GLACIER FUTURES GATHERING
The Glacier Futures gathering brought together key leaders and experts to discuss climate resilience in glacierized watersheds of northern BC, Yukon, and Alaska. The goals of the gathering were to: Build relationships and connections across boundaries, watersheds, and regions; Share cross-learnings about glacier change and how it shapes communities, cultures, and environments; Discuss challenges and opportunities for forward-looking stewardship of glacierized watersheds. Held in the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon, the gathering brought together 61 people from 32 organizations, including 13 remote participants.
Participants and presenters shared Indigenous leadership, stories, and learnings of glaciers and climate resilience; scientific information on mining risks, glacier and ecosystem change; and integrative advancements of climate resilience, such as through climate adaptation plans, cultural adaptation, and watershed stewardship actions. Global perspectives and lessons were brought in with Zoom presentations from international experts who shared key lessons and policy approaches from glaciated regions in Bolivia, Argentina, Switzerland, and globally. Interactive conversations explored relations with glaciers and their watersheds, and how they are changing. Participants also worked in small groups to explore potential next steps.
The Longhouse Room echoed with reverence, laughter, and celebration. Across the diverse activities and conversations of the gathering, there were strong through-lines. Key themes that emerged included tensions of grief and celebration, of harm and healing, of change and resilience, of Western and Indigenous perspectives, of past and future, of policy challenges and opportunities, of diversity and integration, and of information and action. Participants shared amazing collective and diverse expertise, with many different approaches and resources.
