Department & Program:

• Natural Resources Institute, Ph. D.

Awards:

• ArcticNet Grant in support of research (2004-6); SSHRC/DFO Integrated Management Node Student Research Grant (2004)
• DFO/SSHRC Research Fellowship as Coordinator of Integrated Management Network Node (2002-3)
• Fisheries and Oceans, Canada. Grant in support of research (2004-6)
• James Gordon Fletcher Ph.D. Fellowship for Research in Aboriginal Issues. University of Manitoba (2003-4)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship (2005-6)
• University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship. University of Manitoba.(2003-5)

Sherrie Blakney is a doctoral candidate with the Natural Resources Institute doing northern research in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. Her project is situated at the interface of community, territorial and federal relations and examines how natural resource policy development can support Inuit health and wellness.  Her research is on the cutting-edge of resource management policy development and involves innovative decision-making for resource managers and facilitating better management based on integrated knowledge and information.

At one level, her field research involved total cultural immersion while living with Inuit hunting families and participating in the local economy and community life, interviewing elders, local resource specialists and resource users. Now, on another level, it involves travel, consulting and working collaboratively with federal and territorial departments, and the Nunavut Land Claim groups.

In addition to several conference presentations and seminars, Sherrie has recently completed an evaluation and assessment report on Oceans management activities in Hudson Bay for Fisheries and Oceans, Canada. She is currently in the process of co-authoring a work with former Chief Land Claims Negotiator, Thomas Suluk on environmental change and the socio-economic implications for Inuit health and wellbeing.