Advancing Indigenous
self-determination,
community capacity and
well-being.

“It is the maintenance of balance that is the general life project.” – Heynahmeek Johnny Mack

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Advancing Indigenous
self-determination,
community capacity and
well-being.

“It is the maintenance of balance that is the general life project.” – Heynahmeek Johnny Mack

Play Video

Building on Indigenous Knowledge

Our work brings community- and university-based partners together to support decision-making and impact assessment informed by Indigenous knowledge and values.
 
Our partners include 9 Indigenous Nations/organizations and
24 university-based researchers across 5 universities and 13 research units.

~ Collaboration

~ Support

~ Systems

~ Training

What We Do

Collaboration

We are committed to supporting the goals and priorities of Indigenous Nations. We believe that solutions come from working together across disciplines and with Indigenous communities around the world. We co-develop adaptable, context-specific systems and tools and make them available to as many Indigenous Nations and organizations as possible. 

Our Work

Supporting
Self-Determination

The Balance Co-Lab’s Sustainability Assessment System (SAS) supports self-determination by integrating Indigenous values, knowledges, legal orders and indicators of cultural, community, environmental and economic well-being into an evaluation of community development opportunities and the assessment of cumulative impacts.

Indigenous partner organizations, scholars, trainees, Knowledge Keepers and community participants work together to identify community priorities and co-develop action plans for Project Teams to carry out the work.

See Sustainability Assessment

Collaborating for
Impact

Our partners include 9 Indigenous Nations/organizations and 24 university-based researchers across 5 universities and 13 research units in Canada, Columbia and Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Community Partners

Shared Purpose in
Our Work

Our transdisciplinary team includes researchers from University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and international partners in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Columbia.

Meet the Team

Empowering

Self-Determination

  • “This project is very critical to the empowerment and self-determination of Indigenous governments and peoples. Basing models on traditional knowledge and ways of knowing directs the work to be done and utilizes self-determination to its fullest. Sharing models with other Indigenous communities around the world adds to the richness of what can be contained in the models. Establishing their own indicators on what is important to each nation is also building on governance and putting the decision making in the hands of the people.”

    Cloy-e-iis Judith Sayers

    President of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council & Chair, Balance Co-Lab Council of Senior Advisors

  • “This project aligns with the mission of CIFAL Victoria to empower communities, and organizations by providing them with skills and resources to action the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially those pertaining to Good Health & Wellbeing, Clean Water & Sanitation, Climate Action and Life Below Water, in addition to advancing our strategic efforts in developing and sustaining long-lasting Partnerships.”

    Dr. crystal tremblay

    Director, CIFAL Victoria, University of Victoria

  • “New Relationship Trust is committed to working with Dr. Matt Murphy and his team to make an adaptable sustainability assessment system (SAS) available to as many Indigenous communities in British Columbia as possible. NRT understands the SAS supports Nations and communities in decision-making related to self-determination, self-governance, and authority over what happens on their territories.”

    walter schneider

    Chief Executive Officer, New Relationship Trust

  • “We support The Balance Co-Lab research program because it aligns with our objectives to ensure a future that provides a safe and affordable environment to raise families; to use our lands in ways that support our traditions, while also looking for new ways to allow our people to thrive; and to maintain balance in decision-making between our cultural connection to the land and having a strong economic land base. The assessment tool facilitates this balanced decision-making approach. We would like to further develop it for our own purposes and share what we have learned with other Nations interested in implementing it within their own territories”

    angela polifroni

    Director of Operations, Toquaht Nation

Logo Artist

Tlehpik Hjalmer Wenstob was raised on Tzartus Island in Barkley Sound, off the west coast of Vancouver Island. It was there that his understanding and desire of pursuing both his traditional and contemporary art practices began. He is an interdisciplinary artist who specializes in sculpture and carving.
 
Hjalmer is from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations on his father’s side, and Norwegian and English on his mother’s side. Recently, Hjalmer and his family opened Cedar House Gallery in Ucluelet, B.C.

Tell us more about your community and your needs

Provide as much detail as you can, and a Balance Co-Lab team member will contact you to find out more about how we can support your community’s goals.

Get in Touch