Canada-Prize Winning Book Uncovers the Nation's Complex History with Wolves
Dr. Stephanie Rutherford's decade-long interdisciplinary research odyssey suggests there is more to revere than fear with wolves
It was during a 2005 trip to Yellowstone National Park while researching her first book, Governing the Wild, that Dr. Stephanie Rutherford found the inspiration to write her now award-winning book Villain, Vermin, Icon, Kin: Wolves and the Making of Canada.
“I was surprised when Americans in my tour group began lauding Canada for saving wolves, unlike the US which had persecuted them to such a degree that they needed to be reintroduced. This struck me as a fascinating case of misplaced Canadian exceptionalism, because my sense was that Canada had done very little to protect wolves,” said Professor Rutherford, associate professor in the School of the Environment and director of the Master of Arts in Sustainability Studies at Trent University.
Prof. Rutherford was recently named one of five recipients of the Canada Prizes, which recognize the transformative impact of scholarly books. She attributes the book’s success to Trent University’s unique interdisciplinary environment that fosters a cross-pollination of knowledge. Discussions with colleagues from The School of the Environment, the Indigenous Environmental Studies and Science program, and insights from her students deepened her understanding of wolf biology and animal geography that enriched the story.
She hopes readers will see how our relationship with wolves have changed over time and perhaps we can look at them with kinder eyes by relating with them more and recognizing that we need them to survive.
A relationship with any wild animal is created, not simply discovered
It took over ten years of research to understand the disconnect between an outsider’s view and her perspective how of Canadian view the species then and now, being both loved and feared. Each chapter in Prof. Rutherford’s book explores emotions like fear, disgust, passion, and curiosity, unraveling the history of human-wildlife interactions.
Fear was evident in the ‘blood-soaked’ tales that early settlers told about wolves; disgust was clear in the fact that many settlers felt wolves did not have a right to exist at all. As humans interact less with wolves today, many now seek to encounter them—fearlessly traveling to Algonquin Park in hopes of hearing a melodic wolf howl, for example.
While early settlers vilified wolves as threats to economic and political stability, Indigenous communities saw them as teachers and kin. Prof. Rutherford’s research reveals that a relationship with any wild animal is created, not simply discovered. She found that many Indigenous communities across Canada held no fear of these canines. Instead, they valued their role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by balancing wildlife populations.
In Anishinaabe teachings, the wolf is considered a brother and hunter to be emulated for its own survival. From an Anishinaabe perspective, wolves teach us how to be more human, they demonstrate how to be good parents with openness, respect and kinship. These teachings emphasize interconnectedness and respect—values sometimes found lacking from colonial attitudes toward wildlife.
Recognition for Scholarly Stories
The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences Canada Prizes award is presented annually to five of Canada’s most inspiring, impactful, and transformative scholarly books in the humanities and social sciences; with a $4,000 purse for each winner thanks to the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. This book’s blend of history, emotion, and environmental scholarship exemplifies the transformative spirit recognized by the Canada Prizes.
“Once a book is released into the world, you often have very little sense of how it is received,” said Prof. Rutherford. “This recognition is a tremendous honour that allows me to see how, in my own very small way, I can contribute to more justice-oriented ways of living and inspires me to continue doing transdisciplinary work.”
By revisiting our history with wolves, Prof. Rutherford’s work sheds light on how we can foster more respectful relationships with wildlife, especially within in an era of ecological crises.