Teses / dissertações sobre o tema "Teaching in First Nation communities"

The goal of this research is to understand how the traditional knowledge of the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation can be used to improve reclamation and closure planning of the New Afton mine. Furthermore, this research will provide insight into consultation with First Nation communities for closure and reclamation planning. The New Afton Mine site, located ten kilometers west of Kamloops, BC is on the traditional territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc and Skeetchestn Indian Bands. The application of traditional knowledge for closure is a relatively new field. As such, the application of the findings of this research are at a conceptual level. Interviews with traditional knowledge keepers were conducted to understand the relationship between plant life, wildlife, water sources and the traditional use pattern in the area. Site visits to both the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation and New Afton Mine site have taken place during this research study. Visits to the New Afton property focused on determining and understanding the different areas of disturbance. Visits with the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc members were aimed at engaging, recognizing, and understanding their objectives for the long term post-closure use of the mine site. This research found an extremely strong connection between the community’s culture and natural environment. In addition, hunting, fishing, medicinal and nutritional plant gathering were considered as the key traditional land uses in the area. The New Afton Mine was known as an old stop-over ground for travelers in the region. Concerns relating to the impacts of tailings and possible contaminants to the environment (water, wildlife and plant life) were indicated. Reclaiming the land to a natural state was outlined as the most desirable outcome for closure. The technical constraints of the property were also discussed (subsidence zones, semi-arid conditions, etc.) and how the property, considered as a brownfield development, impacts the closure and reclamation outcomes. Finally, through the interviews and field notes, it was found that successful consultation and collaboration with First Nations communities requires: respect and understanding of the community’s culture and history, well established trust, and an ability to be flexible to the needs of the community.
Applied Science, Faculty of
Mining Engineering, Keevil Institute of
Graduate

The purpose of the study was twofold. The first purpose was to determine the role of the Head of Department in maintaining the motivation of English first additional language teachers in deprived communities. The role of the Head of Department will depend on factors that motivate and demotivate EFAL teachers and the influence of demographic factors on the motivators and demotivators reported by the participants. The second purpose was to establish the expectations that EFAL teachers have of their Heads of Departments in order to gain an understanding of the role that the Head of Departments can play in the motivation of the EFAL teachers teaching in schools situated in educationally deprived communities. This study not only aimed at presenting the findings but to also develop recommendations that can be formulated for the Head of Departments of English first additional language department of high schools situated in educationally deprived communities with regard to supporting the motivation of teachers. To this end, a literature study was undertaken on relevant theories and on the results of previous research on the issue. The research design was a mix-methods design. The questionnaire for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data was designed in line with instruments used in similar research studies on English FAL teacher motivation by Bennell and Akyempong (2007), Kassagby, et al. (2001) and Yau (2010). The questionnaire was administered to EFAL teachers teaching at high schools located in educationally deprived communities in the Nelson Mandela Metropole where isiXhosa is the home language of the learners and English is the medium of instruction. It was discovered that the main factors influencing teachers in the context of EFAL teaching in educationally deprived communities include the culture of teaching and learning of the school, the teacher’s interaction with learners, colleagues and the recognition and feedback associated with supervision of curriculum implementation. It was found that demotivated learners, unsupportive colleagues and unprofessional or unethical practices by the Head of Department to be the most demotivating factors.

