Bio

As an experienced scholar-practitioner, I am committed to innovative research and teaching grounded in social responsibility, and with the potential to be applied around the world. My primary focus is on participatory and collaborative research, Corporate-Aboriginal relations, and alternative learning systems. I am especially passionate about ensuring that indigenous cultures have access to adequate and appropriate tools for learning. An important aspect of my research is the emerging intersections between technology and educational programming, especially in the delivery of curriculum and programs to remote, rural, and under-developed communities.

I am an expert in the field of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal land use and occupancy. My goal is to support long-term and sustainable partnerships between Indigenous peoples, the corporate private sector, and government regimes in pursuit of  sustainable socio-economic development.

I have extensive experience leading complex research projects in support of comprehensive land claims, major resource and heavy industry clients, and the public sector. And I also specialize in applied and collaborative anthropology, strategic policy work, stakeholder engagement, and developing, implementing, and managing complex research portfolios.

My experiences working with remote and developing Aboriginal nations within Canada, combined with my practical understanding of Indigenous governance and resource management systems, grants me an extensive breadth of knowledge of the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of major resource projects. I am motivated and energized by the prospect of applying my expertise to provide strategic level contributions and practical hands-on management in support of Corporate-Aboriginal relations,  environmental impact reviews and traditional land use and occupancy studies.

I also enjoy any opportunity to teach and interact with learners. I am thoroughly committed to fostering an environment where learners can explore ideas and think about problems in new ways. My teaching philosophy consists of mentoring learners both inside and outside the classroom, encouraging them to take responsibility for their own learning, and providing them with skills that are applicable to the real world. My purpose is to engage learners in the exploration, celebration and implementation of ideas and innovation.

I greatly value the opportunity to guide discoveries in the classroom, and to work with learners individually as an advisor and mentor. As an adjunct research professor at Carleton University I have been very active in mentoring and assisting graduate students with their thesis related projects. This includes offering technical suggestions and ideas as well as helping students to refine and explain their projects; ensuring their research methods fit their projects; addressing any potential ethical issues; and helping students to make connections outside the university in support of their fieldwork. I encourage all my students to be as efficient and comprehensive as possible with their projects.

Guest Lecture, University of Alberta Indigenous Studies Field School, May 2012

I develop all my courses with the overarching goal of encouraging learners to be more engaged in their own learning processes. My classroom is structured in a highly participatory manner so that all learners are involved in class-discussions; for some  this means being prepared to share their ideas with their class-mates, and for others it means coming to class prepared to listen to what their classmates are sharing.  I integrate inclusive learning techniques, such as teaching circles, that help to develop a sense of trust and mutual respect amongst classmates and help to breakdown the power dynamics between the professor and learners. I believe that innovative approaches to learning help foster the transfer and sharing of knowledge. And this approach is currently being supported by a $40 million research project at the Harvard Initiative for Learning and Teaching.

My teaching philosophy is anchored around providing learners with skills that are applicable to the real world. I teach the skills required to be a good researcher, analyst, or project manager. I present theory, models, and abstractions that underlie the many interdisciplinary fields in social sciences, and then anchor these concepts in the practice of research, writing, and the application of critical thinking. I believe that effective teaching engages educators and learners. This requires developing and supporting innovative and socially responsible methods of teaching and learning that balance the transfer of knowledge with an inclusive learning environment, and the use of new technologies.

I bring to any organization my advanced research skills, rigorous project management abilities, exceptional communication skills, and an imaginative and energetic leadership style. I am a highly motivated self-starter and innovative thinker with a high level of integrity and an affinity for multidisciplinary team management.

Check out a recent video of me discussing career opportunities at Think Tanks to graduate students at McGill University: Working at a Think Tank.