I am a MSc student working with the Lil’wat Nation to predict pine mushroom habitat on Lil’wat Traditional Territory. Pine mushrooms form part of the traditional diet of several Indigenous peoples in British Columbia, and generates significant economic benefits. As a mycorrhizal species that relies on a live tree host, however, pine mushrooms are at odds with timber harvesting—giving rise to conflicts over forest management. Increasing recognition of Indigenous rights to self-determination, including the stewardship of their land, means that this is not simply a matter of mushrooms versus timber, but of who gets to decide. I am interested in how both western scientific and traditional ecological knowledges can inform ecological modeling, and how the use of ecological modelling can support the assertion of Indigenous rights to land and culture. I aim to conduct my research with respect and reciprocity, and am guided by the S7istken Lil’wat Research Protocol.

Keywords:
traditional ecological knowledge, Indigenous rights, species distribution modeling, British Columbia, pine mushrooms, non-timber forest products

Researchgate profile:
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Awards and Distinctions:

Catalyst Paper Corporation Fellowship (2019)

Mary and David Macaree Fellowship (2019)

Faculty of Forestry Graduate Award (2018, 2019)