Indigenous* college students in both Canada and the United States have the lowest rates of obtaining postsecondary degrees, and their postsecondary dropout rates are higher than for any other minority (Freeman & Fox, 2005; Mendelson, 2004; Reddy, 1993). There has been very little research done to uncover possible reasons for such low academic achievement and high dropout rates for Indigenous students. Some of the research that has been done indicates that one challenge for Indigenous students is the difficulty in navigating the cultural differences between higher education and their Indigenous cultures. Biculturalism is the ability of an individual to navigate two different cultures (Bell, 1990; Das & Kemp, 1997). Several scholars have suggested that biculturalism is an important construct in understanding academic persistence among Indigenous students (Jackson, Smith & Hill, 2003; Schiller, 1987). This study explored biculturalism among Indigenous college students and how it impacts their higher education experience. Indigenous college students (n=26) from the southwestern United States and central Canada participated in qualitative interviews for the study. The interviews were transcribed and interpreted using a synthesis of qualitative methods. Several themes related to the participants' experience of biculturalism emerged from the qualitative analysis: institutional support for transition to college, racism, types of relationships to native culture, career issues, and family issues. The findings suggested that more needs to be done in terms of providing Indigenous students centers at universities, implementing mentor programs for incoming students, and educating future Indigenous college students, families, and communities about biculturalism and the culture of higher education. *Author's note: The term Indigenous will be used to describe Native American/American Indian, First Nation and Métis student participants. Interviews were collected both in the United States and Canada. The terminology used to describe these populations differs across cultures; therefore, Indigenous will be used as a more general term, to describe the participants. The terminology used by cited authors was retained.

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES
The main argument of this thesis started from the supposition that during the long nineteenth century some intellectuals take part in the schooling process in Brazil, in addition to acting in schools as teachers and owning several writings aimed at education. Its major aim is to perform a reading about the experiences of these individuals in the process of primary schooling in the Empire and in the First Republic in Parahyba. Therefore, some individuals were selected - ffirst letters teachers – to understand their experiences about the educational process; apprehend the changes proposed in the long nineteenth century schooling process; understand the discourses on education carried out by these subjects and disseminated in various media such as newspapers, books, letters, reports, etc.; range and analyze some questions contained in the speeches of the selected subjects. The historical cut is from 1824 to 1922. Prosopography guides the analysis of the sources and based on it were chosen ten persons that make up this thesis, namely: Borges da Fonseca; Joaquim da Silva; Francisco Xavier Júnior; Francisca Moura; Francisco Coutinho de Lima e Moura; Coriolano de Medeiros; Catharina Moura; Olivina Olívia Carneiro da Cunha; José Gomes Coelho and Eudesia Vieira. The sources used are: printed matter; (self)biographies and biographical entries; books designed for schools; educational legislation; messages from the presidents of the province/state; public education reports; letters, crafts, circulars, offices. Based on the interpretations it was identified a long nineteenth century for the process of schooling in Parahyba, in which there were several discussions about: teaching methods, the education of women or the absence of such education, pedagogical materials, the slavery abolishment, the founding of societies and institutes. Through the analysis it was identified how these matter were posed and developed by these individuals in the state. There are six features derived from the intellectual experience of these subjects: dealt with relevant issues in the period they lived both in relation to instruction and the abolition of slavery, the writing of a national history, the reformulation of educational processes; used their conditions - be they teachers, women or blacks - to found their speech and act in society; they employed writing and the press to spread their ideals, whether they were for education, such as producing books for schools, or for other social issues; grouped around associations and institutions, which became communities of experience and shared common ideals and goals; they had connections with each other, even when they were participants of different generations, they formed networks of sociability, which guided the younger members how to proceed in society; believed that their speeches possessed educating and civilizing ties for the construction of the Brazilian nation. Finally, discussions about the period reveal a movement of ideas that passed through several proponents and public education was perceived as an important instrument of civilization of the people.
O argumento principal desta tese parte do suposto que, durante o longo século XIX, alguns intelectuais participaram do processo de escolarização no Brasil, além de atuarem nas escolas como professores e depuseram diversos escritos direcionados à educação. Possui como objetivo principal realizar uma interpretação sobre as experiências desses indivíduos no processo de escolarização primária no Império e na Primeira República na Parahyba. Para tanto, foram selecionados alguns sujeitos - professores de primeiras letras - para entender suas experiências em relação à educação; apreender as mudanças propostas no processo de escolarização do longo século XIX; reconhecer os argumentos sobre educação realizados por essas pessoas e divulgados em diversos meios como jornais, livros, cartas, relatórios, etc.; delimitar e analisar algumas questões contidas nos discursos dos indivíduos selecionados. O recorte histórico é de 1824 a 1922. A prosopografia norteia a análise das fontes e com base nela foram escolhidos dez personagens que compõem esta tese, a saber: Borges da Fonseca; Joaquim da Silva; Francisco Xavier Junior; Francisca Moura; Francisco Coutinho de Lima e Moura; Coriolano de Medeiros; Catharina Moura; Olivina Olívia Carneiro da Cunha; José Gomes Coelho; e Eudesia Vieira. As fontes utilizadas são: impressos; (auto)biografias e verbetes biográficos; livros destinados à escola; legislação educacional; mensagens dos presidentes da província/do estado; relatórios da instrução pública; cartas, ofícios, circulares, despachos. Com base nas compreensões foi identificado um longo século XIX para o processo de escolarização na Parahyba, no qual houve diversas disputas sobre: os métodos de ensino, a educação da mulher ou a ausência dessa educação, os materiais pedagógicos, a abolição da escravatura, a fundação de sociedades e de institutos. As análises levam à forma como essas questões foram postas e elaboradas por essas figuras na província/no estado. Existem seis caraterísticas derivadas da experiência intelectual: trataram de temas relevantes no período que viveram tanto em relação à instrução quanto a abolição da escravatura, a escrita de uma história nacional, a reformulação de processos educativos; utilizaram suas condições - sejam elas como professores, mulheres ou negros - para fundamentar a sua fala e interviram na sociedade; empregarem a escrita e a imprensa para divulgarem seus ideais, fossem eles voltados para a educação, como a produção de livros para as escolas, ou para outras questões sociais; agruparam-se em torno de associações e instituições, as quais se tornaram comunidades de experiência e de partilha de ideais e de objetivos em comum; detinham ligações entre si, mesmo quando partícipes de gerações diferentes, formaram redes de sociabilidade, as quais encaminharam os integrantes mais novos para a ação na sociedade; acreditaram que as suas exposições apresentaram vínculos educadores e civilizadores para a construção da nação brasileira. Por fim, os debates do período revelam um movimento de ideias que passaram por diversos proponentes e a instrução pública foi percebida como um importante instrumento de civilização do povo.

