Blog
Blog
Seeding security: Community-based approaches to eradicating northern food insecurity
Jun 8
Congress 2021 blog edition
By Claire Kroening, University of Alberta human geography alumna and communications professional
Northern food insecurity is a highly complex issue. For northern communities, high degrees of isolation and poor infrastructure collide with climate change and the legacy of colonialism to challenge the sustainability of northerner’s homes and traditions.
The major takeaway from today’s discussion on this issue is that we must reframe how we think about addressing it; we must set targets to completely eradicate the problem, and work to meet them. The end goal should be to have thriving, sustainable northern communities that are inherently food secure.
Imagine the risk hunters take driving ATVs on the river system to get to remote hunting sites while freezing and thawing cycles are increasingly unpredictable. A resident of Peawanuck, an Indigenous Cree Community in Northern Ontario, described his experience in a...
Resources for Indigenous-engaged scholarship and what we learned from the Career Corner session
Jun 8
Congress 2021 blog edition
By Claire Kroening, University of Alberta human geography alumna and communications professional
“First of all, if we live and work in this place called Canada, all of us are, in some way, engaged in Indigenous scholarship because we are all situated on Indigenous lands and territories. So what is our responsibility?” Dr. Florence Glanfield, Vice-Provost (Indigenous Programming & Research) for the University of Alberta, urges scholars to acknowledge this fact and consider how they embody it in their research lives.
When academics think about conducting Indigenous-engaged scholarship, often the first thing that comes to mind is working directly in Indigenous communities. Working in Indigenous-engaged research is both personal and centred in community because as Dr. Glanfield explained, “we exist in places, and come from places that shape who we are.”
“Research can’t be extractive; it’s about relationality.” Dr...
Working Towards Peace Education for All
Jun 8
Congress 2021 blog edition
By Megan Perram, PhD Candidate in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of Alberta
In a brief but mighty keynote, Steven Staples, chairperson of Peace Quest, accomplished policy and research strategist, published author, and award-winning peace and social justice advocate discussed peace education and engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. This open event was hosted by the Canadian Peace Research Association and moderated by Frederic Pearson, Executive Director at Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Wayne State University. The session was sponsored by Peace Quest, a leadership and education initiative that has launched an ambitious plan to engage students, teachers, and Canadians to promote peace.
Staples outlined for the audience the details of a robust study he conducted on peace and social justice education and engagement strategies in the COVID-19 context. The policy analyst...
Rebuilding the Institution: Concrete Steps to Support BIPoC Scholars in the Academy
Jun 8
Congress 2021 blog edition
By Megan Perram, PhD Candidate in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of Alberta
Congress 2021 is ending the way it began, with an intentional focus on engagement with justice and equity in academia. In “Beyond Equity Policy: Searching for Institutional Procedures and Practices that Support Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (Bipoc) Faculty” a panel of equity officers and academics shared insights on how to address racism and related issues that affect BIPoC faculty at Canadian universities.
The robust panel included Jeff Denis, Associate Professor at McMaster University, Irene Shankar, Professor at Mount Royal University, Arig al Shaibah, Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion and Adjunct Associate Professor at McMaster University, Aliyah Dosani, Professor at Mount Royal University, Claudine Bonner, Associate Professor at Acadia University, and Irfan Chaudhry, Equity...
Our Future is Shared: Sheila Watt-Cloutier Presents “Everything is Connected”
Jun 8
Congress 2021 blog edition
By Valerie Leow, J.D. Candidate, University of Alberta
The sixth Big Thinking session at Congress, “Everything is Connected: Environment, Economy, Foreign Policy, Sustainability, Human Rights, and Leadership in the 21st Century,” was proud to feature Sheila Watt-Cloutier, a globally renown environmental, cultural, and human rights advocate. A Nobel Peace Prize nominee (2007) for her advocacy work in demonstrating the impact of global climate change, especially in the Arctic, on human rights, Watt-Cloutier is also an Officer of the Order of Canada, and the recipient of the 2004 Aboriginal Achievement Award for Environment, the 2005 United Nations Champion of the Earth Award, the 2005 Norwegian-based Sophie Prize, the 2015 Right Livelihood Award, and the 2020 Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue. In this Big Thinking lecture, Watt-Cloutier asserted that all of the pressing issues of today – matters surrounding the...