Profile of: Erika Ouellette

Award received: NSERC Indigenous Scholars Award and Supplement

Awarded for the project: Strengthening Stewardship: Indigenous and Western Knowledge in Managing Aquatic Invasive Species in the Wolastoq

Department: Biology

Supervisor: Dr. Alexa Alexander-Trusiak and Dr. Michael Duffy

The Wolastoqiyik, or people of the beautiful and bountiful river, have a deeply rooted connection to their lands and waters and have been stewards of this land since time immemorial. From transportation to harvesting, the Wolastoq watershed has served as a vital life source for these communities.

In recent years, however, the increasing presence of numerous aquatic invasive species (AIS), known to cause both environmental and socio-economic impacts, has progressively threatened this river system.

In my master’s research, I am using a two-pronged approach to investigate two AIS (Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and Southern White River Crayfish (Procambarus zonangulus)) that are currently invading the greater Wolastoq watershed.

Current AIS management practices are largely based on Eurocentric and anthropocentric ideologies that make up Western science. These practices often focus on early detection and eradication efforts, which are labor-intensive and expensive. Moreover, they frequently overlook the benefits of using a holistic approach such as Indigenous Science.

My goal is to gather Wolastoqey Traditional Knowledge on alternative management strategies. This interdisciplinary approach promotes Indigenous sovereignty and self-governance across traditional waters and contributes to the development of new baseline approaches that should foster more effective, meaningful, and collaborative ecosystem management strategies.