911³Ô¹Ï

Resource and Environmental Management | Master's degree | 

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

Born and raised on the shores of the Kichi Sibi - Ottawa River and Mnidoo Gamii - Georgian Bay, I grew up understanding that relationships to lands and waters are at the heart of everything. Land governance is where my passion for landscapes and their complex stories meet. After several years working in science communication, protected areas, and community engagement I chose REM to build the skills needed for a career supporting community-driven resource management and collaborative governance.

Why did you choose to come to 911³Ô¹Ï?

I heard from someone I trusted that there were good people working at REM doing quality collaborative research. I am happy to report that they were right! I have felt very much at home here.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

Trying to understand the nuances and strategic choices of territorial representation in Indigenous-led planning processes, specifically the development of a Sts'ailes territorial land use plan. Maps are communication tools whose design reflects politics, so investigating how experiences, values, and relationships are represented though the maps that appear in planning documents is one way to assess how useful they might be to different audiences (e.g. community members, policymakers, resource managers).

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Community-engaged research; Indigenous-led planning; Mapping

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

It has been said that the best way to cement your own understanding of a topic is to share it with someone else, which certainly reflects my experience as a TA. Running tutorial discussions with students across faculties has helped me see familiar topics through different lenses.

Nothing beats immersive experiential learning though, so participate in a field school if you can!

How do you approach networking and building connections in and outside of your academic community?

Being part of the REM student associations (REMSU, REPSA) has been a great way to build community, as has participating in the Alumni Mentorship Program. Outside of REM, it has been a privilege to be a Community Engaged Research Initiative Graduate Fellow and connect with grad students working with a similar ethos across disciplines. Otherwise, I enjoy building connections through sport, joining the 911³Ô¹Ï rowing team and Nordic Racers paranordic volunteer group.

What are some tips for balancing your academic and personal life?

Make sure you keep learning in more than one area of your life by setting aside time to nurture a hobby. My best creative ideas for coursework and research have come while my mind has been on something else entirely. Hobbies also prevent you from feeling like you are spinning your wheels altogether when you hit academic roadblocks.

Contact Mikayla: mikayla_boule@sfu.ca

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