Aboriginal Research Day
Monday, February 13

Presentation by Dr. Harvey Lemelin

Location: ATAC 5036, Time: 9:30am - 10:50am

Dr. Harvey Lemelin, School of ORPT, and Lakehead University Research Chair in Parks and Protected Areas presents:
Wabusk of the Omushkegouk: Cree - Polar Bear Interactions in Northern Ontario

The Cree people in the Hudson Bay lowlands of northern Ontario know, contrary to popular understanding, that wabusk (polar bear) will travel great distances into the muskeg. Dr. Lemelin has worked in collaboration with the Washaho Cree Nation at Fort Severn and the Weenusk First Nation at Peawanuck for the past six years to explore polar bear interactions in this environment and he argues that understanding Cree kiskayndamowin/knowledge is important for the management of polar bears and other wildlife in Ontario and in Canada.

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Aboriginal Research Day Celebration

Location: Lakehead University Agora, Time: 11:00am–12:20pm

Displays : Time: 11:00am–3:00pm

Celebratory Remarks : Time: 11:00am

Talking Circle : Time: 11:30am–12:20pm

Come and enjoy bannock and tea as we celebrate Aboriginal Research at Lakehead University. On display will be snapshots of Aboriginal Research through poster presentations and a slide show of research in action. In addition, we will be hosting a Talking Circle on Aboriginal Research that will be moderated by Elder Gerry Martin.

Presentation by Dr. Chris Mushquash and Dr. Sandra Wolf

Location: ATAC 5036, Time: 12:30pm–2:00pm

Dr. Chris Mushquash, Department of Psychology and Dr. Sandra Wolf, Faculty of Education:

What is "Indigenous" about the Indigenous Research Experience?
During this discussion, two junior professors share stories and descriptions of their experiences as novice researchers during pre-dissertation research, dissertation research, and other early research experiences. The Tri-Councils and other governance bodies often focus attention on how research affects Indigenous people as subjects/participants. Little attention has been focused on how the Indigenous researcher is affected by the experience. Dr. Chris Musquash and Dr. Sandra Wolf will both explore memories, dreams, vignettes, prophesies, and other influences on their research experience during this conversational and interactive workshop.

Presentation by Zsolt Toth, RD, MPH, CDE

Location: ATAC 5036, Time: 2:30pm–4:00pm

Zsolt Toth, RD, MPH, CDE, Diabetes Dietitian Educator for Noojmowin Teg Aboriginal Health Access Centre on Manitoulin Island:

Cultural Food Beliefs and Attitudes and Their Affect on Acceptance of the "Diabetes Diet"
The purpose of this research was to discover culturally shared local beliefs and attitudes towards foods that may impact the acceptance of dietary recommendations for the management of Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) amongst Ojibwe (Anishinabek) in M'Chigeeng First Nation. An understanding of local cultural beliefs and attitudes towards foods will allow for a better patient-provider interaction and can more effectively promote healthier dietary intakes amongst Aboriginal community members with diabetes.

Results from this research were used as the basis of a successful diabetes prevention and promotion initiative on the 2011 Manitoulin Island Pow Wow Trail.

Zsolt Toth is a recent Lakehead University graduate of the MPH program where he was supervised by, Dr. Ian Newhouse, Lakehead University, and Dr. Marion Maar, NOSM East. He was awarded an Indigenous Health Research Development Program (IHRDP) scholarship/research allowance and a Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research (CFDR) new researcher award. Zsolt currently works as a Diabetes Dietitian Educator for Noojmowin Teg Aboriginal Health Access Centre on Manitoulin Island, in NE Ontario, which serves seven Anishinabek First Nation communities and off-reserve clients.

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Interactive Multimedia Session

Location: ATAC 5036, Time: 4:30pm–6:00 pm

Dr. Sandra Wolf & students:

The Fourth Fire: Building Narratives of the Fur Trade Era
During this interactive multimedia session, Aboriginal students and their professor explore the stories that emerge when a Film Board of Canada film is viewed with an eye toward discourse, narrative, feminist, and Indigenous research analysis. The short documentary film, Ikwe (Bailey, 1986) will be viewed by participants in this workshop. After viewing the film, workshop participants will have an opportunity to respond to discourse analysis of the film. Does the sociolinguistic methodology employed in analyzing discourse in the film portray what language contact might have been like during the Fur Trade Era? Further, student researchers will share their narrative research findings with participants as they respond to the question, "What happened after that?" Popcorn and drinks will be served.

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