Environmental Communication

Salmon Back is a 19-minute documentary film about environmental activism taking place in a small community. This film investigates potential solutions to salmon decline and current work being done to preserve wildlife in the Nicola Valley. Featuring various local perspectives, Salmon Back is a timely and community-engaged research project. Local Indigenous representatives, BC ranchers and a fisheries biologist unite in an impactful discussion on the decline of the salmon population and what can be done about it. This film explores water storage solutions, habitat revival/maintenance, the importance of collaboration and the impacts of climate change. Inspirational and grounded, this film connects to a wide variety of audiences. Thought-provoking use of storytelling and visual aids provide viewers with hope for the future, solution strategies and information on the current state of the Nicola ecosystem. Through semi-structured interviews locals share their personal stories, raise awareness about environmental concerns and highlight their efforts to save the ecological integrity of their homeland. The salmon decline has impacted Nicola Valley locals from all walks of life, together this community is working hard to do what has to be done. With emphasis on collaboration, Salmon Back is a call to all, the environment needs our help.

Canadian environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) and governments have historically lacked diversity in their conservation communications. The legacies of colonization, systemic racism, and classist scientific knowledge mobilization have shaped how environmental messaging is distributed and received. Addressing the triple planetary crisis—climate change and biodiversity loss—requires diverse voices and knowledge systems to unify audiences and inspire action.

This project examines two environmental communications case studies that embrace diversity, advance reconciliation, and promote ecological/cultural repair, in effect modulating the way ecological protection and storytelling might have taken place. Each case study will show how ENGOs integrate different knowledge systems and spokespersons to communicate about environmental issues. The inquiry focuses on whether organizations have publicly available Indigenous reconciliation or DEI statements or policies, how media messaging incorporates cultural and ecological messaging, and whether they weave in Indigenous or vocational knowledge alongside Western science. My hypothesis is that Canadian ENGOs focused on repair and reconciliation in external communications create campaigns that recalibrate ecological communication practices.

This project contributes to broader Canadian communication knowledge creation focused on weaving plural knowledges, employing respectful diverse communications practices, and designing communications as an exercise in reconciliation.