THE ROUNDTABLE
The Indigenous Roundtable on Grizzly Bear Conservation & Bear Viewing Ecotourism (The Roundtable) is a growing, Indigenous-led process that recognizes the inherent Rights and Title of First Nations to advance Indigenous laws, governance, policies, and stewardship practices rooted in cultural heritage, traditions, and values.
We are pleased to announce that the Province of British Columbia has officially reinitiated its consultation process on the Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework & Commercial Bear Viewing Strategy! The Grizzly Bear Foundation has signed an agreement with the Province of British Columbia to support First Nations consultation through The Roundtable, and we are now inviting First Nations to register for the May 2025 Roundtable. This consultation is a vital part of developing a world-leading model for grizzly bear stewardship that centres Indigenous leadership and values.
Registration is essential to ensure your community’s participation in this important consultation process. Please complete your registration by May 6th to ensure your voice is heard. Associated travel costs will be covered by request.
Any Nations that have questions about The Roundtable can contact Richard Sparrow, rsparrow@grizzlybearfoundation.com
Our Impact
The Roundtable has grown into a trusted and respected forum for First Nations to gather, listen, and learn from one another in a culturally safe space. It continues to provide an innovative and powerful opportunity to share knowledge and experiences, strengthen First Nations institutions, build community capacity, and co-develop new initiatives that benefit grizzly bear conservation and Indigenous-led economic development. Key milestones include: :
- Growing Participation: The Roundtable is increasingly seen as a space for listening, learning, and mutual support.
- Collaboration with Government: The Roundtable has been formally adopted by the BC government as a key consultative body for developing the Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework and Commercial Bear Viewing Strategy.
- International Interest: Inspired by our work, the California Grizzly Bear Alliance has expressed interest in adapting the Roundtable process for their region, following GBF’s participation in a 2024 gathering in Sacramento, California.
A Collaborative Approach to Conservation
At the heart of The Indigenous Roundtable on Grizzly Bear Conservation & Bear Viewing Ecotourism (The Roundtable) is a commitment to valuing both Indigenous knowledge systems and Western science. This collaborative model is clearly outlined in the Roundtable’s Terms of Reference and Strategic Plan, and reflects our shared goal of creating lasting, respectful, and reciprocal relationships. The Roundtable continues to provide an innovative and powerful opportunity to share knowledge and experiences, strengthen First Nations institutions, build community capacity, and co-develop new initiatives that benefit grizzly bear conservation and Indigenous-led economic development. With generous financial support from the Vancouver Foundation, Audain Foundation, and the Real Estate Foundation of BC, the Grizzly Bear Foundation has supported and hosted The Roundtable since our inception. The process is directed by First Nations government delegates and Indigenous ecotourism business operators who bring deep knowledge and lived experience to the table.
Grizzly Bear Stewardship
With growing support from government, The Roundtable has now been formally adopted as an additional consultative mechanism with BC First Nations for the development of the Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework and Commercial Bear Viewing Strategy. This marks a significant step forward in shaping a world-class approach to conservation and Indigenous-led governance, with the potential to influence broader wildlife stewardship efforts across the province.
Under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, the Crown has a legal obligation to consult and accommodate First Nations where their Aboriginal or Treaty rights may be affected. This duty is foundational to any government-led process that impacts Indigenous lands, waters, and wildlife—including the Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework (GBSF).
While consultation is a legal requirement, the Grizzly Bear Foundation believes it must also be a meaningful, relationship-based process that centers Indigenous voices and leadership from the outset. Through our ongoing Roundtable process and relationship-building with First Nations across British Columbia, GBF is helping to shift the consultation process with the Province of BC toward one that reflects the true spirit and intent of Section 35—one rooted in partnership, respect, and shared stewardship. Through these Roundtables, we have worked alongside First Nations to elevate their priorities, perspectives, and knowledge systems, ensuring they meaningfully inform the development of the GBSF. The Roundtable will reflect the voices, traditions, and governance systems of First Nations across the province. It is an opportunity to define grizzly bear stewardship through an Indigenous lens—grounded in cultural teachings, lived experience, and the deep, reciprocal relationships that exist between Indigenous Peoples and grizzly bears. By supporting and advancing this work, GBF is committed to helping ensure that grizzly bear stewardship in BC is not only world-leading, but also rooted in justice, reconciliation, and the rightful leadership of Indigenous Peoples.
In our commitment to carrying this forward, we are spotlighting innovative projects and stewards of the land to celebrate and acknowledge ancient relationships through our e-newsletter, The Knowledge Keeper. Each month, we will navigate subscribers through curated stories, research, and Indigenous Knowledge—ways of knowing—that guide Indigenous-led grizzly bear conservation. We hope you will join us and invite others as well.