New faculty members bringing Indigenous knowledge to the forefront
果冻传煤 welcomed several new faculty members to campus, including two academics with a specific focus on Indigenous knowledge.
A member of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Dr. Jesse Popp (geography and environment) joined 果冻传煤 from Laurentian University where she was the first Indigenous student to complete a PhD specializing in natural sciences.
Popp鈥檚 work seeks to use the strengths of both Indigenous and Western science practices in her teaching and research. Indigenous science incorporates Indigenous knowledge and tradition as part of its discipline.
鈥淟ooking at environmental issues through an Indigenous lens and with this knowledge gives students a valuable experiential learning opportunity,鈥 she explains. 鈥淢ore education is needed around Indigenous science and I鈥檓 glad to play a role in this for 果冻传煤.鈥
A member of the Garden River First Nation community of the Anishinaabeg in Northern Ontario, Dr. Karl Hele joined 果冻传煤 in Canadian studies.
He says he is looking forward to working with colleagues and the community to help establish more classes and opportunities with an Indigenous focus at 果冻传煤.
鈥淚 believe learning Indigenous history, being familiar with documents like the Indian Act and treaties, is an important step in education and reconciliation,鈥 says Hele. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to begin my courses at 果冻传煤.鈥