Valine Crist: Researching Community Coalitions in Canada’s North

“Made on Haida Gwaii” Series, Part 7

June 28, 2012

By April Diamond Dutheil

The Made on Haida Gwaii series tells the stories of fifty talented young people who call Haida Gwaii home. In this vast country, our major urban centres tend to soak up most of the attention. This collection of success stories, about young people living on these beautiful but remote islands off the Pacific coast, aims to disrupt the dominant myths of what it means to grow up in Canada’s North.

Skeena River, May 25^th, 2012: Valine with 7-month-old nephews, Cohen (left), Asher (right). Photo credit: Sheri Disney.

“This was the best place to grow up,” says Valine Crist, who recently moved home after spending ten years studying, working, and traveling. “It was magnificent to spend weekends berry picking and camping,” she continues, “Nothing can compare to the comforts and securities of Haida Gwaii.”

Earning an undergraduate degree majoring in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of British Columbia-Okanagan, Valine will soon complete a Master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Victoria.

Capturing the current realities faced by British Columbia’s coastal communities, Valine’s research is timely and cutting-edge. Her thesis examines how communities come together against threats of large-scale development projects.

Passionate about ecological sustainability and motivated to understand how people interact with the environment Valine notes that, “On Haida Gwaii we have a very strong connection to our home- understanding, appreciating and valuing this has influenced my identity and my values,” she says.

Today, Valine works for the Council of Haida Nation as a writer for Haida Laas and has helped to coordinate the Enbridge Joint Review Panel hearings on Haida Gwaii. When asked what are some lessons she’ll take away from the process, Valine says that, “Regardless of who you are or how long you’ve been here, people from Haida Gwaii are very passionate. I’ve also learned just how powerful an alliance of people can be, it’s absolutely inspiring.”

Motivated by her community to make a difference, Valine found outside experiences reinforced her work in environmental justice.

Valine spent time in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, exposing her to parallel environmental and development concerns faced by Indigenous peoples worldwide. “I visited communities affected by destructive resource extraction,” she says.

“In the Peruvian highlands, communities are losing access to their local water sources because of Canadian owned mining companies; irresponsible waste management contaminates local agricultural areas; unsustainable logging. They’re the same stories, different parts of the world,” Valine explains.

When asked what drives her towards this work, Valine answers, “Humans continue to over-exploit our environments, we’re exacerbating natural climate cycles and if we don’t act, we place ourselves at risk of facing environmentally catastrophic events. That’s not to say it’s hopeless though,” she asserts.

“Being aware of your ecological impacts—your carbon footprint, your water consumption—these are just some of the ways that you can start making a difference,” says Valine.

But the way in which people create positive environmental change may differ in regards to a number of factors, including ones’ economic, social and geographical realities.

Valine illustrates what differing access to resources may look like in northern rural communities compared to the city. “I use public transit in Victoria,” says Valine, “but on Haida Gwaii I rely much more on my car.” In comparison “it’s easier to recycle and buy ‘eco-friendly’ products in a city, but here at home, eating locally and ethically is easier,” she says.

No matter where you live, there are opportunities to make positive changes.

Imagining Haida Gwaii in fifty years Valine sees renewable energy solutions, strategic water conservation, and environmental stewardship as key to the Islands’ role in increasing self-sufficiency.

“We’re in a very advantageous position to act as responsible stewards and lead by example; we have been doing this and will continue to,” she says. 

Age: 27

Location: Masset

Philosophy: ‪With some integrity, ingenuity, and commitment, we can remedy our current environmental state. That’s our obligation to future generations.

Source: Haida Gwaii Observer, Rabble.ca, Project Gwaii

Leigh-Anne Mathieson: Solver of Big and Beautiful Problems

“Made on Haida Gwaii” Series, Part 6

June 14, 2012

By April Diamond Dutheil

The Made on Haida Gwaii series tells the stories of fifty talented young people who call Haida Gwaii home. In this vast country, our major urban centres tend to soak up most of the attention. This collection of success stories, about young people living on these beautiful but remote islands off the Pacific coast, aims to disrupt the dominant myths of what it means to grow up in Canada’s North.

Summer 2012, Vancouver, BC- Minutes from her computer science lab, Leigh-Anne Mathieson takes a research break at the University of British Columbia’s treetop walkway. 

“Big complex problems don’t scare me anymore, they’re exciting,” tells computer scientist Leigh-Anne Mathieson.

For the past three years Leigh-Anne has been conducting bio-computing research at the University of British Columbia. Her research scope explores the computational difficulty of problems that model the folding of ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules. Although RNA research can have implications for strengthening knowledge of life sciences- including genetics, biology and human health - Leigh-Anne’s research is more theoretical and sets the stage for understanding how RNA functions at its most basic level.

“I was interested in computer science quite early, but I didn’t love the field until I did research,” she admits. Doing research allowed Leigh-Anne to work on complex real-life problems, “a big part of the appeal was that the answers weren’t at the back of the textbook,” she adds.

Recently finishing a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from the University of British Columbia, Leigh-Anne has presented at numerous North American conferences, received research grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and is a contributor to academic publications (the first in 2010, with a second on its way). Among 350 applicants, Leigh-Anne was also selected as one of 36 students who will take part in a computational biology research project this summer at Oxford University. 

