Reflecting on Field Work

By Kiera Kowalski & Courtney Bear, 1st year & 2nd year MDP Students

If there’s one thing COVID-19 has taught us its that working behind a computer screen will never replace connecting and maintaining relationships face-to-face with people especially when it comes to community engagement. 

This summer our field placement is with the Province of Manitoba in the Department of Agriculture and Resource Development. The Government sought to understand youth perceptions of the province’s agriculture industry and so our assignment became consulting youth, between the ages of 15 to 30 years old, in Peguis First Nation.

Kiera & Courtney at the Peguis sign. "We have become close through working together on this project. We aren’t just great teammates but friends as well"

For the most part, we have been delivering our work tasks for our field placement from behind a screen. However, we were able to travel to Peguis First Nation to connect with community members in person and conduct our focus group. Originally the focus group was going to be conducted via Zoom, but as COVID-19 restrictions lifted in both Winnipeg and Peguis First Nation, we realized we could complete it in the community. To ensure the safety of everyone involved we followed the recommended precautions including working in a space where everyone could social distance, sanitizing all surfaces before everyone arrived, and having hand sanitizer available for use.

We were honoured and very grateful that we could be with the Elder Carl McCorrister and the participants while conducting our focus group. We strongly believe that the personable interactions and long-lasting relationships will last a lifetime. As Indigenous and Metis women we know the importance of establishing, building and maintaining our relationships with the participants of our focus group. 

Doing this community focus group made us realize how important it is to connect with individuals in person, especially when utilizing Indigenous research methodologies. Maintaining respectful and reciprocal relationships are a crucial to the research process, and its clear that computers can not replace the connections and relationship building that happens in person. Especially following protocols like having a feast and sharing stories. We had Elder Carl guide us during our focus group which we will forever be grateful for. That words cannot express the gratitude we have for all of his support while we were in the field.

As this was our first time going into the field doing a focus group we understand the importance of sharing who we are and why we are in the community. Doing so not only helps the participants in making the decision to participate in our research project but it also allows for trusting relationships to be established among us.  When reflecting on research with Indigenous peoples the understanding of an Indigenous framework is critical for creating spaces and knowledge of Indigenous perspectives. The participants of the focus group are the ones who carry the knowledge and acknowledging their voices is essential. We will use the Elder and participants’ information in the most respectful way because this it is their truth.

We had a great group of people willing to help us and participate in this focus group session. We are very grateful for all of the knowledge and time that they shared with us. 

Researching amid a pandemic

By Nontokozo Ndlovu, 2nd year MDP student

Nono Ndlovu

A pandemic was the least of my worries when I started this program. Throughout my studies, public health has always been my passion and driving force. It still is but the challenges have made me explore a lot more than what I had just imagined.

My placement as a researcher for a needs assessment on Metis homelessness in the Housing and Property Management department with Manitoba Metis Federation has been eye opening.

Questions that arose were:

• What is it to be a public health practitioner?
• What is it to be a researcher and building relationships during a pandemic?
• What is it to be homelessness in this time of a pandemic?

 My duties include researching on Metis-specific homelessness, identify gaps, challenges and trends. This includes connecting with different organizations and doing interviews. Connecting with organizations who are essential during a pandemic is challenging yet a time to learn a lot. The biggest challenge is not hearing the stories of the people we are writing the needs assessment for. This meant building relationships virtually and allowing that time for people to trust you with information they are giving.

Home office

This also brought many questions like:

• Does exchanging emails back and forth build relationships?
• Does requesting virtual meetings at a time like this overstepping?
• What other ways of research could be used?

 I have so many questions that I ask myself all the time. “I have so many questions that I ask myself all the time. The only answer I have found is that it is essential to hear the stories of the people experiencing homelessness/ unsheltered people. However, this is the challenge of doing research during a pandemic when you are house bound and not able to work directly with the people for whom the work is to benefit.

Remotely connected with the land that gives life

By Henok Alemneh, 2nd year student

I first found out about the Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage Site from my academic advisor when I was in my very first semester in the MDP program. I have since been building relationships and working with the Pimachiowin Aki Corporation (PAC), which is a non-profit charity organization mandated to coordinate and integrate actions to protect and present the outstanding universal value of a boreal forest Anishinaabe cultural landscape. Through PAC, the First Nations of Bloodvein River, Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi and Poplar River and the provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, collaboratively manage Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage Site. Pimachiowin Aki, which is Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) for “the land that gives life”, is one of the world’s few UNESCO World Heritage sites recognized for both its cultural and natural values.

In my current field placement opportunity with PAC, I have been tasked to work on two main projects. The first project has been to undertake a research and present options and recommendations to the PAC Board of Directors, for consideration by the Pimachiowin Aki First Nations, for an Indigenous-owned and controlled economic development corporation with a mission to develop and deliver a for-profit Indigenous tourism facility and experience in the World Heritage Site.