The concept of biodiversity – the phenotypic and genotypic variation among organisms – is central to conservation biology. There is growing recognition that biodiversity does not exist in isolation, but rather is intrinsically and evolutionarily linked to cultural diversity and indigenous knowledge systems. In Canada, caribou (Rangifer tarandus) occupy a central place in the livelihoods and identities of indigenous people and display substantial variation across their distribution. However, quantifying caribou intraspecific variation has proven challenging. Interdisciplinary approaches are necessary to produce effective species characterizations and conservation strategies that acknowledge the interdependent relationships between people and nature in complex social-ecological systems. In this dissertation I use multiple disciplinary traditions to develop comprehensive and united representations of caribou variation through an exploration of population genetics, phylogenetics, traditional knowledge, language, and visual approaches in the Sahtú region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. First, I examine caribou variation through analysis of population genetics and the relationships Dene and Métis people establish with animals within bioculturally diverse systems. Next, I focus on how the Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles have shaped the current patterns of caribou phylogeographic lineage diversification. Finally, I explore how art can be used to facilitate cross-cultural collaboration and externalize the unique heterogeneity of biocultural diversity. The results demonstrate a broad scale understanding of the distribution, spatial organization, and the degree of differentiation of caribou populations in the region. I found evidence for caribou population differentiation that corresponds to the caribou types recognized by Dene people: tǫdzı “boreal woodland caribou,” ɂekwę́ “barren-ground caribou,” and shúhta ɂepę́ “mountain caribou.” Phylogenetic results reveal that in their northern margin the boreal ecotype of woodland caribou evolved independently from the northern Beringian lineage in contrast with southern boreal caribou which belong to the sub-Laurentide refugia lineage. In addition, I demonstrate how art can be used improve communication, participation, and knowledge production among interdisciplinary research collaborations and across language and knowledge systems. A collaborative process of research that facilitates łeghágots'enetę “learning together” has the potential to produce sustainable conservation solutions, develop efficient and effective wildlife management policies, and ensure caribou remain an important part of the landscape.
February 2017

