Building Healthy Family Relationships in the Pacific Nation of Vanuatu

By Titima Wanwilaiwan, 1st year MDP student

My field placement this year is with the Blossom Project of ADRA Vanuatu, a non-profit organization, located in The Republic of Vanuatu, an island nation located in the South Pacific, and a three-hour flight from Sydney, Australia. The country only gained its independence from the British and the French in 1980 and has become popular among luxury tours and tourists from Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America.

A small island near Espiritu Santo showing traditional livelihood practices

Vanuatu is comprised of more than 80 islands, 65 of which are inhabited. It is one of the Pacific Island countries that is prone to natural disasters, such as cyclones, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The people of Vanuatu move a lot among the islands to avoid natural disasters, visit family, education, employment/ economic and tourism development opportunities.

The Blossom Project is a pilot project, that started in response to the high rate of domestic violence, youth pregnancies, and abandoned babies. Initially, the project started with the Gender Needs Assessment in 2013, and it works with young students in school, communities, as well as with parents and teachers. The project was expanded to include sexual offenders for more effective results. Prevention activities aim to enhance healthy family relationships to tackle violence against children, especially girls. My role with ADRA Vanuatu was to support the Blossom Project in developing the plan and activities for Phase II to tackle these issues effectively. 

Women from Tangoa community presenting their discussion on community values

In order to do the work properly, I needed to understand the context and the complexity of the island community in Vanuatu. I examined urban and rural livelihoods, community-based food systems, health and wellness, and other important factors such as gender roles and responsibilities, tourism and the legacy of colonialism.  I also observed and participated in project activities, including planning a community survey.

One example of the project activities that I participated in was the training on domestic violence prevention at the Low Risk Detention Centre. The training is part of the rehabilitation program for the inmates who will soon return to their communities.

I am so thankful that ADRA Vanuatu and the MDP program allowed me to practice my skills in the field and learn about the ongoing work to prevent child sexual abuse, domestic violence and youth pregnancies in the Ni-Vanuatu community.

 

Off to do a training workshop on domestic violence prevention at a prison. (L-R) ADRA Program Director, Blossom Project Manager, staff member from Finance team, Titima, and 3 trainers.

And All Other Duties as Required

By Chelsie Parayko, 1st year MDP student

When signing up for the MDP program, I did not envision what exactly working with community would look like, and I would imagine typically that’s not something that most people consider. It is likely that most of us thought about the great work in research we will do, the positive impacts we may potentially have and maybe, just maybe, we think about how community will change us and impact who we are. 

On Blackfoot traditional territory during the Pathways Annual Gathering: “Land-based learning and healing”

What we don’t talk about is how sometimes we have to roll up our proverbial sleeves and drive a 15-passenger van down a windy highway, be a cheer leader for a young artist who is unsure of her talents, run bear-watch, or how we might have to become hosts to elders and run to ensuring their dinner is everything they expect, and their water is always topped up.

We have been told to “check ourselves at the door” and to enter a community with humility, understanding and with no set idea of how your time will turn out to be, but this is just the beginning of that story. As Dorothy says, “we are no longer in Kansas anymore,” we are here for the community and most of our preconceived notions are proven to be completely incorrect.

Elder Mabel Horton sharing teachings in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation

Our job as researchers is to disrupt the norms and to be the community’s biggest advocates. During a fire-side-chat, Bonnie Healy, of the Blood Tribe, said that “we are all aware that Indigenous peoples have been researched to death, but it is our responsibility as Indigenous researchers to research ourselves back to life.” This is true for both Indigenous researchers and our allies as well.

I have had the great pleasure of working with Nanaandawewigamig this summer and I have seen this happen in its truest form. The staff in the Research Department have an extremely long list of experience, western education and what seems like endless knowledge of and appreciation for Indigenous ways of knowing and being. 

This group of individuals make up some of the foremost Indigenous researchers, however when tasks need to be taken on, they are always the first to roll up their sleeves and do what needs to be done. I am perpetually in awe of this group of people and feel incredibly privileged to have had to opportunity to learn from and to have worked along-side them.

Traveling North - Pisew Falls, MB. (B-F) Rachel Bach, Stephanie Sinclair & Chelsie Parayko

Environmental Justice and Participation for Communities in Southern India

By Cassandra Szabo, 2nd year MDP student

I, another MDP student (Ari Phanlouvong) and undergraduate student (Sean Goldstone) from the University of Winnipeg were selected to participate in a research project led by Dr. Alan Diduck and Dr. Kirit Patel of the University of Winnipeg. This research project is a SSHRC funded project and is seeking to understand the impact of a judicial bench called the National Green Tribunal in India, hoping to understand the effect these decisions are having on all levels of individuals in the country. 

Cassandra at the office in Honnavar, Karntaka

In preparation for our time in India we chose specific cases that were in line with our own academic interests. I chose a case that was related to fishing and sand mining in a community called Baikady Village. Upon reviewing the literature, the case appeared to be quite simple – the community came to the National Green Tribunal, the court ruled in favour of the community and ruled that sandbar removal permits only be issued in very specific cases and only to local community members. Of course, once arriving on site the reality was much more nuanced.

Upon speaking with the village they informed me that while the National Green Tribunal ruled in their favour it took many years to get to that point, and to stop the sand mining. The mining impacted the village very negatively, some villagers lost their lives, some lost their livelihoods, and some their land. 

