Martina Jakubchik-Paloheimo

I am working in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) at York University as a Postdoctoral Fellow facilitating a collaborative project on human-polar bear coexistence in Hudson Bay and James Bay. I am working under the supervision of Dr. Gregory Thiemann, facilitating a collaborative effort between the Mushkegowuk Council. This research supports Cree kiskêyihtamowin (ᑭᐢᑫᔨᐦᑕᒧᐃᐧᐣ) in a community-led project to identify drivers of, and effective mitigation strategies for, human-polar bear interactions.

I completed my PhD at Queens University working in Human Geography in the Heath, Environment and Communities lab working with Dr. Heather Castleden. My research is examining decolonial knowledge production, power in neocolonial extractive landscapes, feminist political ecology and geographies of peace in the Ecuadoran Amazon. I am working in collaboration and partnership with members of the Indigenous Shuar Community through community-led participatory research to help maintain their ancestral territory and science.

My research is also working to support their Plant Medicines, Community Based Eco-Tourism Projects, and broader Foundation founded by the Shuar for Indigenous peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon and stewardship of their forests. Visit the project at: www.Inishanunka.org

I have 13 years of international and Canadian experience with specialized knowledge in Mediation, Conflict Resolution, Qualitative research, Facilitation, Peace-building, Restorative Justice and Reconciliation. As a Educator, Mediator and Circle Keeper I bring a unique and highly diverse set of experiences to my teachings, research, project management and trainings. Being trained in International and cross-cultural settings in Canada, Haiti, Ecuador, Brazil and Ireland. I bring a set of highly attuned skills to the projects I work with. I am competent in grant writing, conflict transformation process design, power rebalancing, Indigenous rights advocacy, consensus building and conflict coaching.

I have completed my Masters of Philosophy in International Peace Studies from Trinity College in Ireland and have obtained Advanced Dispute resolution training from York University, and the GlenCree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. I have worked with and for NGO's, Government, and Communities. I am fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish and can speak some Haitian Creole. I learned to speak both Spanish and Portuguese while living abroad in South America after completing my undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Environmental Studies. My experiences abroad and especially in Latin America, have created a passion for reconciling relations to our natural world and one another.

Having travelled to 42 countries across the globe all of my experiences, studies, and have shaped my commitment to social and environmental justice.