Two Masters Scholarship Opportunities – Marine Affairs Program, Dalhousie University

Exploring distinct indigenous knowledge systems
to inform fisheries governance and management on Canada’s coasts

September 2013

BACKGROUND:

Fisheries decision‐making processes in Canada are influenced primarily by western science‐based knowledge systems and often exclude knowledge from non‐western based indigenous sources. As Canada faces growing challenges from climate induced changes in coastal and inland areas, it is increasingly important for Canada to consider diversified knowledge sources to meet its stated goal to promote “sustainable aquatic ecosystems” and to accommodate its legal obligation to recognize Aboriginal and treaty rights and title. In contrast to the current federal regime, Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKSs) are often based on a world view and values that are placebased and communally owned, rooted in a shared history, holistic, experiential and transmitted in oral language that is dependent on distinct cultural contexts. Given the growing interplay between federal level and indigenous decision makers and the efforts underway in Canadian legislation to support the use of indigenous knowledge, the overarching goal of this research is to improve fisheries governance and management in Canada by understanding how indigenous knowledge systems can enhance the current regime for decision‐making.

The outcome of the research will serve to highlight the challenges and opportunities available to First Nations, Inuit and non‐indigenous decision makers and users to enhance fisheries governance in Canada. Key research questions focus on examining the extent to which western, First Nations and Inuit knowledge systems influence fisheries governance at multiple levels and understanding how distinct IKSs can improve current efforts, given the complexities of ecosystems and uncertainties posed by climate‐induced changes.

The partners are from across Canada with linkages to fisheries, indigenous and academic networks beneficial to the project’s success. They represent organizations with expertise in working with indigenous peoples in areas of fisheries management (the Assembly of First Nations, British Columbia First Nations Fisheries Council, Unama’ki Institute for Natural Resources and the Government of Nunavut) and indigenous and non‐indigenous scholars with
complementary expertise in indigenous scholarship and fisheries governance from Dalhousie University, University of Guelph, University of Toronto and Vancouver Island University. The partnership spans four regions in Canada (Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Inland) and is committed to full and equal involvement in all aspects of the research and has a mutually‐developed governance structure that is inclusive and based on consensus.

Our Partnership includes academic, community and government partners and supports innovative research, capacity building, and collaborative learning in each of the four regions described above. This project is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY:

We are seeking two students at the master’s level who will work with the project team to support the project goals in two of the four regions identified above. Two additional students will be recruited in 2014 for the remaining two regions.The students will join a large team of investigators, research fellows, staff and students joined together in a partnership spread across Canada. This opportunity will focus their studies in one or more of the thematic areas described above, and each student’s research will focus on examining indigenous and non‐indigenous knowledge systems relating to fisheries governance and management in one of the Canadian study regions. The student will enjoy working closely with other graduate students working in the area, will have the opportunity to share data and findings with our team, will benefit from a network of community, government and academic partners in each region and will be invited to participate in team research and knowledge mobilization (KMb) activities. KMb is defined in this project as the bringing together of knowledge, people and action to create added value to the study sites.

Students can be funded up to $15,000/year for two years. This is accompanied by a reasonable travel/research budget. Funding is available for enrollment beginning September, 2013. Graduate studies can be pursued at any one of the partner universities.

EXPECTATIONS:

As project team members, the student will be expected to:

• Undertake self directed research within the proposal guidelines;
• Participate in project‐related events, including KMb activities;
• Prepare publishable peer‐reviewed articles based on their research;
• Provide periodic updates and technical reports to project partners and participating communities;
• Include SSHRC Partnership Grant acknowledgement in all products related to the project.

TO APPLY:

The student must either be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Please send a CV, cover letter, the names and contact information for 3 references and a maximum 2 page concept paper to Dr. Lucia Fanning (Principal Investigator): lucia.fanning@dal.ca

The concept letter should address the expectations outlined above and contain:

• Linkages with the project goals
• Proposed objectives, approach and methodology;
• Timing and duration of the project

Applications are requested prior to March 31, 2013.

Eligible applications from First Nations or Inuit applicants will be given preference.

Marine Affairs Program, Dalhousie University
Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue, Suite 5063
PO Box 15000 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2 Canada
Tel: 902.494.3555 • Fax: 902.494.1001 • marine.affairs@dal.ca • www.marineaffairsprogram.dal.ca