University of Northern British Columbia. First Nations Studies

Indigenous communities and peoples have experienced erosion of their sexual wellness since contact with European peoples. Effective sexual health education is a human right shown to be an important part of overall health and wellness. Little research has been done on how to develop and implement sexual health education for Indigenous populations. This study utilizes an environmental scan to gain a comprehensive understanding of programming available for Indigenous peoples in BC, coupled with conversational style interviews with community storytellers to highlight effective practices. The findings of this research demonstrated that programs focused on promoting healthy sexuality generally or preventing HIV/AIDS and STBBI transmission while promoting safety and access to culture, utilized peer led approaches, and focused primarily on delivering services to youth. Storytellers demonstrated a strong passion for building relationships with participants and communities through engaging, accessible, and relevant sexual health education.

This thesis examines the 2018 wildfire season in Cheslatta Carrier Nation territory through the lived experiences of community members. It details how sustained wildfire suppression contributed to changes to the social, political and the physical landscape. Using a qualitative methodology and ten semi-structured interviews with community members, it describes how historic events, including flooding and forced relocation, shaped the ways community members felt about wildfires and their management. This research found that the 2018 wildfire season impacted Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in physical, economic, and spiritual ways. The loss of timber and livelihoods as well as displacement due to evacuation orders were challenging. While many individuals felt disempowered by the wildfires and their management, wildfire was also a catalyst for political and social change. This thesis explores the ways that wildfires can unite, divide, and transform individuals and communities.