The following study is an exercise in understanding how educators can improve their professional practice in terms of addressing the needs of Aboriginal high school students. The study was delimited to four different high schools in Northwestern Ontario in order to develop a broader understanding of best practices used by various school communities. Interviews were conducted with students and educational professionals such as teachers, administrators, guidance personnel and school board members. The study was completed over a period of one week, where one day was spent in each school completing interviews. This study is unique in two ways: it presents the voices of secondary school educators (which had scarcely been reported or heard in the academic community) outlining the direction in which Aboriginal education should go and secondly, as a researcher I attempted to use the medicine wheel as a model for completing and conducting research. There were a number of findings that appeared through the interviews. Teachers and administrators agreed that in order for Aboriginal students to succeed they needed to have involved parental support. It was important to teachers that parents take an active role in the educational life of their child. Additionally, it was acknowledged that First Nation communities were ideal settings for schooling of Aboriginal students as they were supported by family and community kinships. Yet in this study, it was also acknowledged that First Nation schools suffered financially in comparison to provincial schools. They were not able to provide programming comparable to provincial schools and iii were limited to a barebones program with compulsory courses being offered. In some cases, if students failed a course, they were not able to participate in the rest of the school program, until the course was re-taught in two years. Despite these shortcomings, students might do better in First Nation based schools if they were adequately funded with current resources and adequately compensated teachers. This study offers some suggestions on how to improve the practice of educating First Nation secondary students.

Conditions of hunger and lack of access to affordable healthy foods exists within Canada. Canada has committed itself to international Declarations, Covenants, and Conventions focused on reducing world hunger; however, it has neglected to address domestic hunger issues. Using mixed methods, this study quantified food insecurity rates and severity within four First Nation communities in northern Manitoba. The study also explored the communities’ perspectives regarding barriers to healthy eating and potential solutions to addressing this multi-faceted problem. Results indicate that the four First Nation communities within this study are amongst the most food insecure and hungry within Manitoba and Canada, with 92% of households experiencing some form of food insecurity and 50% of households experiencing severe food insecurity. The research has revealed that solutions for improving food security must be embedded within the realm of food sovereignty and be led by First Nation communities.

Objectives: To investigate factors influencing consumption of traditional foods (e.g., wild game, fish) and concerns about environmental contaminants among schoolchildren of the Mushkegowuk Territory First Nations (Moose Factory, Fort Albany, Kashechewan, Attawapiskat, and Peawanuck). Study Design: Cross-sectional data collection from a Web-based Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (WEB-Q). Methods: Schoolchildren in grades 6-12 (n = 262) responded to four of the WEB-Q questions: (1) Do you eat game? (2) How often do you eat game? (3) How concerned are you about the environmental contaminants in the wild game and fish that you eat? (4) I would eat more game if...[ six response options]. Data were collected from 2004-2009. Hierarchical log-linear modelling (LLM) was used for analyses of multi-way frequency data. Results: Of the school children answering the specific questions: 174 consumed game; 95 reported concerns about contaminants in game; and 84 would increase their game consumption if it were more available in their homes. LLM revealed significant differences between communities; schoolchildren in Moose Factory consumed game ???rarely or never??? at greater than expected frequency, and fewer than expected consumed game ???at least once a day.??? Schoolchildren in Kashechewan had greater frequency of daily game consumption and few were concerned about contaminants in game. Using LLM, we found that sex was an insignificant variable and did not affect game consumption frequency or environmental contaminant concern. Conclusion: The decreasing importance of the traditional diet was most evident in Moose Factory, possibly due to its more southerly location relative to the other First Nations examined.

