On January 26th, 2022, the Canadian Mountain Network (CMN) and Reconciling Ways of Knowing: Indigenous Knowledge and Science (RWoK) hosted the event, “Conserving Cultural and Natural Heritage for International Mountain Day”, which highlighted the theme of this year’s International Mountain Day, Sustainable Mountain Tourism. Since 2003, the United Nations (UN) has designated December 11th as “International Mountain Day” to call attention to the world about the importance of mountains to life.
The event was previously scheduled for December 2021 but was postponed out of respect for the communities mourning the passing of Anishinaabe Elder and knowledge keeper, Elder Dr. Dave Courchene, who was also a founding member of RWoK.
Gathering from a diverse range of mountain regions around the Canada, speakers included Barbara Wilson (Haida Nation), William Snow (Stoney Nakoda Nation), Isabelle Falardeau (Université Quebec à Trois-Rivières) and Stephanie Yuill (M.Sc, Gov't of NWT). Our guests share a love for mountains and a close connection to the land, and they are working to support sustainable tourism through their own knowledge systems. They discussed the role conventional tourism and ecological and cultural tourism can play in building resilient economies, supporting Indigenous self-determination, fostering reconciliation, while working towards sustaining and recovering biodiversity.
This event is particularly significant as the year 2022 has also been proclaimed by the UN General Assembly to be the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. This focus not only recognizes the need for preserving the global life support system that is indispensable to the survival of the global ecosystem, but also provides a sound basis for further substantive work on mountain development, thus having a truly global significance for the future of mankind. It is also the 20th anniversary from the first International Year ever devoted to mountains (International Year of Mountains 2002) as well as the 20th anniversary of the Mountain Partnership.
Lhu’ààn Mân Ku Dań Elder Gùdia - Mary Jane Johnson provided the spiritual opening, emphasizing our connectedness to the land and the water, with all trails leading to where we gather on this day. She reminded us that we are caretakers of land and waters on which we gather, and we must respect each other’s awareness of our past into the present, so that we may have a place to be curious, playful, industrious, creative and strong so that all creatures can thrive and be part of the next seven generations.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism development through the meeting point of the three pillars of sustainability: economy, culture and environment. However, we must be careful to distinguish between sustainability and economic gain for the tourism industry versus the creation of a sustainable world, where tourism’s goal should be to make the world a better place.
The speakers shared what culturally and environmentally sustainable tourism means to them in their experience and knowledge systems. Several speakers stated that sustainable tourism can be considered an oxymoron as many fragile mountain and island systems have been impacted by the comings and goings of people who think it is acceptable to take from the land and culture. They cautioned that we must find ways for people to come and visit and respect the sacred places, ecosystems and local communities and customs. This can mean limits on the amount of people that can come visit in a certain period, as well as where they may go.
Another aspect that was discussed during the event is that travelling and tourism are beloved by many as activities that provide enriching life experiences. Tourism allows us to meet new people, learn about new cultures and communities, explore new landscapes, and learn and grow as people. Through travelling, we learn about different ways of knowing and being and find joy in new communities. However, we must ensure that tourism benefits local peoples and communities and provides real tangible economic, support, which is unfortunately often not the case.
When we connect with local communities through tourism, we should leave no trace and no garbage, and leave only money that benefits them directly. With an understanding of that culture comes the responsibility to become their ally and advocate. Tourism may never be perfect, but there are tools that we can use to ensure more people benefit and that we care for these lands with multiple ways of knowing and doing for another seven generations.
Watch the recording of the full event here: