Fish-WIKS News

Over the past few months, Shelley Denny, who wears two hats for the Fish-WIKS project, was busy promoting Fish-WIKS at several events. From May 15-18, Fish-WIKS shared a booth at the annual 2017 National Indigenous Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (NAFF lll) trade event hosted by the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat and Co-hosts. The goal of NAFF lll was to bring together the demand and supply chain required to enhance, grow and diversify the fisheries and aquaculture sector in all indigenous communities across Canada. The event was held at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre in Membertou, Nova Scotia.

From July 2-8, 2017, Shelley attended The GOSES (Governance of Socio-Ecological Systems) Summer School hosted by the European University Institute of the Sea of Brest. The event took place at the Eco- Hotel “Le Château de Sable” in beautiful Brittany in northwestern France. The week-long module was designed for doctoral students, post-docs and faculty members who wanted to further explore the governance of socio-ecological systems, discuss cutting-edge research with peers and established scholars alike, and develop specific skills such as presenting and discussing research, co-writing papers, modeling socio-ecological systems and performing fieldwork. The focus of this module was the land-ocean continuum with relevant topics of fisheries and aquaculture forming central themes at this years’ summer school. The topics covered at GOSES included understanding and conceptualizing socio-ecological systems and analyzing decision-making processes and collective action. Research seminars, a science policy lab, and a final conference were also part of the module. Besides the beautiful scenery, excellent food, and seemingly endless wine, completion of the module had the added benefit of 40 hours of professional development.

On August 7, Shelley made a presentation to the Margaree Salmon Association Board of Directors in Margaree, Nova Scotia to promote cross-cultural understanding of Mi’kmaq salmon fishing, Aboriginal rights, and how the Mi’kmaq contribute to salmon management and research in Nova Scotia.

In November (5-9), Shelley will be attending the Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation in Providence, Rhode Island where she will be presenting in the First Nations and Tribal Session. Her presentation topic, When Knowledge Systems Collide: Successes and Challenges of Mi’kmaq Inclusion in Atlantic Salmon Governance in Nova Scotia, integrates previous and current research on ways to improve fisheries governance in Nova Scotia.