We welcome all those interested in supporting thriving cultures and environments to join A Transboundary Gathering: Digital Ecocultural Mapping in the Salish Sea on August 22 - 27, 2023, see agenda link above.

The Digital Ecocultural Mapping Project began as a partnership between the Native-led nonprofit Whiteswan Environmental (WE) and Institute for Multidisciplinary Ecological Research in the Salish Sea (IMERSS). The project supports data visualization and storytelling about natural, cultural, and historical sites, bringing ancestral village sites, camps, reef net locations and 13 moons food sovereignty back to life. To learn more about the Digital Ecocultural Mapping project please see the videos here and the map prototype here (Note: to use the prototype, select the swan or anywhere on the concentric circles to activate.)

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) is working with WE, IMERSS, and Western Washington University's Center for Community Learning (WWU CCL) to bring together tribal colleges and tribal members from the US and Canada, as well as Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, students, researchers, scholars, US National Park Service, Parks Canada, and other government officials to learn more about how they can participate in and support further development of the Digital Ecocultural Mapping Project.

The gathering will center around social and place-based learning activities to build relationships, inspire participants to contribute to the work, reveal opportunities for collaboration, address challenges, and support the co-creation of promising approaches to Digital Ecocultural Mapping. We will tour three ancestral village sites during this time:

• Xwotqwem village site, see Census Tract #53073000600 near Whatcom Creek

• Pe’pi’ow’elh village site, see map of English Camp, SJI NPS

• Lhe lhin q’welh village site, see map of  Henry Island, Kellett Bluff Preserve

There is no event fee for in-person or hybrid participation, but donations are welcome at Whiteswan Environmental (WE).

For the fifty people attending in-person, meals are provided from the evening of the 22nd on through to the lunch of the 27th. For those traveling in the four 12-passenger vans, vehicles and ferry tickets will be provided.  

• For respected elders who are traveling, Whiteswan Environmental (WE) would like to honor you with hotel and travel accommodations. WE have rooms reserved for you and will need to know asap if you will be joining us.   
• Box lunch choices for Thursday, August 24, 2023
• RSVP Silver Reef Casino Hotel reservations by Monday, August 7, 2023 by 11:59 pm. Mention “Whiteswan Environmental, WE Workdays” for our special room rate: 360.383.0777
• If you are not riding with our four 12-passenger vans, RSVP independent ferry reservation asap, see page 9 on the event guide above.
• If you are traveling to San Juan Islands to camp, please start prepping for the packing list suggestions on page 5 of the event guide above. New two-person tents, pads and sleeping bags are provided on site.
• Twenty independent overflow guests can camp at the National Parks Service. Please contact me as soon as possible if you are interested via Face Book messenger or shirley.williams.we@gmail.com.
• If you haven't done so already, please fill out the emergency form.

For hybrid participation, we will buddy you up with an in-person participant and you can join us in the conversation, listen in, view the scenery, or join our design clinic during the time periods found on our event guide, page 5-9, watch for updates. Here is the Zoom Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89866355090 and Meeting ID  Meeting ID: 898 6635 5090. Please fill out this interest form to be added to our contact list. You will receive a calendar reminder with the Zoom Link before the date of this event.  

Independent travelers for the Whatcom Creek, San Juan Island and Henry Island day events are welcome, see event guide above for dates and times. Remember to bring a packed lunch, drink and travel chair for comfort.

• Thursday, August 24th, 12:00 - 2:00 PM Envision a House of Healing House of Learning Longhouse Xwotqwem village site, Whatcom Creek, Bellingham, WA
• Friday, August 25th, 12:30 - 4:00 PM Pe’pi’ow’elh village site, see map of English Camp, Highlighting Cross-sector Collaborations with National Parks Service
• Saturday, August 26th, Site visit to Lhe lhin q’welh village site, see map of Henry Island, Kellett Bluff Preserve, Highlighting Cross-sector Collaboration with Bureau of Land Management and San Juan County Land Bank

If you have any questions, please feel free to email shirley.williams.we@gmail.com.