This research project has now been completed, thanks to the continuous inputs and guidance from my supervisors Bruce Bremner, PAC Board Co-Chair & Alison Haugh, PAC Executive Director. Conducting research, report writing, and teamwork are among the key practical experiences I gained through this project. 

The second project I am currently working on focuses on proposing a business plan in accordance with the recommendations of the research project. Once the business plan is finalized, it would be presented to PAC Board who would make decisions on the next steps. So far, the field placement activities have provided me with opportunities to apply some of what I learned in the MDP program, particularly through Research and Business Planning courses.

Unlike my previous field placement that involved travel and in-person community engagement, the COVID-19 pandemic we are in has now forced many of us to work from home. In my view, traveling out to the outstanding Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage Site, getting the opportunity to engage with some community members and connecting with the land and culture would be irreplaceable experiences. However, the stories I get to hear and read, the interactions I have with my supervisors, the articles I reference, and the reflections I make in the papers are helping me connect remotely with Pimachiowin Aki, the land that gives life, until the time and opportunity to go in person arises.

Learning the second time

By Gloria Makafui Dovoh, 2nd year MDP student

Home office

My placement(s) have been nothing short of interesting, for which I am thankful. For my (local) second field placement, I have the opportunity of working with Immigration Partnership Winnipeg (IPW) hosted by the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg.

IPW brings collaborations at the community-level, to newcomer settlement and integration. The IPW, in turn, hosts the Ethnocultural Council of Manitoba-Stronger Together Inc. (ECCM) which is the second organization I work with. ECCM is a place where various Ethnocultural, refugee and immigrant communities' in Manitoba meet to generate collective knowledge, ideas, information, resources, strategies and inspiration to create communities where all people are valued and welcomed.

Some of my roles with both organizations have been to: 

• Apply to two major grants accruing to $53,750.
• Collaborate to plan the Multiculturalism Day Celebration on June 27, 2020. 
• Work as part of various working groups including anti-racism campaign working group for which I developed a tip sheet on the facts and myths about COVID-19 and collaboratively managed a social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram called Don’t Discriminate Manitoba (social media handle @don’tdiscriminatemb).
• Host virtual meetings and take notes.
• Volunteer to take up other roles when they come up.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have gone through various activities; you name a fun activity…. I have attempted it (social media challenges, dance videos, dressing up to go nowhere, cooking food that I never had time to cook, sitting outside and relaxing just because there’s nowhere to go).

I would say being open-minded and thankful for the learning opportunities even in these difficult times and not always complaining have helped me a lot in these past months. As I come to the end of my studies in fulfilment of a Master’s in Development Practice-Indigenous Development, I am very grateful for growth, exposure, knowledge and opportunities that I have obtained.

Gloria at the Multiculturalism Celebration Day

My Placement with CRC and Disaster Risk Reduction

By Racheal Kalaba, 2nd  year MDP student

I did my domestic field placement with the Canadian Red Cross – Manitoba and worked directly under the Disaster Risk Reduction department. (DRR).

My role was to work with the department's team in reviewing the DRR department, existing DRR tools and program reports, literature on engaging with Indigenous communities and policies on disaster management, and the fundamentals of disaster risk reduction, tools, and procedures. The final product is to be a review report of the work of the DRR program over the last 3 years including feedback from the community and staff in terms of mapping the way forward.

What worked: what worked was the literature review of the documents and review of tools. Since this work was mostly completed from my home office and online, I was able to review key documents and literature as well as get virtual support from my supervisor and the other DRR team members.  This worked though had its challenges because the initial plan was for me to be working in person with the DRR staff in person and in the CRC office.

What didn't work: Most of the work I was expected to do was to support in community visits, regular meetings, and feedback, engagement with Indigenous communities and leaders could not happen as Manitoba was and still is in a state of emergency due to COVID – 19 and the communities had more pressing matters and issues to deal with than COVID -19.

What I have learned and lessons during Covid- 19: I quickly learned that the situation was more about adaptability and resilience. Most times when I used to learn about adaptability and resilience it was more about communities and projects, then when COVID- 19 hit, I realized that resilience as a word is one, we think is easier to use until you find yourself in an unplanned crisis/ situation.

I also reflected on my Indigenous world view in terms of relationships, reciprocity, and trust. These key themes resonated well as I learned to rely on my supervisor and the DRR staff for support virtually. The support given helped me create a flexible weekly workplan, as well as take into account my wellness.

