10/29/2026
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The classroom of choice for a cohort of students this past summer? Quadra Island.
In May, in partnership with the Na̲nwak̲olas Council, SFU’s Faculty of Environment offered its first field course on the traditional territories of the Tlowitsis, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai K*m, K’ómoks and Mamalilikulla Nations.
Over three weeks, participants learned from local Knowledge Holders and community experts, covering topics spanning various social, environmental, cultural, economic and governance issues that are important to the Nations, all of whom are members of the Nanwakolas Council.
SFU students were joined by a select number of member Nation Guardians, community-based experts trained in land and water stewardship.
“The field school brought many students to a community and part of B.C. they had never been to and provided them the opportunity to collaborate on classwork with First Nations' Guardian students, whose knowledge about and experience of their territories enriched student learning immensely,” explains Julie Nielsen, adjunct professor in the School of Resource and Environmental Management, field school lead and instructor and forest stewardship advisor for the Council.
Read more: https://ow.ly/SV1h51015p9
Simon Fraser University