Learning from the Land Bridge: Wahkohtowin at the A2A Science Symposium

This April, Wahkohtowin attended the Algonquin to Adirondacks (A2A) Science Symposium in Clayton, New York. Staff members Stevie, Carly, and Elena made the trip south to represent the organization and connect with conservation leaders from across the A2A bioregion, a landscape that stretches from Ontario’s Algonquin Park to New York’s Adirondack Mountains.

Brochures and learning materials shared at the Science Symposium to raise awareness about the A2A Trail and wildlife conservation challenges.

Bringing Northern Perspectives to the Conversation

The symposium brought together researchers, land stewards, and grassroots organizations committed to ecological connectivity. Wahkohtowin is proud to be building a relationship with A2A as a fellow recipient of support from Parks Canada’s National Program for Ecological Corridors — the same program that supports our Height of Land project.

Two Wahkohtowin team members were invited to speak on panels during the event. Elena shared her Two-Eyed Seeing approach to moose research in a session focused on Decolonizing Conservation, and Stevie spoke about the often-overlooked importance of understory plants as part of a panel on Protecting Forests. Both talks helped bring a Northern, Indigenous-informed perspective to conversations happening across the border.

Alice the Moose’s legendary migration helped inspire wildlife corridor protection across the A2A region.

Learning from a Shared Landscape

We left the symposium with new knowledge, new connections, and new ideas for mapping connectivity across our region. It was especially valuable to learn how local land trusts, advocacy groups, and community leaders are advancing conservation in their part of the corridor — and to consider how those strategies might be adapted in the North.

A2A is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the forested link between Algonquin and Adirondack Parks. This narrow stretch of land — where five forest types meet — is a biodiversity hotspot and a vital wildlife corridor. The story of Alice the moose, who traveled over 570 kilometers from the Adirondacks to Algonquin in 2000, continues to inspire the work of many in the region.

Elena, Carly, and Stevie made a stop at the Canadian Canoe Museum on their way back from the Science Symposium.

Connections Beyond the Symposium

Miigwetch to the A2A Collaborative for hosting such a thoughtful and energizing event, and for inviting Wahkohtowin staff to be part of the program. Special thanks to A2A Executive Director Jess Lax for the warm welcome and care throughout the experience.

On the way to Clayton, the Wahkohtowin crew made a special stop at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough to see canoes built by our friend Chuck Commanda and his grandparents. We’re honoured to welcome Chuck back to Chapleau this July for our fifth annual canoe build!

You can listen to recorded talks from the A2A Science Symposium here.

Written by: Elena McCulloch