Anthro Guest Lecture.

Presentations Overview

  • Presenters: Mia and Leaf

  • Format: Presentations with a Q&A session after each

  • Course Context: Discussion includes course-related queries and midterm information

Mia's Presentation on Environmental Anthropology

  • Background

    • Name: Nina (incorrectly referred to as Mia at start)

    • Program: Second year of a thesis-based Master's program

    • Focus: Environmental Anthropology

    • Personal Interest: Wildlife, outdoor activities, and studying human-wildlife coexistence

  • Prince Albert National Park

    • Personal Experience Signal: Query raised regarding awareness of the park’s features.

    • Wild Plains Bison Herd: Many attendees unaware of its existence, including the speaker despite being raised in Saskatchewan.

    • Significance: Plains Bison are symbolically and historically significant to North American identity and Indigenous communities.

  • Research Motivation

    • Focus Areas: Human-wildlife coexistence, shared landscape use, and conservation policy.

    • Research Objective: Understand diverse experiences and perspectives on the Sturgeon River Plains Bison herd.

    • Stewardship Incorporation: Exploring how to integrate varying community perspectives into management of the herd.

  • Research Context

    • Herd Initiation: Origins from a small number of Plains bison released near Prince Albert.

    • Initial Goal: To support Indigenous food sovereignty; however, the initiative failed, leading to wild herd formation.

    • Population Statistics: Herd grew from under 20 individuals to over 400 at its peak before 2008.

    • Current Status: Population is now threatened, having declined by over 50% due to anthrax outbreak and unsustainable harvesting.

  • Herd Movement

    • Range Description: Inhabit mainly the grasslands in the southwest corner of PA Park but forage outside park boundaries.

    • Impact on Local Community: Damage to private crops due to bison foraging leads to conflicts between conservation goals and local livelihoods.

    • Community Frustration: Long-standing frustrations expressed by local farmers about constant damage and lack of effective solutions.

  • Mitigation Strategies

    • Hazing: Scaring bison back into park boundaries, similar to ranching practices.

    • Fencing: Efforts to prevent access to crops, which are often ineffective due to bison's cleverness.

    • Hunting Involvement: Some locals began calling on Indigenous community members to manage bison populations, leading to controversial debates.

  • Ecological Importance and Cultural Significance

    • Keystone Species: Plains Bison's role in grassland ecosystems.

    • Cultural Relevance: The herd holds deep meaning for First Nations and Metis communities.

    • Research Focus: Examine perceptions of herd activities and stewardship while integrating Indigenous narratives into management.

  • Research Methodologies

    • Participant Groups: Research involves bison experts, local stakeholders, residents, and Indigenous representatives.

    • Data Collection Methods:

    • In-depth Interviews: Flexible, semi-structured guides tailored to participant groups, totaling 31 interviews ranging from 40 minutes to full-day discussions.

    • Participant Observation: Involved active participation in local events, gaining experiential insights alongside data collection.

    • Surveys: Mail-to-web surveys distributed in targeted areas for broader community input.

  • Fieldwork Experiences

    • Stay During Fieldwork: Research conducted in summer months primarily at bunkhouse and cabins provided by Parks Canada.

    • Networking: Laying groundwork for relationships with locals and gaining context for research themes.

    • Community Gathering Involvement: Observing interactions between different community members and the herd as part of participant observation.

  • Future Objectives

    • Data Analysis: Coding and interpreting themes derived from qualitative research.

    • Community Report: Developing reports for Parks Canada and contributing to collaborative management plans for the herd.

    • Aim to Achieve: Inform and enhance future conservation policies based on community input and anthropological insights.

Leaf's Presentation on Practicing Anthropology

  • Background

    • Name: Leaf

    • Pronouns: They/them

    • Program: First year Master of Arts in Practicing Anthropology

    • Experience: BA in Archaeology and Anthropology, BA in Women's and Gender Studies, certificate in Queer Theory, Gender Diversity, and Sexuality Studies.

  • Focus of Research

    • Research Question: How cultural and institutional contexts affect the access and assessment of transition or gender-affirming care for trans and gender-diverse individuals.

    • Importance of Flexibility: Adapt to participant availability and needs, crucial in anthropological research.

  • Gender Affirming Care

    • Definition: According to WHO – a combination of social, psychological, behavioral, or medical interventions designed to support and affirm an individual's gender identity.

    • Broader Concerns: Understanding that care includes non-medical aspects like clothing and identity validation, beyond surgical options.

  • Contextual Background in Saskatchewan

    • Demographics: Approximately one in three hundred individuals aged 15+ identifies as trans or nonbinary.

    • Lack of Research: Noted absence of anthropological literature surrounding the topic, with current discourse dominated by medical and psychological perspectives.

  • Research Methodology

    • Community Collaboration: Engaging local LGBTQIA+ organizations to gather data, utilize community voices in research.

    • Participatory Action Research: Encouraging active involvement from community members in shaping the research agenda and methods.

    • Methods Planning: A focus on focus groups for dynamic storytelling and data collection.

  • Challenges and Strategies

    • Rejection in Outreach: Encountering reluctance from organizations but emphasizing the importance of persistence and building rapport.

    • Pride Center Collaboration: Partnership achieved which led to more productive research opportunities.

  • Focus Group Methodology

    • Objective: Enhance understanding through narratives, incorporating emotional contexts.

    • Diverse Approach: Art-based methods introduced (like drawing) to capture nuanced personal experiences regarding care.

  • Deliverables and Outputs

    • Technical Report: Comprehensive data analysis presented as a traditional anthropological work.

    • Zines and Art Anthology: Exploring creative formats for dissemination of findings to emphasize community voices and experiences without compromising anonymity.

    • Development of Ethnographic Graphic Novel: Collaboration with participants to co-produce a story highlighting shared experiences in accessing gender-affirming care.

  • Future Directions

    • Continued Engagement with Community: Foster ongoing conversations to adapt research methods based on feedback.

    • Final Outputs: Ensure deliverables are produced in a collaborative, iterative process that respects participant contributions while maintaining academic rigor.

  • Conclusion

    • Acknowledgment of Community Needs: Stressing the importance of acknowledging and responding to community-specific issues within anthropological research.