The thesis explores the possibilities for immersion in a First Nation small community whose language survival hinges on the action by the 5% fluent speakers. Curriculum planning is needed at a time when First Nations do not have the resources or experience in teaching their language as a second language and very limited experience with curriculum development and school administration. The author is familiar with the deep emotional desire for effective language programs but the communities cannot find an effective means for truly successful results. The occasional Native teacher searches for methods by learning linguistic strategies or modeling literate classroom lessons. Community leaders face surmounting obstacles while elders pass away with each crucial decade. These obstacles and constraints are not only due to social ills but also to the attempt at developing curriculum with models which do not origninate with the community, the culture, or the language itself. The thesis therefore attempts to find avenues for blending learning strategies of an oral culture and recognizing and validating the culture which embraces the cultural background to the language. The avenues for language revitalization involve ethnographic research which is seen as practical to the community if these are steps toward cultural development. The social issues level is considered as Native language speakers are often adversely effected due to schooling in residential schools. The thesis then concludes the specific needs for the Ditidaht context as concerns community process, as traditional protocol, and as the nature of an effective curriculum (received in generalized concepts from the community interviews). Other First Nation Community strategies are reviewed from many nations throughout Canada and the United States. The Canadian French immersion experience provides a preview into immersion evolution. The research is found necessary for any First Nation community in search of the crucial need for effective second-language curriculum focus.

Wastewater sludge is considered a valuable source of nutrients and energy. Freeze/thaw treatment is an efficient dewatering method for wastewater sludge management in First Nation communities located in cold climate conditions. Natural freeze/thaw is a simple, practical and low cost method, which can effectively dewater sludge. The objective of this research is to evaluate dewatering, nutrient recovery and organics separation of wastewater sludge originating from different wastewater treatment processes using freeze/thaw processing. The results of experiments showed the effectiveness of this method in sludge dewaterability and solubilisation of organics and nutrients. The sludge solid content increased by approximately 10-fold after treatment. It was effective in solubilisation of about 15.2%, 33.5% and 21.5% of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total chemical oxygen demand to soluble one, respectively for the non-BNR sludge. However, anaerobic digestion of the solid cake post freeze/thaw treatment did not show enhanced methane yield compared with fresh sludge.
February 2017

The purpose of the study is to provide a descriptive analysis of food insecurity within the adult First Nations population in Manitoba. A bivariate analysis is used to determine strength of relationships between food insecurity and socio-demographic variables as well as self-reported general health and psycho-social health. This research study also includes a gender-based analysis (GBA), which allows for possible food insecurity prevalence differences between women and men The data obtained for this research study is from the second wave of the Manitoba First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (MFNRLHS, 2002/2003). Select socio-demographic variables as well as self-reported general health status, ‘life balance,’ and elements of psycho-social health, including self-reported health, ‘life balance,’ depression, intense anxiety, stress level, and domestic dispute were included. A P-value of 0.05 was used to identify significant differences. Significant results from this study include elevated food insecurity in Manitoba First Nations (37.2%). The bivariate analysis reveals that food insecurity is marginally associated with age group, with the highest food insecurity among young and middle-aged women; middle-aged men, and those with lone-parent status. Food insecurity is also significantly associated with total household income, the number of incomes per household, as well as employment versus government support over a two-year period. Food insecurity is elevated in both southern (29.4%) and northern (51.4%) regions of the province.

Archaeological research in the province of Manitoba is shifting towards collaborative projects with First Nation communities. The aim of this project was to establish a collaborative model for Indigenous research through the involvement of the First Nation community and the use of experimental archaeology. Members of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation were involved throughout the entire research process, from excavation to analysis. Recent archaeological work in northern Manitoba has recovered several human burials in a remarkable state of preservation. Individuals interred with bone and antler tools provide us a rare glimpse into the use of perishable materials. This research project focuses on the bone and antler tools associated with burial of an adolescent male, dating to 4,000 BP from the Victoria Day site (GkLr-61, feature 2) on Threepoint Lake. The tools were studied following an 'operational sequence' or 'chaine operatoire' method of analysis, focusing on the entire "life cycle" including the acquisition of raw materials, the manufacturing process, use and re-use of the tool and final deposition. Interviews were conducted with members of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and their insights guided the use of experimental archaeology to evaluate tool performance. The results of this project provide important insights into the culture of the people who lived in the Boreal Forest of Manitoba 4,000 years ago and are presented in a format that is meaningful to both the Indigenous community and archaeologists.

