janetknight

Originally from Lakefield, Ontario, I completed my Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies at Trent, graduating in 2008. While completing undergraduate studies in IDST, I focused on the human experience of development, exploring the social and cultural impacts of the processes of globalization, climate change and various forms of ‘development’. In conjunction with my studies, work and volunteer experiences provided insight in to the need for community-based sustainable practice and social supports. After graduation I was employed with local community development agencies.

Before entering graduate studies,  I worked with the federal program Katimavik, as Project Leader in Sheshatshiu and North West River, Labrador. This position entailed working with youth from across Canada as they volunteered, based on the values of community integration, environmental sustainability and facilitating cross- cultural experiential learning. Living in Labrador taught me that climate change, economic issues and both internal and external development pressures are of daily relevance in the Northern reality, necessitating sustainable policies and practices in the context of isolated communities. As well, living in communities which rely heavily on volunteer work, social programs and participation deepened my interest in the role these play in creating sustainable communities.

I completed a Masters of Arts in Sustainability Studies at Trent University, a program which integrates aspects of social justice, environmental responsibility and the development of sustainable  practices, and allows for the study of the role of social and cultural aspects of community-level sustainability.  My thesis, Dimensions of Socio-Cultural Sustainability: Perspectives of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut (Labrador) was completed in May of 2014. Since then, I have continued my work as a Research Assistant with the Nasivvik Centre for Inuit Health and Changing Environments.

As well, I have been involved with the Nunatsiavut Government’s SakKijânginnatuk Nunalik (Sustainable Communities) Initiative, particularly the “Valued Places and Spaces” project, which seeks to identify and understand important areas on the land or in the community, as well as valued community activities, traditions and events.  

I’m also very lucky to be part of the Health, Environment and Indigenous Communities Research Group at Trent.

My area of interest is around socio- cultural sustainability issues in Indigenous communities; particularly the sustainability of isolated and northern communities. I feel that the particular contexts of small, Northern towns demonstrates the inherent importance of social and cultural dimensions of sustainability and that these lessons can be well applied to other contexts. I am especially interested in identifying mechanisms for the meaningful inclusion of Indigenous principles and values into community planning.