Education:
I was privileged to be born and raised on lands of many of the 14 Yukon First Nations, in particular the Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, & the Vuntut Gwitchin, I now work, live, and conduct research on the these lands with tremendous gratitude.
My Westernized education includes a B.Sc. 2001 (University of Victoria), specializing in marine biology and wildlife ecology.
M. Sc. 2005 (University of Calgary), specializing in Behavioral Ecology of birds, especially pertaining to bird song in the avian group of birds known as the ‘suboscines’ or New World flycatchers
Ph.D. 2020 (University of Alberta), specializing in conservation and climate change impacts on migratory birds in the Yukon and at the broader scale across the western boreal forest region.
Instruction and Coordination
I instruct several first year biology courses, second-year university-transfer biology courses (genetics, conservation biology, statistics), several field courses at Yukon College since 2009 and now Yukon University (2020). I coordinated the Renewable Resources Management Program from 2012 – 2020. I was the chair of the School of Science from 2022 – 2025.
Research:
I currently am investigating migratory patterns, full annual cycle ecology (over wintering area effects as well as breeding ground effects) on two species of bird that are particularly vulnerable to the potential impacts of climate change. My research involves tagging and observing breeding birds, capturing insects to examine their food, and daily monitoring for breeding progress and behavioral changes. I usually hire one field assistant (a YukonU student) per summer, sometimes two to assist with this project.