Eduardo Sousa- Planning Process Advisor, Cowichan Tribes

Eduardo Sousa is Advisor to the Xwelqe'selu Watershed Planning process for Cowichan Tribes. He is also their Acting Lead Referrals Coordinator, where he works to help assert the rights and title of the Nation, as well as on various projects where watershed planning, terrestrial ecosystems, climate change, and the wellbeing of the community intersect. He also teaches on Indigenous Land Management and Indigenous-led conservation courses at Vancouver Island University.

He worked as Advisor to the Indigenous Leadership Initiative which fosters Indigenous nationhood as a way to conserve and manage Indigenous lands.  Eduardo also worked in the conservation sector, helping successfully implement the world-renowned and award-winning Great Bear Rainforest Agreements with First Nations, the BC Government and the logging industry.

Prior to moving to the west coast in 2008, Eduardo was also a social justice community organizer, as well as an environmental planner and special projects coordinator for Toronto Parks working with communities on environmental stewardship projects.

He has a Master’s in Environmental Studies from Toronto's York University, focusing on watershed planning and community mobilization. Eduardo is very civic-minded: was elected as a School Board Trustee for Cowichan Valley School District 79 and chairs the district's Climate Action Advisory Committee; has sat on various planning and design committees of Duncan City Council; and is on the Board of Directors for Cowichan Green Community Society.