Centering and Advancing Indigenous Climate Justice in Climate Education

TitleCentering and Advancing Indigenous Climate Justice in Climate Education
Faculty/College/UnitVP Academic
StatusActive
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2025
Project Summary

Indigenous perspectives on sustainability and ecological balance are key to Climate Justice Education. Building upon the novel Climate Kind Pedagogy (CKP) framework, which recognizes the importance of traditional knowledge in mitigating climate impacts and centering values of kindness, trust, equity, resilience and justice, this project aims to understand, integrate and advance Indigenous perspectives on climate change. By developing educational resources that will support non-Indigenous faculty in teaching climate education, the project will increase the number of cross-faculty lectures through programs, such as the Climate Teaching Connector (CTC) and through courses and workshops with a focus on Indigenous climate justice.

By making climate education more inclusive, justice-focused and interdisciplinary, this project will contribute to UBC’s broader goals of reconciliation and climate leadership, giving students a deeper understanding of justice-oriented approaches to climate challenges.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2025/2026
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorKshamta Hunter
Year 1: Funded Amount25,000
Year 1: Team Members

Kshamta Hunter, Manager, Transformative Learning and Student Engagement, UBC Sustainability Hub / Lecturer, Faculty of Education
Nidhi Sharma, Coordinator, UBC Climate Hub
Dana-Lyn Mackenzie, Sr. Manager, EDI and Indigeneity, Faculty of Applied Science / Faculty of Land and Food Systems / Faculty of Forestry
Sandra Scott, Professor of Teaching, Environmental Education, Faculty of Education
Joaquin Munoz, Assistant Professor, Indigenous Education, Faculty of Education

Project Advisors and Collaborators:

Bob Woollard, Professor, Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine
Oliver Lane, Manager, Teaching and Learning, UBC Sustainability Hub
Peyvand Fralick, Project Coordinator, Professional Development and Community Engagement / Edith Lando Virtual Learning Centre, Faculty of Education
Jen Jenson, Director, Edith Lando Virtual Learning Centre, Faculty of Education
Love-Ese Chile, Research Network Manager, BC Agricultural Climate Action Research Network

Student Advisory Team:

Tamanna Porna, Graduate Student, Indigenous Education, Faculty of Education
Aida Mohajeri, Graduate Student, Faculty of Education
Mutuma Caelan, Undergraduate Student, Faculty of Arts