Trent University :: Indigenous Environmental Studies

Indigenous Environmental Studies in the News

December 07, 2011: Record-sized Ozone Hole over Canadian Arctic a Cause for Concern

October 31, 2011: Trent Student is Bringing a Good Message

October 27, 2011: President of Guyana Recognizes Trent University Professor for his Contribution to Scientific Development in Guyana

October 25, 2011: Trent University and Guyana's Institute of Applied Science and Technology Explore Opportunities for Collaboration

October 14, 2011: Why Spirituality and Environmentalism need each other

Calendar of News and Events

Spring 2010

Dakota Brant an Indigenous Environmental Studies major has been crowned the prestigious Miss Indian World. At the 27th Annual Gathering of Nations, the most prominent Native American powwow in the world, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the end of April, fourth-year Trent University student Dakota Brant was crowned Miss Indian World and chosen to represent all Native and Indigenous people as a cultural goodwill ambassador. Dakota graduated last summer and is the first graduate of the Indigenous Environmental Studies Program.(more)

IES Photo Contest

The winners of the 2010 IES photo contest were Diana Kouril and Sarah Sandy. The winning photos are shown below.

Photo by Diana Kouril

Photo by Sarah Sandy

The New Degree Program

The program started offering a B.A. or a B.Sc. in Indigenous Environmental Studies September 2009. This is the first degree program of its type in Canada.

Future Visions

With the unique nature of the Indigenous Environmental Studies program growth has been rapid. Starting as an Emphasis in 1999, it became a Specialization in 2002, and a degree granting program in 2009. Future growth is anticipated in undergraduate and graduate studies, and students will be offered opportunities to expand their studies into 5 key areas of knowledge:

Indigenous Foods and Medicines: growing, gathering and use.
Indigenous Peoples Health and the Environment: the relationship between local environment and community well-being.
Natural resource and ecological restoration: community development and remediation.
Environmental planning: for ecological and cultural sustainability.
International Environmental Network: sharing and creating innovative Indigenous solutions

News

While studying at Trent University a professor, Dr. Chris Furgal, introduced James Kuptana to the Circumpolar Flaw Lead System Study (CFL) which is a Canadian project of the International Polar Year. This project is part of the CCGS Amundsen icebreaker which travels in the Beaufort Sea and has a vast array of studies happening on board, from physical oceanography, atrophic levels and food webs, to gas fluxes and environmental contaminants. To read more about James and the CFL study click here.