Map of Baikady Village. Heavy sand removal areas are outlined in red. Source: Google Earth

The sand mining caused erosion of the river bank which meant that there could be no collection of clams, and it also meant that the water was much deeper so when community members went to collect clams they were at risk of drowning. In addition to this the fish were no longer coming for their typical breeding cycle, which then meant that other birds or animals dependent on that food source were not coming to the river – the entire food cycle was disrupted. The coconut trees that were farmed on the banks of the river were falling into the river due to erosion. While the clam collection and coconut farming were noticeable impacts, perhaps the largest issue was that local fishers were now losing their ability to fish. The fish were no longer in the river, the river was much deeper than before, and the fishing nets were being damaged. So the community lost multiple streams of revenue, their community felt unsafe, and they were losing their land due to erosion.  

A traditional fishing boat on the banks of the Suvarna River

These negative effects are what spurred the community to action, they first went to their local government and then the district government, all to no avail. The community got in touch with activists and then created their case with the National Green Tribunal. The verdict was that all sand mining be barred and that sandbar removal be monitored strictly. The community was happy with this as the sand miners and migrant workers largely left the community. However little environmental remediation has occurred since the verdict, but the community can see the river health slowly improving. The villagers showed immense courage and perseverance in protecting their land and livelihoods, and this case also shows the importance and power in non-partisan judicial systems.

Environmental Justice in India – International Field Placement

By Ari Phanlouvong, 2nd year MDP student

India has been amazing so far. I have been extremely fortunate to have been in good health and have adapted so easily and quickly. Since arriving Friday, May 18, Cassandra and I hit the ground running, immediately immersing ourselves in the chaos of Mumbai which was a whirlwind, to say the least. For someone who has never travelled to India, Ahmedabad may have been a better place to begin our journey as it is much quieter than Mumbai, however, we decided to spend our first weekend visiting the big city before flying north to the state of Gujarat which would mark the official beginning of our field placement.

  

The end of a productive day at GNLU

The research on which we are working consists of examining both the social and environmental impacts of court decisions regarding specific development projects located in the states of Goa and Karnataka. Through this analysis we hope to increase positive impacts to local communities.

My specific case is located in Goa. During our time in Ahmedabad at the Gujurat National Law University (GNLU), each member of the team did in-depth research on our respective projects by analyzing court documents as well as using the University’s available resources and contacts to guide us through our next steps in the research.

We then headed south to Honnavar in the state of Karnataka where we met our community liaison who has been helping us connect with the communities in each of our cases. Our contact in Honnavar has played a crucial role by allowing us to approach communities in such a short amount of time. As we all know, building relationships and a rapport with community members is a crucial process in research and normally takes longer than a few short weeks. 

Our Honnavar office

After spending a few weeks in Honnavar building our interview tools and skills, as well as courage to undertake the next steps of field work independently, the team separated. We are now in our respective project areas. I took a 6-hour bus journey to the city of Panjim (Panaji) in Goa, where I have organized meetings between nearby cities and towns. My next stop is Vasco da Gama where I will base myself for the remainder of my time on the field.

The beautiful beach behind our Honnavar office

Understanding the Complexities Related to Manitoba Hydro’s Augmented Flow Program

By Patricia Eyamba, 1st year MDP student

In this field placement, my main focus was on the water regime program of Manitoba Hydro since 1986, specifically regarding the design and implementation of Augmented Flow Program. I was tasked with designing an initial community engagement plan to be considered by the York Factory First Nation.

Augmented Flow program is a complex energy related topic; a program implemented by Manitoba Hydro and approved by Manitoba government to ensure there is uninterrupted and good quality supply of electricity to Manitobans.

The program is linked with Churchill River Diversion project where the Manitoba government allowed Manitoba Hydro to divert the Churchill river on an agreed term stated in the interim water power act license. This diversion has caused water to rise above the level that was originally agreed in the license. Based on this overflow, Manitoba government is issuing annual written permission to Hydro called Augmented Flow program permitting Hydro to flood the lake by additional “half foot” (Halket Environmental Consultants Inc. (2017) O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation Review of Regional Cumulative Effect Assessment Pg. 4) which was not part of the terms in the original license that was issued.

Source: https://www.pimicikamak.ca/wppim/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Interim_Report_Draft_April_2014_2.pdf

Although this program has helped in improving the quality of services rendered by Hydro to Manitobans. However, the aftermath to the host communities include: lost of lands, habitats, homes due to water fluctuations and flooding. Flooding along the shorelines pollutes the water and kills plant life. Also, animals are trapped and killed which affects the economic activities of the community causing economic hardship. This project has robbed the community of the very essence that form their identity.

Resources gathered and developed from this study would be handed in to community members as supporting evidence and reference materials to be used in negotiating for the changes they wish to see in the operations of Manitoba Hydro activities in their community. 

I was inspired during my class with Professor Dr. Patricia Fitzpatrick to delve further in academic research. Having worked in the field of development, I choose Augmented Flow Program because it is related to community development and that resonates with me. Additionally, I wanted the experience of  taking classroom knowledge into the field. This study gives me the opportunity to be part of a change movement beginning from research to producing community engagement plan.

In doing this work, I had the privilege of meeting with leaders from the York Factory Cree Nation, lawyers and academics. I got a deeper understanding of the history of hydro energy development in Manitoba and the dynamics involved in managing the program.

It has been a huge learning process for me transitioning from working in the non-governmental sector to doing academic research.  My research skills have improved tremendously. It has been a good challenge and very rewarding for me in many ways. I would like to thank the partners in this work: The York Factory Cree Nation, The Public Interest Law Centre and The University of Winnipeg.