54 degrees North
54 degrees North
Nikki Skuce
54 degrees North has four series. The first documents the science and stories of climate change from local residents in the Smithers region of British Columbia. We're already facing climate impacts and are warming faster than other regions. We will need to both act and adapt. This podcast includes 6 episodes made possible from a Wetzinkwa Community Forest grant. It was recorded and produced by Nikki Skuce on unceded Witsuwit'en territory between August and November 2019. In 2020, the COVID19 pandemic highlighted the need for greater food security in the northwest. This 5-part series gathers tips and tricks from gardeners, explores programs to make growing food more accessible, and digs deeper into barriers and solutions to food security from regional food producers. The third included a follow up interview on Indigenous food sovereignty and an episode exploring the Healthy Watersheds Initiative projects in the Skeena. The latest season takes a look at salmon resilience and connections. Contact us at [email protected]
Salmon resilience in the Taku region
As part of our salmon connections and resilience series, we go further north to Taku River Tlingit territory to learn about the work and research being done to protect salmon and adapt to changing conditions from climate impacts. Thanks for the interviews and insights from Mark Connor and Chris Sergeant.Music thanks to the late Telkwa Ted Turner, and to Facundo Gastiazoro for the art.This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory between July and October 2022. 54 Degrees North is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) from the Northern Confluence Initiative (a project of MakeWay), with some editing assistance by Namita Prakash thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs program. Contact us at [email protected] or check us out on Instagram @northern_confluence.
Dec 2, 2022
42 min
Skeena Estuary - critical salmon habitat
The Skeena River is the second largest salmon producing watershed in Canada and a critical part of it is the unique and highly productive estuary. The area deserves protection from future threats and is essential to the survival and resilience of salmon and cultures in this region. In this episode of 54 Degrees North, we learn more about this critical habitat as part of a series exploring salmon connections and resilience.Interviews and insights from Yahaan (Don Wesley) and Dr. Jonathon Moore.Music thanks to the regionally talented Los Gringos Salvajes, and art work thanks to Facundo Gastiazoro.Thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs program for helping make this possible. This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory in the summer months of 2022. 54 Degrees North is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) from the Northern Confluence Initiative (a project of MakeWay), and edited with the help of Namita Prakash. Contact us at [email protected] or check us out on Instagram @northern_confluence 
Oct 11, 2022
26 min
Mining risks to salmon watersheds
As part of our salmon connections and resilience series, we explore the potential impacts of mining on salmon watersheds. The episode features some of the authors who collaborated on a science and policy paper published in Science Advances in July 2022 that reviewed the ecological complexities of rivers and some of the risks mines can have on salmon watersheds. We also hear from those facing impacts from mining on the Fraser River. Thanks for the interviews and insights from Chief Laceese, JP Lapointe, Jonathan Moore, Chris Sergeant, and Nuskmata.Music thanks to the regionally talented Los Gringos Salvajes, and Facundo Gastiazoro for the art.This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory in the summer months of 2022, along with clips from a 2021 webinar “Dilution is not the Solution to Pollution”. 54 Degrees North is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) from the Northern Confluence Initiative (a project of MakeWay), and edited with the help of Namita Prakash.  Thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs program for helping make this podcast possible. Contact us at [email protected] or check us out on Instagram @northern_confluence. Take action to help reform BC’s mining laws at: https://reformbcmining.ca 
Oct 11, 2022
29 min
Salmon connections - the heart of it all
As part of the salmon connections and resilience series for 54 Degrees North, we reached out to a number of people who have defended salmon in some way against the myriad of threats they face. We hear about their connectedness to this critical species that is so intertwined with cultures and communities of the Skeena region and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Interviews and insights from Yahaan, Chief Namoks, Nuskmata, Jonathon Moore and Chris Sergeant who share their salmon love stories and connections.Music thanks to the regionally talented Telkwa Ted Turner, whose music lives on, and to Facundo Gastiazoro for the artwork.This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory in the summer months of 2022. 54 Degrees North is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) from the Northern Confluence Initiative (a project of MakeWay), and edited with the help of Namita Prakash. Thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs program for helping make this podcast possible. Contact us at [email protected] or check us out on Instagram @northern_confluence 
Oct 11, 2022
16 min
Healthy Watersheds
After a challenging year, we're exploring positive stories from the Skeena Region. In this episode of 54 degrees North, we explore the Healthy Watersheds Initiative projects taking place in this region. Learn more about the restoration economy and reconciliation in action. Thanks to Tara Marsden, Sarah Railton and Jeff Anderson for the interviews. Thanks to Facundo Gastiazoro for the artwork and Los Gringos Salvajes for the music. This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory during COVID-19 via Zoom in June and July 2021. 54 Degrees North was produced and edited by Nikki Skuce. Contact us at [email protected].
Aug 11, 2021
31 min
Tea Creek Farm and Training Facility
This is a follow-up episode of 54 degrees North with Jacob Beaton from Tea Creek Farms about how their training program and food sovereignty initiative managed to operate through a year in a pandemic. Thanks to regionally based Saltwater Hank for the music and Facundo Gastiazoro for the artwork. This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory during COVID-19 via Zoom in April 2021. 54 Degrees North was produced and edited by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce). Contact us at [email protected].
Jul 2, 2021
32 min
Food preservation - Digging deeper into food security
In this episode of 54 degrees North, we hear tips and preferences for putting food away that avoids spoilage and extends local food security through the year.  Interviews and insights from Shannon McPhail, Laurie Gallant, Gwininit (Yvonne Lattie), Jennifer Zyp, and Emily Bulmer.   Music thanks to the regionally talented Saltwater Hank and artwork thanks to Facundo Gastiazoro. This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory during COVID-19 via Zoom in May and June 2020. 54 Degrees North is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at [email protected]
Jul 6, 2020
9 min
Food Security in the Northwest - Digging deeper into barriers and solutions
In this episode of 54 degrees North, we hear directly from food producers in the wider Bulkley Valley region about their farms and businesses, and their suggestions for overcoming barriers to be a more food secure region. Interviews and insights from Jacob Beaton, Laurie Gallant, Mark Fisher, Crystal Nelligan and Shannon McPhail.   Music thanks to the regionally talented Saltwater Hank and Los Gringos Salvajes. Artwork by Facundo Gastiazoro. This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory during COVID-19 via Zoom in May and June 2020. 54 Degrees North is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at [email protected]
Jul 3, 2020
41 min
Gardening in the North - Digging deeper into food security
In this episode of 54 degrees North, we hear tips and tricks from gardeners and harvesters in the Bulkley Valley region. Interviews with Gwininit (Yvonne Lattie), Jennifer Zyp, Shannon McPhail, Emily Bulmer, Crystal Nelligan, Mark Fisher, Felix and Lucia Gastiazoro.  Music thanks to the regionally talented Los Gringos Salvajes and Saltwater Hank. Thanks to Facundo Gastiazoro for the artwork. This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory during COVID-19 via Zoom in May and June 2020. 54 Degrees North is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at [email protected]
Jun 30, 2020
30 min
Origin Stories - Digging deeper into how food producers got started
In this episode of 54 degrees North, we hear origin stories of how food producers from the Bulkley Valley region got started - their motivations behind where and what they grow. Interviews with Laurie Gallant, Jacob Beaton, Crystal Nelligan and Mark Fisher.  Music thanks to the regionally talented Saltwater Hank and artwork by Facundo Gastiazoro.This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory during COVID-19 via Zoom in May and June 2020. 54 Degrees North is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at [email protected]
Jun 30, 2020
23 min
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