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Knowledge mobilization making an impact

Dr. William Buhay, Associate Professor, Geography. Photo By DanHarperPhoto.Com

Dr. William Buhay, Associate Professor, Geography. Photo By DanHarperPhoto.Com

In the fall of 2016, Russell Anthony (BA ’65) donated $250,000 to The University of Winnipeg in the name of his late uncle, Paul Swaity (BA ‘46), to help establish The Anthony-Swaity Knowledge Impact Fund. The fund not only supports UWinnipeg research, but also helps mobilize the findings, so they can be translated into information readily available and accessible to the public.

“I am thrilled to be able to give back to an institution that means so much to me and was a source of inspiration for my Uncle Paul,” said Anthony. “I am glad I can play a small role in ensuring the wealth of knowledge stored on campus and in the minds of UWinnipeg’s most gifted faculty members can be shared with members of the community who can put it to use and hopefully address some of society’s most pressing concerns.”

UWinnipeg is pleased to announce the following three projects as the inaugural grant recipients of the Knowledge Mobilization Community Impact Program:

Onjisay Aki: Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Change Education Initiatives
Principal Applicant: Dr. Ian Mauro, Geography

This project focuses on mobilizing Indigenous knowledge and its connection to climate change. The research team is working with Turtle Lodge – a center for Indigenous education and wellness based in Sagkeeng First Nation – to help document and mobilize the knowledge shared at the Onjisay Aki International Climate Summit, held at the Lodge in June 2017. The Summit brought together Indigenous and environmental leaders from around the world in dialogue and defined action on climate. Dr. Ian Mauro, his graduate student Laura Cameron, and their team will work with guidance of the Turtle Lodge Knowledge Keepers to develop a comprehensive communication toolkit explaining the Summit and the recommended calls to action on climate change, grounded in Indigenous knowledge and values. These educational materials will help bring diverse knowledge shared to people across the country, with a particular focus on youth.

Developing Critical Race Studies in Canada
Principal Applicant: Dr. Jenny Heijun Wills, English

The Critical Race Network (CRN) consists of UWinnipeg faculty members whose teaching, research, and service revolve around issues of race, ethnicity, nationality and culture. CRN will team up with local organization Black Space Winnipeg to host a two-day workshop that will aim to build bridges between UWinnipeg and socially and politically engaged people of color in Winnipeg. A scholarly article will be co-authored by CRN and Black Space Winnipeg reflecting on the event while emphasizing the important ways local organizers should be involved in the development of more race-based curriculum and programming at higher education institutions. The article will be submitted by early 2018 for publication.

Dead Horse Creek – A Lesson in Rural Community Sewage Disposal Practices in Manitoba
Principal Applicant: Dr. William Buhay, Geography

The purpose of this project is to educate the public about the widespread practice and consequences of discharging sewage lagoon effluent into Red River tributaries by Manitoba municipalities. Information collected through various research projects between 2009 and 2014 will be documented in a short film. The documentary film will serve to facilitate efficient and effective public education as to the state of our local watershed and the possible improvements that can be made with respect to the damaging practices associated with our waste waters that the general public is largely unaware of. The objective of mobilizing such knowledge is to encourage community-driven action that will hopefully lead to improvements to this waste disposal practice.

The Anthony-Swaity Knowledge Mobilization Impact Fund will award a total of $13,000 in 2017.

“Thanks to the tremendous generosity of these two passionate graduates, our impact in the broader community is strengthened,” said Dr. Annette Trimbee, President and Vice-Chancellor, UWinnipeg. “Our many talented faculty members will have more opportunities to share their knowledge and expertise beyond our campus.”