On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization declared a global influenza pandemic due to a novel influenza A virus subtype of H1N1. Public health emergencies, such as an influenza pandemic, can potentially impact disadvantaged populations disproportionately due to underlying social factors. Canada???s First Nation population was severely impacted by the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. Most First Nation communities suffer from poor living conditions, impoverished lifestyles, lack of access to adequate health care, and uncoordinated health care delivery. Also, there are vulnerable populations who suffer from co-morbidities who are at a greater risk of falling ill. Moreover, First Nation communities that are geographically remote (nearest service center with year-round road access is located over 350 kilometers away) and isolated (only accessible by planes year-round) face additional challenges. For example, transportation of supplies and resources may be limited, especially during extreme weather conditions. Therefore, remote and isolated First Nation communities face unique challenges which must be addressed by policy planners in order to mitigate the injustice that may occur during a public health emergency. The Assembly of First Nations noted that there has been very little inclusion of First Nations??? input into current federal and provincial pandemic plans. Disadvantaged groups know best how they will be affected by a public health emergency and are able to identify barriers and solutions. Therefore, the objective of my research was to gain retrospective insight into the barriers faced by three remote and isolated First Nation communities of sub-arctic Ontario (i.e., Fort Albany, Attawapiskat, and Kashechewan) during their 2009 H1N1 pandemic response. Culturally-appropriate community-based suggestions for improvement of existing community-level pandemic plans were also elicited. Collected data informed modifications to community-level pandemic plans, thereby directly applying research findings. Being a qualitative community-based participatory study, First Nation community members were involved in many aspects of this research. Semi-directed interviews were conducted with adult key informants (n=13) using purposive sampling of participants representing the three main sectors responsible for health care services (i.e., federal health centers, provincial hospitals, and Band Councils). Data were manually transcribed and coded using deductive and inductive thematic analysis to reveal similarities and differences experienced within and between each community (and government body) regarding their respective pandemic response. Another round of semi-directed interviews (n=4) and community pandemic committee meetings were conducted to collect additional information to guide the modifications to the community-level pandemic plans. Reported barriers due to being geographically remote and isolated included the following: overcrowding in houses, insufficient human resources, and inadequate community awareness. Primary barriers faced by government bodies responsible for health care delivery were reported as follows: receiving contradicting governmental guidelines and direction from many sources, lack of health information sharing, and insufficient details in community-level pandemic plans. Suggested areas for improvement included increasing human resources (i.e., nurses and trained health care professionals), funding for supplies, and community awareness. Additionally, participants recommended that complementary communication plans should be developed. As suggested by participants, community-specific information was added to update community-level pandemic plans. Remote and isolated First Nation communities faced some barriers during their 2009 H1N1 health sector pandemic response. Government bodies should focus efforts to provide more support in terms of human resources, monies, and education. In addition, various government organizations should collaborate to improve housing conditions, timely access to resources, and the level of coordination regarding health care delivery. Furthermore, as pandemic plans are dynamic, government bodies should continue to aide First Nation communities with updating their community-level pandemic plans to satisfy their evolving needs. These recommendations should be addressed so that remote and isolated western James Bay First Nation communities and other similar communities can be better prepared for the next public health emergency.

Most aquaculture tenures in British Columbia (BC) are located in coastal First Nation traditional territories, making the aquaculture industry very important to First Nation communities. Marine aquaculture, in particular salmon farming, has been labeled one of the most controversial industries in BC and various groups with differing opinions have created a wide-spread media debate known as the “aquaculture controversy”. Industry, government, and (E)NGO’s are often the most visible players; First Nations, especially those without aquaculture operations directly in their territories, are often excluded or underrepresented in the conversation. In particular, remote communities from the central and north coast are significantly underrepresented. Aquaculture is predicted to expand in BC, making it crucial to know the opinions of these communities. By drawing on twelve key informant interviews conducted in situ in three central and north coast First Nation communities, as well as other literatures and discourses, this thesis explores the aquaculture controversy and perspectives towards finfish, shellfish, seaweed and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems. The thesis suggests that there is little interest in salmon aquaculture in the communities of Oweekeno, Skidegate and Massett; however there is significant interest in shellfish farming and to a lesser extent seaweed and IMTA. It also sheds light on the major issues and concerns of the current industry and potential interest areas in-line with First Nation values. In doing so, the current research contributes to the knowledge mobilization of First Nation perspectives towards coastal aquaculture in BC.
Graduate
0366
ktebbutt@uvic.ca

