Kwakwakwala Canoe in BC, 2002.
Cooperation with various Inuit and First Nations peoples in Canada has been a foundation for Snowchange since its inception. Below the work and partner relations are explained in brief 2000-2015 with each Nation and region.
Eagle in the Pacific, 2004.
Connections with the Sto:lo date back to 2000. However, main discussions on cooperation ensued around 2005. Between 2006-2010 Snowchange and the Sto:lo established a wide-ranging dialogue on co-management, documentation of traditional land use and occupancy which the Sto:lo had perfected, climate change issues and restoration of traditional knowledge in a community-led style. In 2006 the Grand Chief, later Lieutnant-Governor of British Columbia Steven Point and his wife Gwendolyn visited in Finland, both the in the boreal communities of Southern Finland as well as Ylläs and Rovaniemi in the Arctic. In 2007 Snowchange delegates investigated the ecological restoration work that had taken place on the Skowkale Reserve on salmon habitats. 2007-2010, and since the parties have visited, continued dialogue and partnerships as the occasion has allowed.
This Indigenous-led educational initiative has worked with Snowchange since 2000. The cooperation especially between 2000-2005 has spanned seminars, field visits, online educational courses and joint publications, including Dispatches from the Cold Seas and Snowscapes, Dreamscapes.
It is noteworthy to mention that the Snowchange logo, 'Cultural Warming' has been originally developed for Snowchange by the north Kwakwaka'wakw / Haisla artist Albert Morrison-Hayward.
The first representatives of the Indigenous peoples of Canada to partner with Snowchange came from the Tahltan First Nation, located in the northern British Columbia. Since those days, the connection has remained strong. This partnership with members of the Tahltan First Nation has included student exchanges, joint publications, field visits, joint seminars and Conferences. The dialogue continues weekly.
Snowchange has visited on Haida Gwaii in late 2000, 2001, 2008. Snowchange and Haida participated both in the same events of the World Parks Congress in Australia in November 2014.
Gwitchin First Nation is the northernmost in the country, living mostly in the Northwest Territories. First discussions with the Gwitchin on cooperation issues took place in 2000. In 2001 Snowchange visited in Inuvik and met with the Gwitchin representatives on climate change documentation. Extensive work took place in 2002-2004 on documentation of Gwitchin oral histories on climate change. They were released in 2004. Gwitchin First Nation delegation took part in the Snowchange 2002 Conference in Finland and in the 2008 Conference in Aotearoa, NZ. Since 2005, the parties have maintained cooperation on the Gwitchin oral histories. Snowchange has provided video materials of the Gwitchin Elders to the Gwitchin Social and Cultural Institute, located in the community of Tsiigehtchic, NWT, Canada.
Snowchange has also partnered with several First Nations communities in the boreal zone of Canada. This includes the Wendat, Anishinaabe, KI and other First Nations. Members of these nations participate in the Steering Committee work of Snowchange.