From the ice caves of the Canadian Rockies to the mythology of the Garhwal Himalayas, the projects receiving funding through this year’s Mountain Culture Grant Program cross international and cultural boundaries. The Centre annually awards grant money – a total of $18,000 this year – to projects that creatively communicate the special nature and culture of the world’s mountain places.

"This year’s projects reflect a wide range of ways to make connections between people and mountain areas around the world," says Bernadette McDonald, director of the Centre. "We’re excited by the diversity of these projects and we’re delighted that we can help support these recipients in their endeavours."

This year’s selection committee reviewed 39 grant applications from 10 countries. The 2000 grant recipients are:

• Stephen Alter, of MIT in the United States, for Sacred Waters: A Pilgrimage to the Many Sources of the River Ganga due for completion February 1, 2001. This book will explore the connection between the natural history and mythology in the Garhwal Himalayas. $2000.00

• Pamela Banting, of Calgary, Canada, for The Riggall Family : A Cultural Biography due June 2001. This biography will document the life of Rocky Mountain guide, outfitter and naturalist Bert Riggall and his extended family. $3000.00

• Heritage Productions of Jasper, Canada to tour The David Thompson Story to four communities in Alberta and British Columbia in April, 2001. This one-man play explores the many adventures and accomplishments of one of Canada’s most important historical figures and mountain explorers. $3000.00

• The Mountain Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal to publish a manual designed to train Nepalese national park staff in natural history and field identification skills and to provide a 4 day training workshop for 40 staff in June, 2001. $3000.00

• Jonathan Rollins of Calgary, Canada for Great Caves of the Canadian Rockies, to be completed March, 2001. This book will promote understanding and appreciation of caves - a little known environment beneath the Canadian Rockies. $2000.00

• University of Iowa’s Kenneth Iain Macdonald for Kar-i: A project to address the detrimental effects of Adventure Tourism in the Karakoram Mountains of Northern Pakistan. The project will be presented in a web-based format to make it accessible to those who travel in the mountains. The web site will be completed January 1, 2002. $5000.00

Mountain Culture grants are awarded annually to projects that creatively communicate the environment, human heritage, inspiration and adventure of the world’s mountain places. more »»