Insights from our 2024 Intern: A Summer with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

Zahur Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Summer Intern 2024

This summer, we had the privilege of welcoming Zahur as CBT's 2024 summer intern, where they played a key role in supporting a variety of initiatives across the organization. Zahur brought fresh perspectives and a strong work ethic, making a meaningful impact on numerous projects. We’re incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication! To learn more about Zahur's experience, read their blog post below.

* We deeply appreciate the Canada Summer Jobs wage subsidy program for partially funding this position and making this opportunity possible.

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"As the outgoing 2024 Summer Intern at CBT, I am so grateful to have been able to spend my summer working alongside so many incredible people in this beautiful region.  

I came across this opening at CBT through luck and a series of happy coincidences. My partner, having wrapped up an artist residency on Quadra Island, had decided to use a travel grant they’d received to work with the Coastal Queer Alliance (CQA) — a queer justice and advocacy group whose work they had been following for a number of years. I later discovered that the CQA is one of the many incredible organizations that have received CBT grants over the years. At that time, I started looking through the Alberni Valley Employment job board, hoping to find some sort of odd job while in the region. Instead, I stumbled across the internship posting from CBT and was struck by how well I felt the organization’s work and ethos aligned with my own interests.  

During my undergrad at McGill University, on the other side of what’s currently called Canada, I got involved with campus campaigns for climate justice, food security, queer liberation and Indigenous sovereignty. At the same time, I was pursuing a degree in Linguistics – an academic passion that I have been interested in orienting toward Indigenous language revitalization. While I have long been invested in the countless intersections between these domains (the harmful extractive and colonial ways that linguistics has historically been practiced being one of many significant aspects), rarely had I come across an organization so clearly recognizing several of these intersections and supporting justice across them. I understand this broad outlook as owing much to the nuučan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth)philosophy of “hišukiš c̓awaak,” translated as “everything is connected” – words I have come to appreciate more and more with each passing day. 

Among the many amazing people and projects I had the chance to work with, I was able to catalogue some of the many projects related directly or indirectly to food security which CBT has financially supported over the years – so far well over a hundred, not even counting the major sources of food-related funding through Neighbourhood Small Grants.  

I also helped to re-catalogue and re-organize the organization’s impressive archive, a collection spanning decades of rich history that had suffered the effects of a flood but which is now hoping to find a new home at the soon-to-be-built Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre. We unearthed news articles, scientific reports, dissertations, meeting minutes, and more documenting the many aspects of the struggle to protect both old growth at Wanačas-Hiłḥuuʔis/“Meares Island” and the sovereignty of the ƛaʔuukʷiatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) and ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht) Nations, tracing the development of the Clayoquot Biosphere Project research group and what would lead to the establishment of the CBT. This felt particularly special knowing that I’d had the luck to be here just as the new conservancies came into effect – in fact on my first day having arrived in Tofino – as an important (though not final) step finally enshrining the legacy of that struggle and many others into law.  

I had the opportunity to participate in two beach cleanups organized with Surfrider Pacific Rim: an iteration of Washed Up Wednesdays (at which I counted somewhere around 200 cigarette butts!) in partnership with Tourism Tofino, and the annual Hands Across the Sands in partnership with Friends of Clayoquot Sound. The latter event included a screening of the beautiful new short film Warrior Spirit documenting the fight of Tsleil-Waututh water protector Will George against the TMX pipeline, which became operational this year, with Will George himself in attendance. The film skillfully interweaves George’s story with the Squamish story of a two-headed serpent. I recall one powerful moment at the event – aside from the many in the documentary itself – when Roxanne Charles-George (a Semiahmoo activist and Will George’s wife) reminded us of how much is extracted from the lands and waters of Turtle Island to fund the war machine, currently manifesting as support for devastation and genocide in Palestine. 

