Tara Warkentin
Tara grew up on Cortes Island, BC, the land and waters of the Klahoose First Nation. She spent her childhood exploring tide pools and catching sculpins. When Tara was in high school, her curiosity about what lives under the ocean’s surface drove her to apply to Schools on Board, a
science-education program in the Arctic. There, she monitored sea-ice melt and listened to Inuit elders’ stories about how the loss of sea ice threatens their ability to seal-hunt. When she came home, she gave presentations to her community and discovered her passion for storytelling and science communication. She has gone on to create podcasts about the teachings of a Haida cedar weaver, and the complex world of a honeybee hive for Cortes Community Radio.
Tara studied at Quest University Canada, where she studied political ecology. Her informal education has come from her grandmother, who taught her to roll perfect Hungarian pastries; her parents, who taught her how to grow food, from bee-keepers, and women who helped her become a birth doula. Tara is dedicated to listening deeply to her community and finding stories underneath the surface. She’s excited to hear your stories of Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds this summer. Say hi if you see her around town!