This research utilized Indigenous methodologies rooted in oral traditions, storytelling practices, and the Medicine Wheel teachings to examine how individuals, families, communities, social workers, and organizations can assist Indigenous youth who are aging-out of foster care and are transitioning into adulthood. The methods of inquiry included five one-on-one Story-Sharing Sessions with Indigenous adults who previously aged-out of care in British Columbia, and two Talking Circles comprised of ten Community Helpers including Elders, Mentors, Educators, and Foster Parents; and fifteen Delegated Aboriginal Agency Social Workers who worked directly and/or indirectly with Indigenous youth in and from foster care. This research was person-centered, strengths-based, and solutions-focused, and re-framed ‘aging-out of care’ terminology as ‘a transition into adulthood’ to honour the sacred life-cycle teachings of the Medicine Wheel. The core aim of this research was to aid in the development of a highly adaptive practical guide and theoretical framework for supporting Indigenous youth in and from care.
Graduate

The shallow subtidal regions near Hot Springs Cove, Vancouver Island, British Columbia are characterised by large rocky areas dominated by the red sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus. S. franciscanus were removed at three sites with four levels of urchin removal per site. Manipulations of urchin density were maintained throughout the experiment and monitored seasonally for two seasons pre-treatment and seven seasons post-treatment. The manipulations resulted in increased gonad indices of remaining red sea urchins and caused the conversion of urchin dominated subtidal regions into kelp dominated communities with greater fish abundance. As well, a feeding experiment illustrated that the depressed gonad indices of field-collected urchins resulted from limited food resources in areas of high urchin density. The removal of sea urchins at all levels resulted in a rapid increase in the presence of laminarialean algal species (kelps). Study plots where all urchins were removed developed a dense understory and seasonal canopy of kelps with little bare rock remaining. Intermediate levels of removal resulted in a mosaic of smaller urchin-dominated and kelp-dominated patches. Control plots tended to maintain the urchin-dominated barrens-state throughout the study period. Sea urchins that were fed M. integrifolia, during the feeding experiment, showed 2.9 and 2.4 times greater gonadal development by weight than urchins collected from the field before and after the feeding trial, respectively. These results suggest that food limitation is an important factor in the gonadal development of this urchin population. Findings suggest that with supplemental, feeding, the resource base of sea urchins could be expanded to include barren habitats. The removal of S. franciscanus at all levels resulted in an increase in fecundity (measured as gonad index) for the sea urchins that remained, as well as for the urchins that reinvaded the total removal plots. All study plots showed an increase in gonad index over time, but the increase in gonad index was statistically greater for urchins in removal plots versus the control plots. The results indicate that small isolated urchin removals can have measurable effects on the fishery value of nearby urchins. Of the seven fish species monitored, pile perch, striped seaperch, kelp perch and black rockfish were most associated with kelp forest habitat. Kelp greenling, lingcod and copper rockfish showed no association with kelp forest habitat. The experimental approach taken indicates that sea urchin removal, and subsequent kelp growth, determined relative fish abundance. High densities of S. franciscanus appear to be responsible for the absence of kelp forest habitat in the region, the depressed fecundity (gonad index) of S. franciscanus, and the abundance of some fish species. The effect of urchin removal is discussed in regards to the implications for ecological theory as well as sea urchin fisheries management.