Warrior Spirit followed a shorter feature on ƛaʔuukʷiatḥ resistance. In it, Elder Joe Martin mentions how in 1984 – the year of the declaration of Meares Island as a Tribal Park – chiefs from across what is currently known as BC came to show their support. In 2019, ƛaʔuukʷiatḥ held its own solidarity rally for the Wet’suwet’en Nation’s resistance to the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which is also now mechanically completed. Later in the summer while continuing with CBT remotely from Tio’tià:ke/Mooniyang (what’s currently called Montréal), I attended a screening of Yintah – a film about this same struggle – during its premiere tour, with Wet’suwet’en filmmaker and water protector Jennifer Wickham. Observing the parallels between the two stories was both beautiful and heartbreaking. By the time this is published, both Warrior Spirit and a shorter version of Yintah will be available to stream for free on CBC Gem, and the full-length version of Yintah will be available on Netflix starting October 18, 2024.  

Even before knowing of CBT and the UNESCO Biosphere Region/Reserve program, I have been enamoured with the closely related concept of a bioregion. Bioregionalism encourages us to think about how we can work together to meet the needs of every organism within an area defined by the ecosystemic relationships involving us. These include watersheds and analogous concepts like foodsheds, along with ancestral relationships of Indigenous cultural groups to the land and other beings.  

For several years I’ve been a fan and advocate of the Just Transition Framework for shifting our social, economic, and political systems to ones that are greener, regenerative, and work for everyone – a key component of which is moving our decision-making power toward bioregional governance. Clayoquot Sound is a beautiful example of why the biosphere region designation exists. This region can also be considered part of other nested bioregions: namely Cascadia and the even larger Salmon Nation Trust defined according to the historic prevalence of wild Pacific salmon and the Indigenous cultures that have key cultural and food-related relationships with it. Bioregions are a way to protect the beautiful amount of diversity present in our world: biodiversity, cultural diversity, linguistic diversity, gender diversity, neurodiversity, and so many more. What CBT does to support groups working across these focuses is what deeply attracted me to the organization and what continues to inspire me as I exit my role.  

I would like to thank the CBT team for welcoming me and teaching me so much this summer, as well as all of their incredible work. The team also generously provided me with an extra monetary gift, which I am proud to be donating to Palestinian mutual aid efforts." 

- Zahur Ashrafuzzaman (she/he/they)

Fostering Collaboration: BC's UNESCO Biospheres Gather in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region

October 9, 2024
In early October, the three BC-based UNESCO Biosphere Regions gathered for knowledge sharing within the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region. Each Biosphere Regions works together on shared priorities including biodiversity conservation and climate action. By leveraging our unique strengths and priorities, we are able to collaborate and support each other’s efforts.  

Collaboration and Conservation: Highlights from Our Gathering at the Waterton Biosphere Region

October 9, 2024
Earlier this month, Janessa (Conservation Partnerships Coordinator) and Rebecca (Executive Director), joined colleagues from across Canada’s 19 UNESCO Biosphere Regions for a knowledge-sharing event within the Waterton Biosphere Region. This gathering was made possible thanks to support from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Canadian Biosphere Regions Association. 

Koyah's Journey: From receiving CBT's Education Award to Studying Science at UBC

October 1, 2024
Koyah Morgan-Banke a Toquaht student who received CBT's Central Region nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) Education Award in 2023 and is currently studying Sciences at the University of British Columbia to pursue a career in medicine. She has recently gotten in touch to share an update on her academic journey as well as her personal growth since receiving the award. 

New Signage: Welcoming You to the Haḥuułi of the Five Central Nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) Nations

September 9, 2024
If you’ve driven from Port Alberni to the coast recently, you may have noticed a new sign 2km before you arrive at “the junction.” The sign welcomes you to the ḥaḥuułi of the five central region nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) Nations — hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht), ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht), ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet), and tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht) — where the biosphere region is designated. 

Announcing the 2024 Vital Grants

September 5, 2024
We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Vital Grants. This year, the CBT awarded $80,000 in funding to three inspiring projects in the region. These grants focus on addressing regional priorities and complex challenges that influence sustainability in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. They also aim to support meaningful, longer-term collaboration between organizations, communities, and cultures.

