Image:https://cliparts.co/
Building on Collaboration: Building Expertise
International Research Teaching Forests Incorporated looks toward collaboration with expertise to develop strong research and development teams on a project-by-project basis.
Through the development and support of a dedicated “International Research Cluster with a focus on Nontimber Forest Benefits” we aim to provide exciting new information about Forests, increase insights into greater Forest Accessibility inclusive of edu- & eco – tourism and experiential learning, and further Sustainability: environmentally, socially, and economically, in rural communities in partnership with our climate regulating and life-sustaining forests!
Are you a talented researcher with an interest in beginning a new research project proposal related to forests?
Contact us to share your ideas for collaboration!
To learn more about our successful
Maple Syrup Production Training Program
designed for and partnering with
The Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Natural Resource Program
CLICK HERE!
The Glendale Early Partnership – NSCC (Nova Scotia Community College Natural Resource Program)
To learn more about our successful
Maple Syrup Production Training Program
designed for and partnering with
The Wagmatcook Indigenous First Nation Community
CLICK HERE!
To learn more about our successful
Maple Syrup Production
partnering with
Intercommunity Leadership from Christmas Island
CLICK HERE!
Early Collaboration in the Maple Forest
The Long-Term Benefits of Working Together
Glendale operations have a history of collaboration with the people of the community of Wagmatcook (Waq-mit-kuk) – one of the five Mi’kmaq First Nations located in Cape Breton Island. (Unama’ki). In partnership with the community of Wagmatcook- under the leadership in those years by the former Chief Mary-Louise Bernard-the Glendale Maple Forest management forged new opportunities. Mentorship, training, future business planning, and sparks of interest were ignited by the magnificent Maple Trees and associated benefits.
Long-term benefits from this early woman-led partnership continue to this day. Inspired to rekindle her traditional ancestral relationship with the forest, Mary-Louise listened to the echos of her Grandmother’s traditional knowledge and is now a successful self-published Maple story author with her original storybooks illustrated by her daughter and the books published in her traditional Mi’kmaq language.
Mary-Louise Bernard continues to radiate her connections as a Northeastern Forest First Nation woman – working seasonally as a Mi’kmaq Park Interpreter in Unama’ki sharing the traditional forest bonds of her People. Mutual education has expanded for members of our communities because we worked together in harmony in the Maple Forest through the development of a Maple Syrup Production Training Program. Knowledge- sharing of Glendale Maple Syrup Production techniques proved successful, using leading-edge technologies and equipment, based on the standards of a Federally inspected food plant and using Best Practices for commercial production. These standards and best production practices were rooted in the excellence of maple research conducted by the Uihlein Maple Research Center and the Proctor Research Center, through Lew Staats, and Dr. Mariafranca Morselli respectively. With Traditional and Non- Traditional Maple Syrup Production we forge together as Women of Community!
This sisterly collaboration illustrates how Community and Forests can provide seeds of sustainability toward environmental, social, and economic benefits rippling into the future.
The tradition of maternal nurturing of the community and nature – lives on in women’s leadership.
International Research Teaching Forests Incorporated eagerly looks toward new opportunities related to sharing the Forest.
Northern Alberta, Canada Teaching Forest Planning
More than several years of planning and discussions took place in Fort McMurray Alberta, Canada from 2013 -2019 to advocate the development of the founding of a Northern Alberta Teaching Forest – BirchLand North. This Teaching Forest initiative was discussed with the Fort McKay First Nation and Women Leadership in Fort McKay and multi-company industrial leaders. The Fort McKay First Nation (FMFN) is a First Nations government in northeast Alberta comprising five Indian reserves – Fort McKay 174, Fort McKay 174C, Fort McKay 174D, Namur Lake 174B, and Namur River 174A. The FMFN, signed to Treaty 8, is affiliated with the Athabasca Tribal Council and its members are of Cree, Metis, and Dene heritage.
An early presentation to promote the development of the Teaching Forest, BirchLand North, was made to Acden in March 2016 – a conglomerate of multiple companies in Fort McMurray now grown to be one of Canada’s largest Indigenous corporations. The Teaching Forest concept was met with interest and ideas were discussed about favorable development times in the future when corporate timing would be most effective. Acden began as a labour services company consisting of one truck and ten employees. Since its inception, the corporation has grown steadily and now encompasses multiple companies and ~1,800 employees. Source: https://www.acden.com/
International Research Teaching Forests aims to continue to work toward assisting with the development of an Indigenous Women-led Teaching Forest in Northern Alberta in the coming years.
