A Sense of Community

By Chelsie Parayko, 1st year MDP student

Is there such thing as an unbiased researcher? Human error, emotion or aptitude makes me lean towards no as a simple answer. We all, no matter how removed we want to be, impact data or the outcomes of our research, but does all of this have to be viewed as a negative factor. Does the notion of remaining emotionally unattached to the community have to be how we operate as Indigenous researchers?   

L-R: Chelsie, MDP alumni Rachel Bach & Vanessa Tait

I am not saying one should compromise their research, but what I am questioning is the current norms that are in place through academia. Throughout our MDP courses we have been taught that, as development practitioners that work with Indigenous communities, we must take directives first and foremost from the people of the community. We are taught that the most important thing is to get to know who we are working with and what the community would like to see as the ultimate goal. None of this is done without developing meaningful relationships. Open and honest dialogue comes from a place of trust, connection, and understanding.

What does it look like if researchers, working with Indigenous communities, hang up the clinical academic boundaries and immerse themselves within the community. What happens if we all worked a little harder to have the community truly in our hearts? Is this the key to effecting real change?

I met a beautiful Cree woman, who I now call my friend, during my time at the first Cree Birthing Gathering. We sat down to talk about her experience at the gathering and she told me she had never been to an event that included ceremony or traditional practices. She told me that she was finding herself crying nearly every hour as she watched these events take place, as it had put actions to the feelings she was having deep within her, her blood memory was radiating. I couldn’t help but shed a tear after for both my friend and for the cultural and spiritual loss my people continue to experience. I had an emotional connection to this person, and later, through that connection, I learned details to her birthing story that she may not have shared with others.  

Taking advantage of the beautiful evening and creating memories at Nibi Gathering. L-R: Stephanie Sinclair, Jerilyn Huson, Michelle Audy, Jolene Mercer, Chelsie and Rachel Bach

I believe community and connection are critical to success, both in terms of research and for your own self-care and preservation. Through my field placement I developed friendships and connections with people who I now consider a part of my community and it has made me a better person and a more efficient researcher. I am inspired to work harder for these people, for my people. My friend taught me a Cree word – kiwícéwákan, which roughly translates to, the one you walk with. She said it is used when you find a deeper connection with others. It’s time to walk with community.

Noretta Miswaggon, Chelsie & Sonia Spence at the 2nd land-based Cree Birthing gathering in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation

Environmental Justice in India

By Ari Phanvoulong, 2nd year MDP student

Goa is an Indian state known for its beautiful beaches and picturesque landscapes, attracting travellers from near and far. Goa was a former Portuguese colony, liberated in 1961 after 450 years from Portuguese rule. The Portuguese influence in Goa today is still apparent in its architecture and numerous churches.

Travelling to Goa after spending the first part of my field placement in the southern state of Karnataka marked a new phase in my research. Prior to my arrival to Goa, I had planned to meet with several individuals I had been hoping to interview for my case study regarding a port expansion project. This port expansion proposal has been quoted by many activists as a coal-driven expansion of the port, which could increase air and water pollution for residents of Vasco da Gama, including local fisherfolk. For many years, this expansion project has been a contentious issue between companies that operate out of the government-owned port and residents of Vasco.

 

A view of the port from an office located on the beach

Finally arriving on the grounds on which the case study is set allowed me to organize same-day interviews as I was able to meet with participants at their convenience, usually within hours of first contact by phone. I was also told that it wasn’t unusual for students to call and visit government agencies to enquire in person, and so that is exactly what I did. The visits weren’t necessarily as effective as I expected considering the sensitivity of the subject. However, the individuals I did get to interview were enthusiastic and receptive to my questions, taking away any apprehension I had when I first arrived. 

The weeks I spent alone on the field tested my patience, but I was overall happy with the work I was able to accomplish autonomously. Despite not reaching my goal interviews in terms of quantity, I’m satisfied with the quality discussions I had with all willing participants and look forward to producing a report that can contribute to the larger environmental justice project.

A visit to Grandmother's Hole Beach at the Japanese Garden of Vasco da Gama on my last day in Goa.