The lands, water, and air known as A’se’k (or Boat Harbour, in English) have provided for the Mi’kmaq of Pictou Landing First Nation (PLFN) since time immemorial. But in 1967, a pulp mill began piping its waste effluent into the water and pumping its particulate matter out the stacks into the prevailing winds, which directly […]
Our Ancestors Are in Our Lands, Water, and Air (Phase I) Read More »
Drivers of the triple planetary crisis (climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution) are colonialism, capitalism, extractivism, globalization, and racism, underpinned by policies, systems, and structures that reinforce these worldviews. For collective futures that sustain all planetary life, we must respond with urgency and creativity across political and epistemic boundaries toward reconciling the damage we have
Archipelagos of Indigenous-led Resurgence for Planetary Health Read More »
The Achieving Strength, Health, and Autonomy through Renewable Energy Development for the Future (A SHARED Future) program is wrapping up seven years of research about reconciliation between knowledge systems; it was foundational to our work together. A SHARED Future supported several thematically-linked projects across Canada that explored Indigenous-led and Indigenous-engaged partnerships, with an overall focus
A SHARED Future: Indigenous-led Renewable Energy for Planetary Health Read More »
The IEHRA project, led by Dr Diana Lewis, explores the community health impacts of living near oil and gas extraction (Mikisew Cree First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation) and a landfill site (Oneida Nation of the Thames). Through a community-engaged process and informed by our previous research with Pictou Landing First
Indigenous Environmental Health Risk Assessment (IEHRA) Read More »
Extreme weather events, including wildfires, floods, heatwaves, droughts, atmospheric rivers, hurricanes and other storms, displace millions of people around the world every year. These events displace hundreds of thousands of people in Canada, cost tens of billions of dollars, and exacerbate a wide range of health inequities, disrupt homes, livelihoods, education, community cohesion, and have
Climate Change Displacement and Public Health Read More »
PROJECT In 2020, Northern Pulp in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, closed its doors, failing to meet the legislated requirement of the Boat Harbour Act. The Mi’kmaq of Pictou Landing First Nation are finally breathing fresh air again, the plants and animals are slowly returning to the region, and there is a sense of hope and
Our Ancestors are in Our Lands, Water, and Air (Phase II) Read More »
After 15 years of research efforts towards decolonizing the Settler-dominated academy, Dr Castleden found renewed inspiration from reading Adam Gaudry and Danielle Lorenz’s 2018 publication “Indigenization as inclusion, reconciliation, and decolonization: Navigating the different visions for indigenizing the Canadian Academy”. Their work prompted a new trajectory for Dr Castleden, exploring how institutional environments are responding
Responding to the TRC: Institutional Accountability Read More »
Temperatures in the Arctic are rising several times faster than elsewhere in the world. This is resulting in ecological changes that are impacting the mental health and well-being of Inuit communities. This collaborative project is working with youth to address climate change. We are co-led by Inuk scholar Dr Karla Jessen Williamson and Dr Jen
Carving out Climate Testimony Read More »
Tasii?akqin ?uyaqhmisukqin is the continuation of Dr Castleden’s long-standing research collaboration with huuʕiiʔatḥ (Huu-ay-aht First Nations), one of the five First Nation signatories of the Maa-nulth Treaty. Since 2005, we have undertaken a community-driven comprehensive study about the multi-faceted experiences of becoming a Modern Treaty Nation, contributing to the negotiation process and the first 15
The Living Lab Project is a community – campus – schools project and network which supports eco-cultural restoration, land-based learning and Indigenous resurgence. There are eight principles guiding this work: relevance, respect, reciprocity, reconciliation, responsibility, relationship, restoration, and resurgence. This collective organizes community-driven ecosystem and climate action projects that affirm Indigenous Knowledges, rights, and access
The Living Lab Indigenous Land Stewardship & Educational Resurgence Project Read More »
