Environment Department Manager (EDM)The North Slave Métis Alliance (NSMA) represents the s. 35 Aboriginal rights-bearing Indigenous Métispeople of the Great Slave region of the Northwest Territories (NWT). NSMA’s mandate is 1) theassertion, protection, and implementation of the Aboriginal rights of Métis people, and 2) the exerciseof Métis responsibility to protect the environment and to promote and enhance Métis education,economic, social, political, and cultural development.Reporting directly to the President, the EDM manages the NSMA Environment Department staff,operations, finances, and related assets. These duties are done in accordance with the NSMA mandate,in support of NSMA leadership and the community, and while promoting a healthy, safe, andcollaborative work environment. The position based in-person in Yellowknife, NWT.

-Assist management and implementation of contribution agreements (e.g., for research related to environmental assessment, conservation field work in remote areas).-Assist North Slave Métis leadership at consultation meetings with Industry, Indigenous governments, government agencies, and politicians by providing scientific advice.-Represent the NSMA on committees and advisory groups (e.g., making funding recommendations during grant reviews and taking part in environmental governance). -Review development applications during environmental assessment to consider potential impacts to s.35 Indigenous rights and title.-Responsible for varies technical field duties (e.g., boat operations, snowmobile operations, safe firearms handling).

Grasslands National Park of Canada helps conserve some of Canada's most endangered prairie ecosystems.I am assisting / leading a series of wildlife monitoring and active management projects focusing on priority Species at Risk (SARs). These projects include burrowing owl monitoring and supplemental feeding, sylvatic plague surveillance and vaccine deployment, black-tailed prairie dog population monitoring, and greater short-horned lizard monitoring. Duties also include providing analytical support and reporting associated with these programs.

• I am studying the ecology of one of Canada’s largest snakes, the bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) in the Maple Creek region of Southwestern Saskatchewan. This snake is classified as “Special Concern” by COSEWIC and faces threats related to the loss of prairie ecosystems.• My research aims to address several questions that will allow for better management and conservation of Canadian bullsnake populations:1. How do bullsnakes move and use space?2. To what extent do bullsnakes thermoregulate or thermoconform?3. How is habitat thermal quality linked to habitat use?• To answer these questions, I am tracking snakes in the field using radio telemetry and temperature logging implants. I am also measuring operative environmental temperatures and sampling vegetation characteristics. My work is taking place on ranches in the Maple Creek region of SW Saskatchewan.• Responsible for teaching assistantships with Fall 2019 BIOL 100 introductory biology labs. Duties include lab supervision, lab instruction, marking, conducting field trips, and leading discussions.

• Tasked with assisting project management of a ~$30000 multi-part species-at-risk initiative consisting of a turtle hatchling rescue project, turtle nest site enhancement plan, visitor center exhibit design, and species at risk product development (pamphlets, brochures, field guide, banners). Carried out budgeting, design, planning, procurement, and work with external contractors and consultants.• Finalized a plan to rescue turtle eggs and incubate them in the park visitor center. Created designs for artificial turtle nest enhancements. Established connections with Toronto Zoo, Sandy Pines Wildlife Center, and local veterinarians for logistical support. Completed animal care approvals and permits. The rescue project was successfully implemented during the summer following my departure.• Worked with resource conservation and visitor experience teams to create an exhibit featuring interpretive panels highlighting conservation of reptiles and amphibians, a gray ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) enclosure, turtle egg incubator, and model turtle nests. • Acted as a scientific editor for a snake conservation booklet, and a herptile poster and field guide. • Planned and hosted public turtle conservation workshops with local environmental organizations.• Performed environmental outreach at the Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne.• Provided scientific advice to Mohawk Nation Environment officials and helped coordinate a response during a wildlife emergency.

• Researched feasibility and created initial plans for a turtle incubation project in consultation with the Toronto Zoo, staff from other national parks, and turtle conservation experts. Working with SAR permitting and animal care protocols. Reviewing literature on conservation threats, turtle population trends, and mitigation measures such as nest protection and nest site enhancement.• Assisted an array of ecological integrity monitoring studies including a long-term Gray Ratsnake project, stream monitoring, surveys for wetland birds, invasive wetland vegetation, frogs, turtles, fish, and Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum).• Partnering with park interpreters to coordinate SAR themed public speaking and outreach activities, a museum talk, and a tour for refugee children. Collaborating with outreach coordinator at Bruce Peninsula National Park on a new turtle conservation brochure. Leading the creation of a turtle nest display, and a live monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) display for the visitor center.

I researched the impacts of mites and ticks on thermoregulation in the Yarrow's Spiny Lizard in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona, USA.

• Deployed to the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona as a field assistant for a master’s project studying variation in thermoregulatory effort with elevation in populations of the Yarrow’s spiny lizard (Sceloporus jarrovii). • For my honour’s project I developed a research proposal and hypotheses to examine the impact of ectoparasitic mites on body temperature in the lizard.• Worked as a team to remain safe and diligent around natural hazards including bears and cougars, venomous snakes, and active forest fires.• Captured lizards, took body temperatures and measurements, counted and identified ectoparasitic lizard mites, and recorded data on GPS before transcribing it to spreadsheets. Deployed temperature loggers on talus slopes. • Transitioned to writing my thesis after field season. Collaborated with a master’s student to research advanced statistical modelling techniques and prepare data for analysis in R.

Species At Risk recovery planning, Canadian Wildlife Service:• Took part in finalizing and publishing Species at Risk (SAR) recovery strategies and management plans to the public registry. • Examined critical habitat in recovery documents to ensure compliance with the Species at Risk Act and judicial precedents before publication. Investigated potential legal risks caused by the censorship of detailed critical habitat with the intent of protecting SARs from poaching.• Researched alternative measures for protecting critical habitat that cannot be published due to its sensitivity. • Analyzed policy on sensitive biological data and critical habitat used by conservation data centers across Canada to identify barriers to data sharing. This informed a new initiative run by British Columbia and the Government of Canada to streamline data sharing between jurisdictions.• Participated in a conference on public consultation with the Species at Risk Act.

• Took part in graduate research on the biodiversity of dragonflies and damselflies in natural and artificial wetlands of the National Capital Region.• Participated in a large-scale outdoor experiment investigating the impact of Diquat herbicide on northern leopard frogs, aquatic vegetation, and algae in collaboration with the National Wildlife Research Center.• Organized canoe expeditions to collect invasive wetland plants. Assisted with water sampling, experimental set-up and monitoring, and animal care of frogs and minnows.• Summarized and reviewed literature on toxicology of pesticides and wetland contaminants, invasive aquatic plants, and mesocosm experiment design.