In partnership with ECO Canterbury and Environment Canterbury, Sustainable Ōtautahi Christchurch are working on a significant project to record and promote the history and stories of environmental leadership and achievements from the Christchurch and Canterbury community.
This project has a number of objectives:
- To learn of our long history of kaitiakitanga for Nature – from centuries of tangata whenua practice through more recent decades of activities
- To provide profile for locals of Ōtautahi-Christchurch, past and present who have contributed
- To provide stories and connection for environment education
- To encourage the interest in protection and preservation of our environment and natural heritage
- To provide context and motivation for further actions
- To ensure the past gains for biodiversity are not lost
- To provide pride in Christchurch and its legacy, with role models for the next generation.
Background
Canterbury people have long provided local and national leadership in speaking out for Nature – from those involved in early tangata whenua practise (whose practices, taonga and places need recognition), through to current times. Together, we want to record stories and histories before they are lost. For, knowing what and who came before, and stories of our local community leaders and movements, empowers and motivates current community ownership and participation in furthering their work. Priorities around freshwater management and indigenous biodiversity reflect much of what they worked for and this project hopes to make these connections alive and powerful.
Save the date
This project is well underway with a number of stories already captured. There is an opportunity to learn more about this project (and the related Te kāhui tūao (Constellation of Volunteers) Telling our Story Project) at a hui in Tūranga – Central Library, June 29th. More details here.
