts to take on the archaic and colonial Mineral Tenure Act, through their legal challenge. Along with other affected First Nations, the First Nations Leadership Council, environmental and industry groups, Gitanyow has applied to intervene, and has submitted evidence in support of Gitxaala related to the mineral tenures established without consent in the Meziadin Indigenous Protected Area. UPDATE: Justice Ross accepted our application to intervene!

-I was invited to join a group of folks working in water-based work to advise and review on the outcomes of an innovative series of workshops aimed at training towards the collaborative development of Water Objectives as a viable legal and policy tool under B.C.’s Water Sustainability Act.

-Continued to be honoured with numerous invitations to guest lecture, present, sit on panels and other speaking opportunities on different projects or work I am involved with. These included for the Circle on Philanthropy, Climate Caucus, The Conservation Through Reconciliation Partnership and through their Virtual Campfire Series, Watershed Futures Initiative, BCIT Program of Ecological Restoration, First Nations Fisheries Council, Toronto Metropolitan University, Matawa First Nations, and the P’egp’ig’lha Council of the St’at’imc.