IPCA Knowledge Basket

The Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership is on a mission to advance Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas across Canada.

They came to us with an idea for a platform where they could collect knowledge about these efforts and share it in a respectful way. In a series of listening sessions, we heard from Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and conservation leaders about their creative vision for the experience: a digital space that celebrates the diversity of the lands, peoples, animals, and cultures that IPCAs sustain.

We developed a story-based brand featuring the keystone species of buffalo, polar bear, salmon, and beaver, nestled together with a human being on a Turtle’s back. Together they form a landscape symbolizing Mother Earth, the Sky world, the plant world, and the element of water. The human being in the middle serves as a reminder that we are all interconnected.

We took care with the design of the platform to respect the knowledge it contains. Users are prompted to uphold the principles of Reciprocity, Respect and Responsibility when they create an account. They are then free to browse the site’s rich collection of documents, images, and recordings and save them in personal “Knowledge Baskets”.

Oral recordings of narrative sources of knowledge feature prominently, while immersive nature sounds and animated imagery bring the space to life. The design is also compliant with accessibility standards, ensuring that it is inclusive of all users.

IPCA Knowledge Basket is more than a repository of information: it is a platform for collaborative learning, and a case study in meaningful representation of Indigenous peoples and communities. Since it launched, the site has seen numerous visitors from across Canada access its knowledge and contribute their own. Now it is an active community of hundreds of people, with new users joining every week and resources being added regularly.

37

stories

600+

resources

1000+

registered users