On April 28, 2026, we held the kickoff session for our Two-Eyed Seeing Committee at the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Secretariat. This marks a first of its kind effort in the coastal ocean alkalinity enhancement field, bringing Two-Eyed Seeing into both practice and governance.
As Mi’kmaw Elder Dr. Albert Marshall, who first introduced the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing in Canada, describes it: “Two-Eyed Seeing refers to learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous ways of knowing and from the other eye with the strengths of Western ways of knowing and to using both of these eyes together.”
The objectives of this newly formed Two-Eyed Seeing Committee is two-fold:
First, we aim to deepen its understanding of the Mi’kmaq worldview, including perspectives on the natural world, environmental balance, and the rhythms and mechanisms that sustain ecosystems. By learning from Indigenous ways of knowing, Planetary hopes to strengthen and inform its approach to addressing climate change.
Second, we seek to share knowledge about its technology and western scientific research with Mi’kmaq communities, with the long-term hope that Indigenous communities may one day choose to lead and develop coastal OAE projects of their own.
“The session was vibrant and extremely informative and represented a great beginning to Planetary’s journey toward a Two-Eyed Seeing program”, said Eric Christmas, Planetary’s Senior Advisor for Indigenous Affairs.
We are grateful to and honored by the committee members for bringing their time, guidance, and perspective to this work:
- Elder Jim Maloney (Mi’kmaq Elder and district War Chief for the Wabanaki Confederacy)
- Cheryl Gehue (Director of Indigenous Relations, Clearwater Seafoods and Former elected Council member Sipekne’katik First Nation),
- Ralph Eldridge (Indigenous Engagement Manager, Canada’s Canada’s Ocean Supercluster),
- Tyler Gould (Executive Director, Mi’kmaw Economic Benefits Office)
A special thank you to Elder Jim Maloney for opening the session with powerful stories, wisdom, and reflections that grounded the conversation in respect, relationship-building, and shared responsibility.
We were also grateful to have Levi Morrison and Michel Lechmann P. Eng. from COVE join as observers.
Hosted by Planetary’s Senior Advisor- For Indigenous Affairs, Eric Christmas, and VP of Community Relations, Diana Philip, the kick-off was also attended by Planetary team members Greg Rau, Co-Founder; Mike Kelland, CEO; Will Burt, VP Science; and Phoenix Seelochan.
It was a meaningful beginning to what we hope will become an enduring model for community engagement, governance and collaboration in the marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) and coastal OAE space.
