Video for the UNESCO Chairs Conference

The following video was created by the UNESCO Co-chairs in Biocultural Diversity, Sustainability, Reconciliation and Renewal, Dr. James Robson and Dr. Maureen Reed for the UNESCO Chairs Conference held in Paris in November of 2022.

Conservation, learning, reconciliation

Community engagement, including with First Nations partners, is bringing together a wide range of stakeholders for conservation efforts. Examples are the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan and community members involved in the Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region.

Welcome, Gilbert!

We are excited to announce that Gilbert Adum, a PhD student, joined the PROGRESS Lab group. His current research focuses on conservation with equity in the Redberry Lake Biosphere Region and traditional territories of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak.

Maureen and Jim visit partners in Germany!

In November, 2021, Drs. Maureen Reed and Jim Robson visited Germany to meet new collaborators at Eberswalde University of Sustainable Development, Leuphana University, and German Biosphere Reserves. We are excited to start working with these partners to embark on a joint graduate training program to equip students with the professional skills needed to become sustainability change makers.

We have funding!

We are pleased that the application by Maureen Reed, Sheri Andrews-Key, and Michaela Sidloski to the Smart Prosperity Institute was awarded. Dr. Andrews-Key (a SENS adjunct and Principal scientist with Innovative Climate Strategies) is an expert in climate change vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning. She is also Michaela’s co-supervisor. This project will fund work in Empowering Resource-Based Communities to Adapt to Climate Change. We are eager for the chance to work with rural and resource-based communities on adaptation planning.

Congratulations to Michaela!

Congratulations to Michaela Sidloski who was recently awarded a SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canadian Graduate Scholarship for her doctoral research about Climate change adaptation in indigenous forest-based communities.

Heidi Walker successfully defends her PhD!!

Congratulations to Heidi Walker who successfully defended her PhD dissertation, Building inclusive responses to climate hazards: An intersectional analysis of wildfire in northern Saskatchewan! We are thrilled for Heidi and are eager to work with her in new projects related to gender, diversity and inclusion in environmental decision-making.

Celebrating Diversity With Michaela Sidloski

Michaela Sidloski is CPAWS-SK’s summer mapping technician for 2020. She is currently working towards a Master’s degree in Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan, and was kind enough to share her thoughts on environmental and social diversity with us this Pride Month.

SENS researchers reaching out to Indigenous partners

Creating reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities is an important focus for current and future research, according to a pair of internationally regarded professors in the School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS).

Striking Balance Season 2

After two and a half years, 307 interviews, and over 250 days of filming, Season 2 of Striking Balance is set to premiere this fall to audiences across Canada. Through 9 x 50 min. episodes, Canadians will explore the sustainability challenges of nine different UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Striking Balance, Season 2 explores nine of Canada’s breathtaking UNESCO biosphere reserves. Narrated by Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy, each 50-minute episode visits a different biosphere to investigate how residents are overcoming the challenges that are threatening the sustainability of these amazing places.

Congratulations Amanda and Tegan!

On November 13th both Amanda and Tegan convocated with a Master's of Environment and Sustainability. The ceremony took place at Merlis Belsher Place, and Amanda and Tegan crossed the stage to be accepted by Chancellor Grit McCreath and congratulated by U of S President Peter Stoichoff. They are both thrilled to receive their degrees and look forward to putting their skills and experiences from the past few years to good use!

Congratulations to Amanda Lindgren!

We celebrate the success of Amanda Lindgren who successfully defended her Masters thesis entitled, “Exploring the effectiveness of Canadian forest advisory committees for advancing sustainability’’.

Congratulations Maureen Reed

On May 28, 2019, Maureen received the Award for Scholarly Distinction in Geography from the Canadian Association of Geographers.

Congratulations Ms Tegan Brock!

Tegan successfully defended her MES thesis, “Characterizing Good-Practice Engagement Between Resource Developers and Indigenous Communities in Northern Saskatchewan”. The day after her defence, she presented her framework for good-practice engagement to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and she is already putting her research into practice with the Saskatchewan government.

Congratulations Ms Sandra Betancur!

We are pleased to announce that Sandra graduated at this year’s Spring Convocation. Her Master’s thesis, entitled, “Inside the Rez Cross: An Assessment of Hosting Evacuees During a Wildfire Disaster in Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation” has been in demand by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and will likely inform policy and practices of the Red Cross and Indigenous nations supporting response to wildfire in northern Saskatchewan.

Congratulations Dr. John Boakye-Danquah!

We are pleased to announce that John graduated at this year’s Spring Convocation. He received the Mowat Award for his PhD dissertation, entitled, “The Contributions of Model Forest Organizations to Sustainable Forest Management of Small-scale Forests: Lessons from Eastern Ontario and Kyoto Model Forests”. We all take a bow for John.

Congratulations to Bimala Khanal

We celebrate the success of Bimala Khanal who successfully defended her Masters thesis entitled, “Raising voices, broadening interests: A longitudinal examination of gender and diversity in Canadian forest sector public advisory committees’’.

Saskatoon gets a new bridge, “Chief Mistawasis”

Chief Daryl Watson accepted the name of the new bridge in Saskatoon, named for Chief Mistawasis who was the first Indigenous signatory of Treaty 6. The School of Environment and Sustainability celebrates with Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and is proud to be their neighbour, friend, and partner on research and teaching collaborations.

Celebration at the PROGRESS Lab

The PROGRESS Lab Celebrates together various accomplishments. Drs Felicitas Egunyu and Razak Abu, best wishes in your new adventure.

Tegan complets a Mitacs internship at SaskPower’s Aboriginal Relations Department

Tegan recently completed a three-month Mitacs internship at SaskPower’s Aboriginal Relations Department in Regina. During her internship, she was exposed to various community files that SaskPower is working on, and learned about the Crown corporation’s approach to engaging and partnering with Indigenous communities more broadly. She had numerous opportunities for learning, including presenting on the duty to consult to SaskPower’s Project Development Office alongside the Director of the department, Wayne Rude.

Congratulations to Dr. Razak Abu!

We celebrate the success of Razak Abu who successfully defended his PhD dissertation entitled, “Knowledge, Use, and Change in the Saskatchewan River Delta: Assessing the Changing Livelihoods of Cumberland House Métis and Cree Nation’’.

Tegan completes internship with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Lands and Resources Office in La Ronge, Saskacthewan

As part of her thesis research on good-practices of engagement with Indigenous communities, Tegan spent four spring and summer months this year situated on the southwestern shores of Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan. She was working in the Lands and Resources Office, a department of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB). The opportunity for the internship arose through a MITACS Accelerate grant, which aims to foster partnership among academia, community, and industry, as well as support skills-development for graduate students.

Co-building sustainability and reconciliation – A Connection event in Canada

From June 19-June 22, 2017,  biosphere reserve practitioners from across Canada met with their Indigenous partners, academics, and governing representatives to better understand what reconciliation with Indigenous peoples might mean and how they could engage in activities of reconciliation.This is a priority for biosphere reserves that serve as model regions for sustainable development and bicultural diversity.

PROGRESS Lab attends SENS Annual Symposium

The SENS Annual Symposium took place on March 31st, 2017. Two members of the PROGRESS Lab; John and Christopher, presented the findings of their research at the Symposium.