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warming than anywhere else .” Voyer says . “ Shrubification ( the expansion of shrubs across the arctic ) is a result of this change . It hinders wildlife , and flora , and will drastically change the lives of Indigenous Peoples .”
Canada ’ s unique biodiversity and culture is a large draw for leisure and business visitors alike , with incentive groups increasingly taking interest in sustainability and local activities run by Indigenous Peoples and businesses .
“ From my talk , I want the audience to come away knowing that it ’ s a small world we live on , and we need to protect it . Additionally , for stakeholders and politicians to understand this impact too .”
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Matricia Bauer ( Isko-achitaw waciy ) – mountain mover Her name translating to ‘ she who moves mountains ’, Matricia Bauer is an individual leading the charge towards cultural sustainability in tourism . As a Sixties Scoop survivor , Bauer ’ s personal journey of discovery and decolonisation led to her founding Warrior Women Inc ., whose collective of Indigenous women educates visitors through the beauty of their drumming , singing , and culture .
Alberta-based Bauer has since become a cornerstone of Canada ’ s incentive offerings , and her education experience ranges from sharing her crafts with visitors to speaking at international conferences . Bauer ’ s notoriety made her one of Destination Canada ’ s first ports of call for speakers .
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The talk she initially proposed , on food sovereignty , was not the topic chosen in the end by TED . For Bauer , her preliminary discussions with TED provided an example of what event organisers should consider when including Indigenous speakers : “ In settler society , we view education of knowledge as a certificate . In Indigenous culture , knowledge is from the land and time that we spend with our elders – and their lived experiences . There ’ s no certificate for the time you spend with your elders learning Indigenous knowledge .”
Bauer ’ s talk on the day was a whistlestop tour of her story and how she has Indigenised herself . “ There ’ s always a takeaway with a TED talk that every person can relate to ,” she says . For Bauer , it was not letting the past define the future , and to redefine how we consider the Canadian tourism sector .
“ It was brave of Destination Canada to redefine what being Canadian is about , and to really own those stories of trauma and history in our past . They ’ re holding space and place for Indigenous people to do what they do in the best way , and the partnership with TED does that well .”
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Rebecca Darwent – philanthropic adviser In Rebecca Darwent ’ s case , a colleague reached out to share the application and encouraged her to apply . As a philanthropic adviser , social |
Left to right : Normand Voyer , Matricia Bauer ( Isko-achitaw waciy ) and Rebecca Darwent
“ At events like TED @ DestinationCanada , we can create a sense of belonging and a roadmap for other places to turn to ”
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entrepreneur , and co-founder of the Foundation for Black Communities , Darwent ’ s wealth of experience and activism made her a clear choice for the event .
The application process for speakers “ forced us to think deeply and be succinct ”, allowing applicants a minute to share their talk idea followed by a 15-minute call . After being chosen , TED supplied Darwent with a coach to prepare for the talk and help the event run smoothly . On the big day , Darwent used her professional experiences as a social worker and in the non-profit sector to challenge the traditional methods of philanthropy , delving into how black philanthropy and participatory practices offer a community-led model to emulate instead .
For Darwent , events and platforms like TED allow her to push the topics close to her heart into the limelight , explaining that : “ Like many industries , philanthropy is going through a period of recognising and realising that some communities have been excluded from leadership , decision making , and influence .”
TED @ DestinationCanada , and similar events , also play a large role in showcasing diversity in Canada , Darwent explains . By speaking at TED , she was able to share with the platform that the Foundation for Black Communities is the first of its kind in Canada to receive a $ 200m investment from the federal government , demonstrating Canada ’ s community-led approach .
“ People and places are turning to Canada as a blueprint for how we can tackle social challenges . By showcasing Canada ’ s diversity at events like TED @ DestinationCanada , we can create a sense of belonging and a roadmap for other places to turn to .”
TED @ DestinationCanada took place 23 February 2023 at the TED Theatre in New York City
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