Kitasoo Xai’xais Cultural Compass: Directing Indigenous marine stewardship
| dc.contributor.author | Leech, Zoe | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-07T19:59:38Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-11-07T19:59:38Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description | UVic Sustainability Scholars Program Final Report | |
| dc.description.abstract | Invited by the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation, this project sought to uplift cultural and spiritual indicators into a tool that could be used when interfacing with crown government agencies on proposed marine activities. Through a decolonial literature review, hands on learning in Klemtu, and a Nation-led, relational research process, the work resulted in a draft “Kitasoo Xai’xais Cultural Compass”. The compass provides a decision-support guide that integrates the stewardship guiding principles, biocultural mapping, and photo-voice storytelling to inform co-management. Key insights include the critical role of Indigenous values in marine protected area systems, the need for intergenerational knowledge transfer through hands on learning, and the effectiveness of aligning Indigenous-led conservation practices with western science for holistic marine management. Deliverables include a decolonial literature review on uplifting Indigenous cultural and spiritual values into marine planning, mapped cultural values for Gitdisdzu Lugyeks (Kitasu Bay), and a draft rationale guide for future engagement and refinement by the community. By centering these values, the Kitasoo Xai’xais Cultural Compass also serves as a foundation for tracking shifting climatic changes and cultural perceptions as conditions adapt over time. | |
| dc.description.scholarlevel | Graduate | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Kitasoo Xai’xais Stewardship Authority | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/22901 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.subject | Kitasoo Xai’xais | |
| dc.subject | marine protected areas | |
| dc.subject | cultural compass | |
| dc.subject | climate change tracking | |
| dc.subject | stewardship | |
| dc.subject | biocultural mapping | |
| dc.subject | co-management | |
| dc.subject | Sustainability Scholars Program | |
| dc.subject.department | School of Environmental Studies | |
| dc.title | Kitasoo Xai’xais Cultural Compass: Directing Indigenous marine stewardship | |
| dc.type | Report |