Resurgent Indigenous Scholars for the Environment (RISE)
An emergent collaboration between new Indigenous faculty members at the University of British Columbia.
What is RISE?
To combat the assumed universality and superiority of Western science within the academic structure, and to instead create supportive systems that foster collaborative and holistic Indigenous science, we have found it critical to build bridges between Indigenous science scholars across historically and contemporarily siloed departments and faculties within our institution. Through the formation of the “Resurgent Indigenous Scholars for the Environment” (RISE) Collective, within the first year of our respective faculty appointments at The University of British Columbia – where we were each the sole Indigenous tenure-track faculty hire – we have created our own space for providing mutual support, co-designing research and teaching projects, and being in collective service to Indigenous Peoples within and beyond the university campus.
The RISE Collective
-
Dr. Shandin Pete
Salish/Diné
Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences Faculty of Science -
Dr. Danielle Ignace
Coeur d'Alene
Forest and Conservation Sciences
Faculty of Forestry -
Dr. Tabitha Robin Martens
Cree, Métis
Applied Biology
Faculty of Land and Food Systems -
Dr. Andrea Reid
Nisg̱a’a
Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Faculty of Science
RISE at Ocean Tribes Gathering 2023
“The Ocean Tribes Gathering was hosted alongside the 2023 IMPAC5 Congress in Vancouver, to explore food security and Indigenous led conservation through the resurgence of ocean-going canoes...”
RISE Projects & Initiatives
Our first discussions, initiatives, and projects include:
Chapter in prep. for forthcoming book “Building bridges - Dialogues between Indigenous science(s) and Western science: Decolonial impacts and challenges“ (Dr. Gregory Cajete, Dr. Rangimārie Mahuika, and Dr. Ronald Lutz, eds). (2023-2024)
“Towards the development of an Indigenous Science Research Course Series” funded by the UBC Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Fund (2023-2024)
“Inaugural First Salmon Ceremony at UBC: Sustaining Inter-Cultural Relationships for Our Shared Future” funded by the UBC Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Fund (2023)
A RoundTable Discussion: Indigenous Research Methods, Protocols, and Processes – UBC LFS LC Decolonial Lunch & Learn Series (2022)
A RoundTable Discussion: Navigating Indigenous Knowledge and Decolonial Constructs in Academic Science – Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences Colloquium (2022)
Indigenous Scholars Panel: Decolonization, Indigenization and Reconciliation within STEM – Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology Classroom Climate Series (2021)
