The Canadian North
Jane Glassco Arctic Fellowship Program
In memoriam of Jane L. Glassco 1939 to 2010
This fellowship program has been named
in honour of Jane L. Glassco, Gordon Foundation trustee and daughter
of founders Walter and Elizabeth Gordon. It was through Jane’s
direct leadership that the Foundation became interested in Northern
and Arctic issues, and in supporting the voices of young Northerners.
This program receives additional financial support from the J.M. Kaplan
Fund.
We are delighted to announce our first fourteen Jane Glassco Arctic Fellows (click on name for picture and bio):
Robin Anawak
Navarana Beveridge
Christine Creyke
Joseph Flowers
Dustin Fredlund
Karen Hall
Cynthia James
Nadia Joe
Jocelyn Joe-Strack
Kyla Kakfwi
Scott
James Kuptana
Janine Lightfoot
Holly
Mackenzie-Stringer
Daniel T'seleie
Overview
The Jane Glassco Arctic Fellowship program is aimed at young Northerners,
especially Aboriginal Northerners, aged 25-35, who want to build a strong
North guided by Northerners. It is for those who, at this stage in their
lives, are looking for additional support, networks and guidance from
mentors and peers across the North as they deepen their understanding
of an important issue facing the North and develop policy ideas to help
address it. This program is co-funded by the J.M.
Kaplan Fund.
Why the Jane Glassco Fellowships were
created
About the Jane Glassco Arctic
Fellowship Program
News coverage of the Jane Glassco Arctic
Fellowship Program
Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why the Jane Glassco Arctic Fellowships were created
"The North is ever a changing place, not only for the way of life, but by issues such as climate change, governance and resource development. We need a future based on our own visions without having to be dictated from a far away place on how we should proceed." -John B. Zoe, Tlicho Executive Officer, Tlicho Governmenton on the Arctic Voices Fellowships.
Purpose:
The purpose of the program is to recognize and support a diverse range
of talented, dedicated and motivated Canadians from across the Far North,
particularly Aboriginal northerners, in the early stages of their career,
as they deepen their understanding of an important issue facing the
North and develop policy ideas to help address it.
Background:
The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation has a long history
of involvement in Canada’s far north, where the focus of our grant-making
has been on “enhancing Northern peoples' ability to participate
in and help shape public policy at any level - local, regional, national
or international.”
The North has a very small population, yet it is a critical part of Canada whose people have rich ways of relating to the world (the land, sea, animals and each other). Northerners must and do ‘punch above their weight’, including in the international context, not only to advocate their own interests, but because the world needs such knowledge to survive and live in balance.
In recent years, it is clear that the next generation of young Northerners is emerging, and they are poised to take on a number of Arctic issues coming to the fore. But Northerners in the early stages of their career require access to skills-building and knowledge-building opportunities related to policy and governance which are not generally available in the North. This includes policy research and writing, group and community engagement and understanding how the multiple institutions of governance and decision-making operate in the broader Canadian federal system.
At the same time, better connections are required between land and culture on the one hand, and policy and governance on the other hand. As we have seen, northern governance is at risk of simply replicating colonial norms and models, whereas culturally resonant and stronger land-based values and systems remain at risk of disappearing with the passage of time, despite progress on land claims, self-government and devolution.
Through the Foundation’s work in the North, our experiences with the Gordon Global Fellowships and Water Policy Fellowships, the advice of our Northern Advisory Circle, and the over 20 interviews and a day-long focus group with young Northerners conducted by Jackie Price, the idea for this fellowship program began to take shape.
About the Jane Glassco Arctic Fellowships
The Jane Glassco Arctic Fellowships program will build on the Fellows’ experience through a 2-year program of both self-directed and collective building and sharing of knowledge and skills while taking the opportunity to incorporate traditional knowledge into their research. The program will enable Fellows to better voice, articulate and share their research and ideas publicly, as well as create dialogue, to bring about a more healthy, self-reliant and sustainable north.
14 Northerners have been selected as Fellows for 2010-2012. To support pan-northern learning and exchange, we have selected Fellows from each of the five Arctic regions – Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Northern Quebec (Nunavik), and Northern Labrador (Nunatsiavut).
Components of the fellowship:
As a new program, many of the detailed components of what will be involved in the program will emerge in consultation with and depending on the needs and interests of the first group of Fellows. Still, over the course of two year program, Fellows will:
Complete a policy-focused applied research paper (or equivalent) investigating an Arctic issue of their choosing, as identified in their initial application. In discussion with the Foundation, Fellows may elect to produce a film or equivalent alternative project;
Complete a major joint initiative, on the scale of a policy forum, or equivalent, to be undertaken by all of the Fellows as a group (or two groups);
Attend four in-person gatherings (3-4 days each, plus travel time; dates below are approximate):
Initial gathering/orientations/sharing (in a northern community, including an on-the-land component) – August 2010
Southern skills/capacity building workshop (likely Ottawa-based) – January/February 2011
Presentation of individual papers/projects and planning meeting for major 2nd year project (location TBD) – October 2011
Policy forum in a northern community, in a different region than the initial gathering – May/June 2012;
Prepare a final report in which key findings, policy options, and learnings are shared and disseminated to a wider audience, as well as a final report to the Foundation on the fellowship experience.
Kinds of support Fellows will receive:
Financial support: Fellows will receive up to $25,000 over 2 years paid in instalments at each of the four in-person gatherings. This support is not intended to be income replacement, and it is expected that most Fellows will combine their fellowship commitments with their ongoing professional responsibilities or educational programs. See below for additional organization support.
Mentorship support: Each Fellow will be asked to identify one or more community-based mentors from their ‘home community’ (an Elder, local leader, extended family member etc) to help guide the Fellow’s approach in developing his or her fellowship project so that there is meaningful consultation and engagement at the community level. As well, Fellows will benefit from “professional” mentors with experience in policy development and the Arctic issue of focus for their fellowships.
Networking opportunities: Fellows will be provided with both in-person and online opportunities to connect with other fellows, mentors, policy-makers and Foundation advisors and associates.
Foundation support: Foundation staff, particularly the Jane Glassco Arctic Fellowship Director, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, will be available to provide advice and support to fellows throughout the 2-year program.
Organizational support: If the Fellow works for a charitable organization, or other qualified donee as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency, the organization will be eligible to receive a $5,000 grant to help compensate for the time sacrificed to conduct fellowship-related activities and research.
News coverage of the Jane Glassco Arctic Fellowship Program
The People We Meet
Published in New North/NWT (Dec 7, 2009)
By John B. Zoe, Tlicho Executive Officer, Tlicho Government
The new generation has an opportunity without trial and tribulations
of previous generations. Through mentoring they could direct their future
by exploring and experiencing the process of developing home grown policy
based on our heritage and culture of the North.
Spotlight
on Success: Arctic Voices Fellowships
Published by CharityVillage (Jan 25, 2010)
By Louise Chatterton Luchuk
Casting the spotlight on passionate and creative Canadians and the innovative
organizations that are making their mark in the nonprofit sector
and helping to build a better society.
The Jane Glassco Arctic Fellowships is a program of
the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, with support from the J.M.
Kaplan Fund.
We also want to thank the following individuals and organizations who have made donations to the program:
Scott McIntyre
Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
Susan Docker
Paul Richardson
Douglas Shrigley
John Martin Hunter
Nancy Wright
Honourable Keith Davey and Dorothy Davey
Iain and Irene Hunter
Richard Rose
Camilla Holland, Tarragon Theatre
Nicholas Palmer
David French
George Wright
Louisa and James O'Reilly
Nicolas Billon
Alia Riza
Beverly Stager