I appreciated more and more the Indigenous tools and concepts that make us co-exist as people, and it was more than achieving the tasks ahead, but making sure the wellness was also considered. After a hard 2 weeks, I created my starter pack for surviving the so-called ‘new normal’. I started walking more, created a good cooking regime, I had different workspaces - the favorite always being the kitchen table. I had my care team in the form of close friends and family, the aim and mantra  was to work, live, laugh and love. Through all this, I have created strong friendship bonds and appreciated the times when I felt like giving up and having friends who are always and therefore was the biggest support system and wellness. 

I really appreciate and thank the Manitoba Red Cross team especially my supervisor Dixie Reyes and Rachel Clark who made my work doable and memorable. I am excited on my new journey as an MDP graduate 2020.

My Online (Field) Placements with PILC and ANU

By Mackenzie Roop, 1st year MDP student

 The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) specializes in assisting those who are too often pushed out of discussion around policy and quality legal representation. PILC offers advocacy for issues surrounding Indigenous peoples, human rights, the environment, and low-income persons. It is an honour and a privilege to work amongst such highly motivated and effective people.

The work that I’m doing is in response to a request by a First Nation organization to assess First Nations Entry into the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) established late 2019. I am reviewing the recommendations made by First Nations to the Expert Review Panel amending the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012, and how those recommendations transpired in the IAA. The hope is that this will more clearly illustrate the potential for meaningful First Nations participation in the environmental review process. The literature review highlighted key barriers to meaningful participation such as:

• The lack of Free, Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC) as outlined in UNDRIP;
• The avoidance of more rigorous and encompassing impact evaluations via cumulative assessments and traditional knowledges; and
• The high expense incurred to First Nations to independently support the Impact Assessment process.

Many First Nations iterate that meaningful participation in the energy sector is key to reconciling Crown-Indigenous relationships. 

I am very grateful to work under Dr. Trish Fitzpatrick, Joelle Pastora Sala and Byron Williams. I am also working alongside fellow MDP colleague Kate! We have weekly check-in meetings with our supervisor Dr. Fitzpatrick, sometimes via socially distanced outside meetings over coffee, but mostly over Zoom. Here is a screenshot from one of our many Zoom meetings:

Top L-R: Dr. Trish Fitzpatrick and Mackenzie Roop. Bottom L-R: Kate Robb and Byron Williams

I am simultaneously working for the Centrefor Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University (ANU) in support of the Grand Challenge Initiative pursuing “Zero Carbon Energy for the Asia Pacific” (ZCEAP). I am researching Canadian case studies of Indigenous-led renewable energy projects. This will hopefully further inform the comparative opportunities of First Nations in Australia. As a settler who is half Canadian and half Australian, I am really excited to be doing research from a cross-regional perspective. The MDP has taught me a lot about the true history and reality of Turtle Island, but I have far less knowledge and experience of the situation in Australia. Having this opportunity to connect and think about the parallels between these two colonized lands is really special. I am extremely grateful to Janet Hunt and Brad Riley for supporting my research and for the opportunity to work on such an amazing, forward looking project.

Working from Home

This is my humble workspace! After several zoom meetings interrupted by my attention-seeking cat, I decided to move to a space where I could close the door. The natural light helps me focus and keep positive.

I have found time management one of my main challenges under COVID-19. Because I normally like to leave the house to study or work, I find it difficult to stay in the same place for long periods of time. I have found myself switching up my work environment by working on the porch or at the dining table. I also make it a point of trying to go outside at least once a day, either by tending to my garden or going for a bike or run to the river. This helps me keep perspective on the greater world around me.

Working for PILC from Home

By Kate Robb, 1st year MDP student

My first field placement is with the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), an independent office of Legal Aid Manitoba. PILC represents groups and individuals on a variety of issues affecting the environment, Indigenous peoples, human rights, and consumers. Although it was disappointing that I was unable to undertake my original field placement due to the pandemic, I was excited to have the opportunity to work with PILC this summer. I was already familiar with the work they do, as I took a course taught by two of the lawyers during my undergraduate degree, and assisted with an event they co-organized this past March.

The project I am working on for PILC is related to the Augmented Flow Program, which allows Manitoba Hydro to deviate from the operating conditions set out in the Interim License of the Churchill River Diversion. I have been reading a range of studies and reports and organizing and summarizing them in a way that will allow the PILC team to easily access the most relevant information when they need it. The impacts of the Augmented Flow program directly affect both the environment and First Nations communities in northern Manitoba, therefore I have been able to apply a lot of my learning from my undergraduate degree in environmental studies as well as my first year in the MDP program.

Team PILC-MDP Zoom meeting

Undertaking my field placement remotely has been an interesting experience. I've had to work on improving my time management skills in order to stay focused while working at home every day. We have been having Zoom meetings every Monday and Thursday to check in and update everyone on our progress, which has been a helpful way of staying accountable.

I'm looking forward to continuing my work on this project over the next several weeks! 

Work from home