Episode 9: Community-engaged research in the Arctic with Dr. Gita Ljubicic

In this podcast, I am in conversation with Dr. Gita Ljubicic (Laidler), who is a Canada Research Chair in Community-Engaged Research for Northern Sustainability at the School of Earth, Environment and Society at McMaster University. Her team website is located at https://straightupnorth.ca and I encourage you to look around at some exceptional research projects and their final reports if you are interested in this type of research approach. Gita shares her positionality and insights into her influences and mentors, and then in conversation, there is so much to learn from her work in community-engaged research over a 20-year period in the Arctic. Timestamps 02:29 - Positionality 03:30 - Influences 07:17 - Academic mentors 10:10 - The opportunity to go North 14:30 - Community-engaged research advice 18:50 - Nuanced advice for natural scientist 20:20 - Favourite research method 23:00 - Reflection on mentorship award 26:30 - Kinngait Sea Ice Glossary 35:11 - Anticipation of going North 42:30 - Advice on community turnout https://straightupnorth.ca/reports/ https://straightupnorth.ca/projects/ Selected publications Ljubicic, G., Mearns, R., Okpakok, S., and Robertson, S. 2022. Nunami iliharniq (Learning from the land): Reflecting on relational accountability in land-based learning and cross-cultural research in Uqsuqtuuq (Gjoa Haven, Nunavut). Arctic Science, 8(1): 252-291. (dx.doi.org/10.1139/as-2020-0059). Ljubicic, G., Okpakok, S., Robertson, S., and Mearns, R. 2018a. Uqsuqtuurmiut inuita tuktumi qaujimaningit (Inuit knowledge of caribou from Gjoa Haven, Nunavut): Collaborative research contributions to co-management efforts. Polar Record, 54, 3: 213-233. (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247418000372). Ljubicic, G. J., Okpakok, S., Robertson, S., and Mearns, R. 2018b. Inuit approaches to naming and distinguishing caribou: Considering language, place, and homeland toward improved co-management. Arctic, 71, 3: 309-333. (https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic4734).