The following research focuses on sociocultural relationships and sociospatial dynamics between humans and dogs in the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach and in the Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John and the town of Schefferville. These communities face multiple issues related to dogs including the lack of veterinary services, coupled with issues related to canine overpopulation, and the transmission of zoonoses such as rabies from contact between dogs and wildlife. We examined the role of dogs and their keepers in these subarctic communities. We also explored how dogs impact the wellbeing of the population living in said communities and how keepers impact the wellbeing of dogs. Despite being described as a pet rather than a working dog, specific roles are assigned to dogs by research participants, particularly the provision of protection and companionship. However, the findings of the study indicate that keepers also plays an essential role, not only through protection and companionship, but also by tending to their dog(s). The evidence from this study suggests that dogs and their keepers have mutually beneficial relations. These research results suggest that the narrative portrayed through mainstream media outlets disregard the daily roles played by dogs and their Indigenous keepers within the communities of Kawawachikamach and Matimekush-Lac-John.
Ce projet de recherche porte sur les relations socioculturelles et la dynamique sociospatiale entre les humains et leurs chiens dans la nation Naskapi de Kawawachikamach, la nation Innu de Matimekush-Lac John et la ville de Schefferville. Ces communautés sont confrontées à de multiples problèmes liés aux chiens, y compris le manque de services vétérinaires, couplé à des problèmes liés à la surpopulation de chien et à la transmission de zoonoses telles que la rage par contact entre les chiens et la faune. Nous avons examiné́ le rôle des chiens et de leurs gardiens dans ces communautés subarctiques ainsi que l'impact des chiens sur le bien-être de la population vivant dans ces communautés et l'impact des gardiens sur le bien-être de leurs chiens. Bien que le chien soit décrit comme un animal de compagnie plutôt que comme un animal de travail, des rôles spécifiques lui sont attribués par les participants, en particulier le rôle de protecteur et de compagnon. Cependant, les résultats de cette étude indiquent que le gardien du chien joue également des rôles essentiels, non seulement celui de protection et de compagnon, mais aussi celui de « prendre soin » de son (ses) chien (s). Les données de cette étude suggèrent que les relations des chiens et de leurs gardiens sont mutuellement bénéfiques. Ces résultats suggèrent que le récit présenté sur les chiens dans les communautés du nord par les principaux médias ne prend pas en compte les rôles quotidiens joués par les chiens et leurs gardiens autochtones au sein des communautés de Kawawachikamach et Matimekush-Lac-John.

Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) related to protected areas (PAs) originated in the 1980’s in Zimbabwe, Africa, in the buffer zone communities of Africa’s National Parks. CBNRM attempted to address the problems associated with colonial, protectionist style ‘fence and guns’ conservation management approaches, which excluded resource-based communities from conservation areas. CBNRM attempts to meet the biodiversity conservation objectives of conservation areas, and the sustainable development and livelihood objectives of neighbouring communities. While CBNRM initiatives have been well documented internationally over the past decades, little is known about the status of CBNRM within Canada. In order to bridge this knowledge gap and to link trends in conservation and protected areas management internationally to Canada and to British Columbia (BC), this thesis examines the potential for community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) affiliated with BC's Protected Area System. “Potential” is determined by comparing the situation in BC to the international CBNRM experience. The study draws on a sample of Conservancies from the categories of the BC Protected Area (PA) System, focusing particularly on the nine Sea-to-Sky Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) Area Conservancies and neighbouring First Nations communities: Squamish, L’il’wat and In-SHUCK-ch. Information has been obtained through interviews (guided by semi-structured questionnaires) conducted with BC government informants and First Nations representatives, supplemented by key documents. The questionnaire examined the potential for CBNRM according to a.) the community's perspective: potential (costs and) benefits of the protected area, including goods and services, cultural and social benefits and sustainable economic development opportunities provided by the protected area; and benefits of community involvement in natural resource management and protected area governance; and b.) the conservation perspective: benefits through community cooperation in biodiversity conservation within the targeted protected area. Other factors that have been identified through the international experience to affect CBNRM initiatives, such as use regulation; tenure; policies and legislation; awareness of and support for the protected area; and community capacity were thoroughly examined across all sources of information. This study finds that there is potential for CBNRM affiliated with the BC PA system in protected area designations such as ‘Conservancies’. Potential relates to the role of CBNRM in biodiversity conservation, meeting the aspirations of BC’s First Nations communities, and in recognizing First Nations as legitimate stakeholders in protected areas and conservation management. As in the international experience, numerous social, political, economic and other factors present opportunities and challenges to the adoption of CBNRM in BC. This thesis concludes with key recommendations for protected areas and conservation management in BC and Canada and identifies opportunities to further explore key topic areas that arose from the research findings.