Take your
work outside.
Indigenous land-based learning.
Ecological field practice.
A different setting for professional development.
First Peoples Outdoor Institute is an Indigenous-owned field school for biologists, scientists, academics and people whose work brings them into relationship with the land.
Calgary-based. Rotating field locations.
Upcoming course dates to be announced.
Learning with the season. Returning with better questions.
The seasonal field school
Four seasons.
A year of field learning.
Our three-day curricula pair Indigenous land-based learning with practical field skills. Each season has three clear modules, online preparation and a useful field portfolio to carry into your work.
01 / Spring
Plants, Place & Seasonal Change
Describe plant features, map a site and build a seasonal observation plan.
02 / Summer
Plant Identification & Field Ecology
Use identification tools, practise a survey method and prepare a habitat summary.
03 / Fall
Wildlife Signs, Stewardship & Monitoring
Record wildlife signs, compare stewardship choices and design a repeatable monitoring plan.
04 / Winter
Tracks, Field Readiness & Winter Ecology
Prepare for winter conditions, read signs and practise group field decisions.
Alberta landscapes shown for context, not confirmed program locations.
Our approach
Bring curiosity.
Practise care.
Good fieldwork involves more than collecting observations. It asks how we arrive, who we learn from, what we record and what we have permission to share.
Our approach is shaped by Indigenous land-based education and Two-Eyed Seeing, with respect for the distinct knowledge, authority and responsibilities each brings.
Get to know our approachShort courses
Focused learning.
Useful skills.
Build a day kit, identify a plant or plan a meal for a field team. Explore archery, an introductory firearms course and anti-racism in outdoor education alongside ecological field skills.
Planning the year ahead
On the calendar.
Course dates are announced here. The planned rhythm is a couple of offerings each month, following the season.
Locations, facilitators, fees and participation details will be shared before registration opens.
Consulting & custom learning
Bring us the question
your team is working on.
Tatâga Inc and ZWULF Inc bring existing experience in Indigenous engagement, organizational learning and ecological consulting to custom work for your team.
Discuss a project