Selected
2023 Indigenous Communities Fellowship

Coalescence Curriculum on Carnivore Coexistence

A braiding of culture, science, and technology into a decolonial and interactive online education platform where youth can learn how to coexist with large carnivores.

Team Leader
Stephanie Barron
A braiding of culture, science, and technology into a decolonial and interactive online education platform where youth can learn how to coexist with large carnivores.

The Problem

Within the last ten years, Montana livestock owners have reported depredation events at four times the rate of occurrence than in 2013. An influx of new residents to the state has resulted in increased conflicts due to failure to secure attractants such as garbage, hobby farm livestock, and produce gardening.

The Solution

The Coalescence Curriculum on Carnivore Coexistence solution seeks to reduce human-carnivore conflicts through further development and transformation of the physical version of the Coalescence Curriculum into a virtual format that can engage the next generation of land users and decision makers. The objective is to build an interactive online platform where learners of all ages can access a resource woven from Indigenous and Western sciences that can better inform their carnivore-conflict mitigation approach. This interactive and multimedia virtual curriculum will be freely available and highly accessible for all learning levels. By teaching residents of Northwest Montana why coexistence with carnivores is important and providing them with the education and tools to prevent conflicts the solution stands to greatly influence the perceptions residents have about grizzly bears and other large carnivores. Through shifting perceptions it hopes to facilitate a reality where both humans and carnivores can thrive.

Stats

Coalescence Curriculum on Carnivore Coexistence is in development, with its online platform preparing for launch.

What is the name of your organization?
Animo Partnership in Natural Resources
What is the name of your solution?
Coalescence Curriculum on Carnivore Coexistence
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
A braiding of culture, science, and technology into a decolonial and interactive online education platform where youth can learn how to coexist with large carnivores.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Missoula, MT
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
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What type of organization is your solution team?
Not Registered as Any Organization
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Within the last ten years, Montana livestock owners have reported depredation events at four times the rate of occurrence than in 2013. An influx of new residents to the state has resulted in increased conflicts due to failure to secure attractants such as garbage, hobby farm livestock, and produce gardening.
What is your solution?
The Coalescence Curriculum on Carnivore Coexistence solution seeks to reduce human-carnivore conflicts through further development and transformation of the physical version of the Coalescence Curriculum into a virtual format that can engage the next generation of land users and decision makers. The objective is to build an interactive online platform where learners of all ages can access a resource woven from Indigenous and Western sciences that can better inform their carnivore-conflict mitigation approach. This interactive and multimedia virtual curriculum will be freely available and highly accessible for all learning levels. By teaching residents of Northwest Montana why coexistence with carnivores is important and providing them with the education and tools to prevent conflicts the solution stands to greatly influence the perceptions residents have about grizzly bears and other large carnivores. Through shifting perceptions it hopes to facilitate a reality where both humans and carnivores can thrive.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
This project will serve the 32,000+ human residents of the Flathead Indian Reservation, especially members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of present day Montana, by creating content and activities that expand upon the existing Coalescence Curriculum. As the public has more access to resources they will be better able to identify their personal risk for carnivore conflict based on how they are using their land. By making carnivore-conflict prevention information more accessible to the public our solution will empower residents to take active steps towards reducing the likelihood of human-carnivore conflict. Finally, this project will also serve the 100+ grizzly bears, hundreds of black bears, 30+ wolves, and untold number of mountain lion residents who also live on the Flathead Indian Reservation. By facilitating public access to coexistence information and technology we reduce the opportunity for carnivores to engage in depredation or destruction of property.

Organization Type:
Not Registered as Any Organization

Headquarters:
Missoula, MT, United States

Stage:
Concept

Working In:
United States

Solution Website:
https://www.animopartnership.org

Solution Team:
Stephanie Barron
Stephanie Barron
DIANA DOAN-CRIDER
DIANA DOAN-CRIDER