Department of Anthropology PhD student Jodie Asselin has been in the Yukon doing research. She sends an update, which we have included here:
I arrived in cold and snowy Whitehorse at the beginning of February and since then have settled in nicely. People have been very welcoming and work has gotten off to a good start. My research is dealing with forest values and views of different forest users and subsequently I have learned a lot about this region's green spaces. Winter forest activities are quite different than in other seasons, so I am having to act fast to work with people who do winter activities. One of my favorite things so far has been a hike along the Yukon River where I was able to talk with a guide about the importance of wilderness to tourism. It is also the season for meetings and consultations, as during the summer months residents tend to participate in 'indoor' activities much less. I have sat-in on many consultation meetings and learned about the policy side of forest values.