CONFLUENCE 2024
NEXT WAVE OF ACTION ON COMMUNITY-DRIVEN WATER MONITORING
June 6-7
William Doo Auditorium, 45 Willcocks St, New College, University of Toronto
About Confluence: Confluence is an open workshop spotlighting the new wave of action on community-driven water monitoring. The 2 day event includes a panel on the work of Indigenous-led land and water projects in Toronto; a panel on the work of Nations and communities engaged in regular water monitoring with Water Rangers; a panel on action/outreach/research needed based on this monitoring; and a panel on policy, planning and governance implications. In addition there will be roundtables and informal discussions over food, for all participants, to discuss the panels, work needed, and possible collaborative actions, and a community-based arts project presented by Earthworks Vision.
This event is supported by a SSHRC Connection Grant, Water Allies, Water Rangers, and Water Pathways.
DAY 1: JUNE 6, 2024
WILLIAM DOO AUDITORIUM
45 WILLCOCKS STREET, TORONTO
REGISTRATION
9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.
Light continental breakfast served
OPENING
10:00 A.M. – 10:30 A.M.
PANEL
10:30 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Indigenous-led Land and Water Protection in Ontario and Connecting Rivers
Moderator: Miranda Black (Water Allies, York University)
Panelists: Ikinori Lau (Co-Founder, Earth Works Visions and Founder, Humber River Pals); Star Nahwegbaho (Co-Founder, Earth Works Visions); Ellie Joseph (Two Row on the Grand, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory); April Nicolle (Specialist, Land Based Community Programs, Evergreen Brickworks); Carolynne Crawley(Turtle Protectors); Isaac Crosby (Crosby Gitigan)
LUNCH
12:00 P.M. – 1:30 PM
Lunch for panelists and honoured guests (Lunch on your own for the public)
PANEL
1:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
First Nations and community water monitoring hubs in the Great Lakes
Moderator: Kat Kavanagh (Water Rangers)
Panelists: Julie-Christine Martin, B.Sc. (Project Manager – Mobilization, Strategic Partnerships, and Indigenous Communities Projects, G3E) ; Tianna Back (Mohawk Council of Akwesasne); Grace Hunter (Program and Communications Coordinator, Bay Area Restoration Council); Tess James-Sullivan (Director of Lands and Resources, Missanabie Cree First Nation); Andie Albert (Deshkan Ziibiing/Chippewa of the Thames)
COFFEE BREAK
3:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
PANEL
3:30 P.M. – 5: 00 P.M.
Action, outreach and research panel
Moderator: Gabrielle Parent-Doliner (water Rangers)
Panelists: Dr. Dawn Martin Hill (Associate Professor, Indigenous Studies, McMaster University); Dr. Soren Brothers (Curator of Climate Change at ROM: Science Communication and Community Outreach); Dr. Piatã Santana Marques (Ecology of Urban Waters and People, U of T); Meghan McLeod (Data Specialist, MacKenzie DataStream & Gordon Foundation); Nandita Basu (Canada Research Chair in Global Water Sustainability and Ecohydrology, Director Collaborative Water Program, University of Waterloo); Abraham Francis (Program Manager of the Environment for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA)
FEAST
5: 00 P.M. – 7: 30 P.M.
AUDITORIUM CLOSES
8: 00 P.M.
DAY 2: JUNE 7, 2024
WILLIAM DOO AUDITORIUM
45 WILLCOCKS STREET, TORONTO
REGISTRATION
9:30 A.M. – 10:30 A.M.
Light continental breakfast served
PANEL
10:30 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Water Policy, Planning, Governance
Moderator: Bonnie McElhinny (University of Toronto/Water Allies)
Panelists: Carla Torchia (Environment and Climate Change Canada); Dr. Ingrid Waldron (Professor and HOPE Chair in Peace and Health in the Global Peace and Social Justice Program in the Faculty of Humanities, McMaster University); Dr. Elaine Ho-Tassane (Director of Operations, Northern Ontario Research, Development, Ideas and Knowledge (NORDIK) Institute.); Jim Young (Canadian Water Agency, Freshwater Data Strategy); Michelle Woodhouse (Métis Nation water protector (roots Lac Ste. Anne, AB); Great Lakes and freshwater protections specialist and advocate.)
LUNCH
12:00 P.M. – 1:30 PM
Lunch for panelists and honoured guests
*Afternoon is closed sessions, for panelists and speakers, and other invited participants only. The public is welcome to join Water Rangers staff at Queens Quay for a water testing activity. Click here for details.*
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONs
1:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
COFFEE BREAK
3:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONs
3:30 P.M. – 4: 30 P.M.
CLOSING
4: 30 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
WANT TO PRINT THE PROGRAM?
PUBLIC REGISTRATION
Gratitude.
Water Rangers and Water Allies wish to thank the following for their support of, and contributions to, this workshop:
- Red Sky Candles, a company owned by Jackie Esquimau Hamlin, Anishnabekwe from Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, Manitoulin Island
- Mathew Wells and Cosima Porteus, Directors of the Water Pathways Project at the University of Toronto Scarborough
- The instructors and students of the Toronto Climate Summer School (Dr. Robert Soden, Dr. Rohini Patel, Drin Brown, Michaella Chang, Angelia Chin, Assouma Hammond, Sharvi Jain)
- Star Nahwegahbo and Ikinori Lau of Earthworks Vision
- New College Room Booking Staff
- Kiersten Mccutcheon, Praise Osifo, Nikolas Maclean, and Laura Gilbert from Water Rangers
- Tariq Harney (University of Toronto Excellence Award Recipient)
- Lilly Haughton and Miranda Black (Water Allies)
- Graham Perry (videographer)