We are pleased to partner with Dr. Pam Shaw, Research Director and Graham Sakaki, Regional Research Institute Manager at the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute (MABRRI) at Vancouver Island University (VIU) to bring the Local Futures project to life in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR), which is one of over 700 UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves across the world.
MABRRI is “a centre for collaborative research, innovation, and knowledge sharing that elevates the relationship between people and nature within the MABR.” The team at MABRRI have been active in promoting and advancing the SDGs at VIU and in the surrounding community through several projects and initiatives over the past decade.
The project, Universities and the SDGs: Engaging the VIU Campus Community with the 2030 Agenda, increased knowledge about the SDGs both on campus and in the broader community and strengthened collaboration to advance the SDGs in the region. This project used diverse methods for SDGs education and promotion including piloting The World’s Future Social Simulation, a scavenger hunt on campus, hosted a workshop focused on localizing the SDGs with municipal partners and a SDGs video series. Additionally, this project sought to integrate Indigenous knowledge into discussions on sustainability at VIU and in the community.
The focus of integrating Indigenous knowledge into the sustainability work at VIU led to another project, Braiding United Nations Global Agenda: Supporting the SDGs and UNDRIP. MABRRI, in collaboration with the Canadian Mountain Network (now Braiding Knowledges Canada), explored how collaboration between, or “braiding together,” Indigenous and Western knowledge systems is necessary to advance the SDGs and to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights on Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). This project advocated for advancing the SDGs in a way that is aligned with UNDRIP to create a more sustainable and inclusive future.
MABRRI’s ongoing research, community engagement, and collaboration with Indigenous communities on the SDGs provides strong leadership for localizing and advancing the SDGs in Canada.
Check out our full list of partners on the Project Partners Page.