Announcing the Community Prosperity Fund Recipients

September 3, 2024
We are pleased to announce that $125,000 in funding was distributed to support three projects in the region through the Government of British Columbia’s Community Prosperity Fund. The Community Prosperity Fund is a $25 million investment from the Government of B.C. that advances poverty reduction and social inclusion. This fund is part of the Government of B.C.’s commitment to supporting the non-profit sector and empowering local communities to make decisions about what would most benefit them and their communities.

Announcing the 2024 Biosphere Research Award

August 29, 2024
We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Biosphere Research Award. This year, the CBT awarded $20,000 in funding to Ha’oom Fisheries Society for their Coho Vitality Project.

Join our Team!

August 27, 2024
*This position has been filled!  The construction of the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre creates an opportunity to exemplify the richness of the region’s cultures in a physical space, providing opportunities for all local artists to preserve culture and traditional knowledge, while creating accessible economic opportunities through art. The Art Program Coordinator engages community members and partners with the goal to plan, gather, and supervise the creation and installation of art in the future building in scale with available funding.

Newsletter Feature: World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves/Regions

August 26, 2024
We’re honored to have been featured in the World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves/Regions newsletter! This spotlight highlights the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Center and the ongoing efforts in the region to reduce plastic pollution, alongside our collaborative stewardship initiatives. Read more!

Announcing the 2024 Arts & Culture Grants

August 20, 2024
We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Arts and Culture grants. This year, eleven inspiring projects in our region have been awarded a total of $30,000 in funding. These grants focus on supporting arts and cultural activities that encourage inter-generational participation. They aim to promote cross-community and cross-cultural engagement, facilitate learning and teaching opportunities, and strengthen arts capacity through workshops, collaborations, and education. Additionally, these grants prioritize equity-seeking initiatives that address barriers to equal access and participation in the arts, focusing on BIPOC communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. 

Announcing the 2024 Youth & Education Grants

August 9, 2024
We're excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Youth and Education grants. This year, the CBT awarded over $52,000 in funding to eleven inspiring projects in the region. These grants aim to address urgent needs for youth, as highlighted in CBT's 2023 Vital Signs report. They focus on building capacity, providing education and training opportunities, and fostering connections among youth across communities in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. Additionally, the grants support youth-driven projects and promote education and discussion around multiculturalism, inclusiveness, and diversity.

Join our Team!

July 24, 2024
*This position has been filled!  We’re looking for an Executive and Finance Assistant to support the CBT across all program areas. The successful candidate will coordinate the day-to-day administration and operations of the CBT office, creating a welcoming space, hosting events, updating administrative practices, and maintaining records. They will work closely with the Executive Director to support the Board of Directors, as well as work closely with the Finance Coordinator to assist with bookkeeping processes. The Executive and Finance Assistant will work across the CBT to support our programs and events. Apply now!

Announcing the 2024 Community Development Grants

July 23, 2024
We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Community Development grants. This year, five outstanding projects in our region have been awarded a total of $24,000 in funding. These grants are dedicated to fostering accessible, inclusive, healthy, supportive, equitable, and sustainable communities, helping to build a stronger and more united region.

Announcing the 2024 Research & Environment Grants

July 17, 2024
We're excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Research and Environment grants. This year, the CBT awarded over $36,000 in funding to six inspiring projects in the region. These projects address threats to key species and ecosystems and uplift nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) ways of knowing. Efforts also focus on habitat conservation, restoration, and protection for ecologically and culturally important species and ecosystems.

Welcoming our 2024 Summer Intern

July 15, 2024
We're excited to welcome Zahur Ashrafuzzaman (she/he/they), our new summer intern who is already making valuable contributions to a variety of projects across the organization!

Our Team's Experience at EuroMAB 2024

June 11, 2024
In early June 2024, two members of the CBT team, Colin Robinson and Janessa Dornstauder had the opportunity to attend EuroMAB 2024 in the Elbe River Landscape, Germany – a UNESCO Biosphere. Because there are so few countries in North America, Canada, and the USA participate in the European network, while Mexico participates in the Latin network. Read more about their experience!