Champagne and Aishihik Scientist Tours European Embassies
Jocelyn Joe-Strack is a Champagne and Aishihik First Nations scientist. Over the next four weeks she is embarking on a speaking tour of Canadian embassies in Europe to sharing her Indigenous perspective on Climate Change with senior diplomats, academics, youth and the public. She is a 2012 Alumna of the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship program.
Blog 1: An Invitation To Europe
Blog 3: Taking Time To Reflect
Blog 4: Reflections from Picasso
Blog 5: Indigenous reconciliation
Blog 6: Science, Reindeer & Knowledge
Blog 7: Youth Wisdom & Inspiration
Whitehorse, YT – Jocelyn Joe-Strack, a Champagne and Aishihik First Nations scientist, is embarking on a four week speaking tour of Canadian embassies in Europe. She will be sharing her Indigenous perspective on Climate Change with senior diplomats, Academics, youth and the public.
“I am truly looking forward to the opportunity to represent my home and people. We are recognized as leaders in Indigenous self-determination and now it is time to extend that to leaders in climate change adaptation,” explains Joe-Strack — who holds multiple advanced degrees in microbiology and geography and is currently working towards a PhD regarding Indigenous Land Use Planning.
“I intend to share my understanding as a scientist, cultural scholar and mother and hear from other cultures and thinkers and explore how we perceive and approach the climate change challenge”, says Joe-Strack.
Jocelyn Joe-Strack was first invited by representatives at the Canadian Embassy to Germany after hearing of her work during an Arctic conference. Ambassadors in France, Spain and Sweden promptly followed suit.
Joe-Strack’s message is that “our greatest vulnerability is that we have developed a civilization that assumes the Earth is stable. However, our Earth is alive and ever moving — kwaday dän (long ago people) knew this and lived in harmony with Earth’s cycles.”
“In our fast-paced modern society, we are easily blinded or incapable of understanding our role on Earth. We must reflect and heal if we are to understand how we can seek harmony.”
During her tour, Joe-Strack will post regular blog updates to share her message and to highlight the issues and questions discussed during her journey. You can follow her on Twitter at @jocelynjs.
About Jocelyn Joe-Strack
Jocelyn Joe-Strack is a well-respected academic with multiple advanced degrees in microbiology and geography and is currently working towards a PhD regarding Indigenous Land Use Planning.
She holds degrees from the University of Northern British Columbia and University of Victoria. She is a Jane Glassco Northern Fellow and a recipient of the prestigious 2017 Vanier Scholarship.
With her business, Subarctic Research & Strategy, Joe-Strack is currently leading development of a progressive Land Use Plan for her First Nation’s Traditional Territory – which will contribute to the Yukon-wide regional land planning process. She is concurrently applying this experience towards a PhD in Sustainability & Environment with the University of Saskatchewan.
Daqualama was born and currently lives in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory with her husband and two young children.