2021 – 2024 Information Sharing and Further Promotion of Business Collaborations:
International Research Teaching Forests Incorporated would like to continue knowledge-sharing and work companionship with the People of the Northeastern Forest – Wabanaki. We reach out with a Spirit of collaboration and sisterhood to the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources and its new arms of planning in Forestry-to gain a mutual understanding of how we may work together in the lands of the Northeastern Forest People – Wabanaki to respect and enjoy the benefits offered by the Forest.
We are confident that Research Project 1 – a global lens of Teaching Forests in the Northern Hemisphere will provide many positive sharing and discussion ideas and thoughts on the topic of transferable innovations of the Forest.
Recent Offerings of Collaboration: Wele’g Proposals
Two Wele’g Proposals have been professionally prepared and presented to:
• A council member of educational leadership of one spiritual capital of the Miꞌkmaq Nation, Mniku, the gathering place of the Miꞌkmaw Grand Council or Santé Mawiómi, Chapel Island in Bras d’Or Lake of Nova Scotia and
• To Elder leadership of The Eskasoni Mi’kmaw Nation (Miꞌkmaq: Eskissonqnik).
• Management of Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey
The Presentations previously forwarded are based on a vision that describes the potential for outdoor collaborative learning through the development of dedicated Teaching Forests in communities of Unama’ki. These Teaching Forests can encourage revisiting of original ways including mentorship between elders and youth in the Forest. The goals of this work are to perpetuate cultural traditions of educating the community as a whole and building on reconciliation toward working-together-as-one while sharing the Forest.
The Glendale operation continues its legacy of promotion of Non-Timber Forest Products and Forest Benefits to Rural Communities through current Research Project 1 and Research Project 2, and reaching out to the world to build interest and invite participation in developing an outdoor education Teaching Forest and Research Field Station in Unama’ki – Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.
International Research Teaching Forests also continues to seek development interest for a Teaching Forest in Northern Alberta, Canada.
Contact us with your expression of interest in how we may cooperatively work together to develop effective community outdoor programming.
Researcher Legacies:
Remembering and Honoring Leaders in Maple Syrup Research
In Memory of the “World’s Leading Woman Maple Researcher”
Dr. Mariafranca Morselli
Research Professor and Director of the Proctor Maple Research Laboratories in Vermont, USA, and a member of many international civic and women’s associations, received multiple honors and named awards for her dedication and services. Upon meeting Dr. Morselli in the USA, her discoveries were shared and future research project collaboration was planned to be held in Glendale, Canada, in forthcoming years. Before being able to come to Glendale, Canada, however, sadly, Dr. Mariafranca passed away in 2002. She will be fondly remembered for leaving behind a rich research legacy of informative and revealing research outcomes. Throughout her excellent career – and beyond – Dr. Mariafranca inspires women in science to become leaders in their field.
The Glendale International Research Forest desires to keep great women scientists of our time remembered and their inspiration alive through the dedication of the “Dr. Morselli Marteloscope” at the Glendale Forest Field Station. With her memory still very much with us, we move into 2025, building on an excellent foundation of previous research, to discover new and exciting innovative possibilities for the Maple Forest.
In Memory of Lewis J. Staats
Prolific Maple Tree Researcher Fondly known as “Mr. Maple”
Lewis Staats was the leading Maple Researcher and builder of Cornell University’s Lake Placid Maple Experimental Station. Lew annually ran the Maple Syrup production operation and led experiments on an annual basis. His extensive research on the topic of Maple led to many standard practices that are followed today throughout the maple production world.
A business trip to New York State in 1986 provided the opportunity to first meet Lew Staats. He was generous with information and his enthusiasm for research and understanding of the Maple Forest was contagious. It was because of his knowledge-sharing that a Maple production pilot project was undertaken in 1986 in Glendale closely following his well-researched prescribed guidelines of sustainable tapping. This grew to a Federally inspected Food Plant that produced Maple Syrup carried to exploratory international markets in eight countries and successfully identification of international marketplace for this Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada manufactured natural food product derived from the magnificent Forests of the River Denys Mountain range.
The Glendale International Research Forest desires to honor and commemorate the life-long research achievements and inspiration of Lew Staats through the dedication of a “Lewis J. Staats Marteloscope” named in his honor in Glendale.