A competent problem solver, Leigh-Anne is aware of the social forces dictating the direction and limitation of the computer science field. A relatively new area of study, women, first nations and those from rural communities are largely under-represented (in some cases absent) from the computer sciences. As a young Haida woman from rural Canada Leigh-Anne is disrupting her industry’s status quo in the best possible ways  - contributing a refreshing message that she belongs in the computer sciences

“I love computer science,” she says, “but I do think that within [computer science] if you have the same people from the same backgrounds it’s going to be difficult to get ground-breaking results.” The solution? “Computer science needs people from rural communities,” she says, “people raised in rural communities have unique perspectives - if we don’t start to support these different experiences we won’t be able to move forward in the field.” Leigh-Anne responds similarly when asked about the role of women in computer science, “we can’t afford not to have more women involved,” she says.

Calling for diverse viewpoints to be included in all industries, Leigh-Anne remarks, “I find it scary to think that this same group of people, at all levels, are the ones who are predominantly shaping our world.”

Leigh-Anne knew from an early age that she wanted to do something in science and engineering. She came to this conclusion while attending grade eight at George M. Dawson high school. Knowing where her passion was, Leigh-Anne left home to complete her grade 11 and 12 science courses, “moving to Vancouver was a big adjustment for me,” she says.

Being from Haida Gwaii “will always have a huge influence in my life,” says Leigh-Anne, “because I was raised on Haida Gwaii I got the unique and rare opportunity to be raised by the whole community.” Familiar with the benefits of belonging to a community, Leigh-Anne strives to foster a similar sense of community, regardless of where she may be in the world.

Growing up on Haida Gwaii has helped Leigh-Anne understand the importance of finding a work-life balance, “as soon as I left home I was struck by how people in the cities were doing so many things at once and always rushing around- it was hard to tell what was important to them.” Influenced by the realities of her homeland, Leigh-Anne shares that it may be more valuable to “think realistically, slow down and decide what is most important so that you can do those things very well.”

After Oxford, Leigh-Anne’s next move includes finding work in the computer sciences, then pursuing a master’s degree when the time is right. Leigh-Anne’s long term vision is to support young students from rural communities who are considering a career in science or technology, “in rural communities it’s harder to grow to love the sciences, the opportunities aren’t there,” she says.

How can young people from our communities love science? How can they get the skills to pursue a science and technology career- instead of playing catch up with students who have access to more resources? These are all questions that Leigh-Anne wants answers to. Serving as an inspiration for many northerners, she provides us with a valuable message. A career in science and technology is possible for rural youth – but for their aspirations to flourish they deserve appropriate programming and support. 

Age: 22

Current location: London, England

Philosophy: Make changes you intend to keep for the rest of your life.

Source: Haida Gwaii Observer, Rabble.ca, Project Gwaii

Alison Fraser: “What’s it like to empower someone?”

“Made on Haida Gwaii” Series, Part 5 

May 17, 2012

By April Diamond Dutheil

The Made on Haida Gwaii series tells the stories of fifty talented young people who call Haida Gwaii home. In this vast country, our major urban centres tend to soak up most of the attention. This collection of success stories, about young people living on these beautiful but remote islands off the Pacific coast, aims to disrupt the dominant myths of what it means to grow up in Canada’s North.

July 27/2011, Mekelle, Northern Ethiopia - Alison Fraser with women from the Healing Hands of Joy Center. Photo credit: Lulseged Beyene.

“It just shapes who I am,” reveals Alison Fraser when discussing what it means to be from Haida Gwaii, “when you live there you see the world in a different way,” she says.

Fortunate to work with communities from around the world, including Kenya, Guatemala, Mexico, Ethiopia, and most recently inner city New York – Alison stays true to her roots, “everywhere I go I tell people about the magic of these small islands,” she says.

With a passion and talent for social development, Alison has made a difference early in her career. She has worked in international refugee camps, with youth from Vancouver’s downtown eastside and with women in trauma and conflict situations.

A first-hand witness to how aid is distributed in refugee communities, Alison is critical of how traditional aid relief often leaves the recipient with limited agency or voice,  “How do you provide restoration? What is it like to empower someone?” she asks. Alison wants to see the narrative of dependency change in these communities, “I don’t have all of the answers, but I can contribute and learn,” she says.

One way Alison has been contributing is through her work with Healing Hands of Joy, an organization that supports Ethiopian women with childbirth injuries. Identifying a need for this work to continue she would eventually like to set up a similar program to support mothers from refugee camps throughout the globe.

For the past three years Alison has been working as a teacher through Teach for America in New York City. Named one of Fortune’s magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, Teach for America works with recent university graduates to provide high levels of education in under-resourced urban and rural public schools.

Alison is currently teaching math to third grade students at an Achievement First Charter School in East New York, Brooklyn. “I never though I’d be teaching math,” she jokes. Discovering a talent for transforming math education, Alison is helping to support math classes from across the Achievement First network by writing and giving feedback on math plans and lessons.. “The kids are my cause,” she says, noting her classes’ latest exam averages ranged from 93-95%.

Declining her acceptance into law school for the fall, “I decided to continue teaching,” she says. Passionate and invested in her work, “I’ve grown so much,” says Alison, “but it has been hard work- I get up at 5am every morning!”

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Honors International Studies from Trinity Western University in Langley, BC and a Master’s Degree in Education from Hunter College in New York City, Alison will spend her summer studying forced migration at Oxford University’s Refugee Studies Centre. “It might seem like I’m doing a lot of random things,” she says, but at the root of her work is a deep commitment to social development.

When asked if she would return to Haida Gwaii Alison says, “Absolutely, I would definitely go back to live there and raise kids- there’s no place in the world like it.” Growing up on Haida Gwaii was an adventure -“these experiences don’t exist in the suburbs,” she says.

Age: 25

Current location: Manhattan, New York

Philosophy: Be respectful of individuals and their experiences.

Source: Haida Gwaii Observer, Rabble.ca