I learned specific skills ranging from field skills like construction and deployment of non invasive track tubes to more practical ones like email etiquette and scientific reading/writing skills.
The talk from the elder was a very enriching experience and one that I did not expect to have given the circumstances of COVID-19. It was really humbling. Ray is also a wealth of knowledge who I enjoyed learning a lot from. Having community members speaking to us directly regarding their experiences working with academia and the government was an important part that should be included every year.
Understanding more about Indigenous Laws will help me to better understand how I can help communities to work towards sustainability, protect their land and other objectives they have related to the environment, sustainability, and sovereignty.
Knowledge gained from these internships could be used to mobilize indigenous communities and help create sustainable solutions for timber harvesting or conservation of endangered species. The water monitoring opportunity could be especially impactful for indigenous communities, as some of them are very dependent on natural water sources.
