Can Geo: Did you notice any obvious misconceptions with common stereotypes of First Nations during your experience?

They certainly live in direct contact with the physical land that surrounds them, including the ecosystems, salmon cycles and halibut cycles. Because they see it every day they are more in touch with it that way, but to suggest that they are somehow more environmentally attuned than the rest of Canada or the world is not true. Ultimately, humans are humans, and the cultural traits they display have more to do with political and geographic conditions than any internal genetic expression.

Can Geo: Do you think population resurgence among First Nations will help people like the Heiltsuk and Haisla regain control of traditional land?

Definitely. First Nations are the fastest growing demographic in the country right now. There’s now the first generation growing up that hasn’t been influenced directly by the residential school legacy. They all have parents and uncles and grandparents who went through it, but nobody today is growing up in a residential school.

You’re seeing a lot more cultural pride, a lot of young leaders coming up who are really confident working in their traditional cultural landscape. But they also have university degrees and have lived in cities and know both worlds very well. I really think the time of the First Nations has come in a way — the tide has been reversed. Things have been going from bad to worse for so long and my sense is that it has changed. There’s still a lot to be fixed but the trend is toward better now.