Introducing Alitta Patles, Master of Planning Studies
We interviewed Alitta Patles, one of the many highly qualified personnel on the Sharing Our Knowledge project team!
Alitta Patles, our newest team member!
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Alitta Patles. I graduated with a double major in anthropology and history from Cape Breton University and I am currently studying for my Master of Planning Studies at Dalhousie University with Dr. Chad Walker. I live in Eskasoni and I am a Mi’kmaw. Currently, I work at the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR) as a Research Liaison Coordinator.
Regarding my day to day at UINR, we are gearing up for the Salmon Symposium in March and I am working with committee members on logistics such as catering and activities. I am also working on the Jiksitatulti’kw project where we are doing the data analysis right now. Jiksitatulti’kw means “listening to each other” in Mi’kmaw and this project is a collaboration between UINR and the Community Engaged CoLab.
What are you researching for your masters?
I've been thinking about this question since you sent it and to be honest, I have no idea! First day was yesterday but I really want to focus on the aquatics and to bring in Netukulimk and Etuaptmumk into my research. These Mi’kmaw cultural concepts are related to sustainability and practicing a reciprocal relationship with the environment. L’Nuey defines Netukulimk as “the use of the natural resources provided by the Creator. It encompasses Mi’kmaq sovereign law and guides individual and collective beliefs and behaviours in resource protection, procurement, and management to ensure sustainability and prosperity for future generations” and Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing is defined as “learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing - and seeing from the other eye with the strengths of Western knowledges and ways of knowing”. I am also looking forward to working with and learning from the Sharing Our Knowledge team.
What do you think about Traditional Ecological Knowledge in aquatics?
When Western researchers come to reserves looking for a specific species, they tend not to listen to the people living there and who have been tracking that species for years. Even in aquatics, researchers don’t take the words of Mi’kmaw Elders seriously because the researchers have a formal education and the Elders don’t.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge really needs to be implemented in Western research. There is more insight from those who have been living on this land compared to people that are just coming in. Indigenous people know where to go, where to track, where something is, where something isn’t, etc.
How do you feel about working with the Nations in Unama’ki?
I’ve worked with all five Nations: Eskasoni, Membertou, Potlotek, Wagmatcook, We’koqma’q, and I love working with them! I feel it’s very insightful because they are living on different parts of Unama’ki. I know for a fact that We’koqma’q and Wagmatcook’s weather can be atrocious in the winter and where I live in like the centre of Unama’ki, which is Eskasoni, we don't really get as bad weather. It’s important to be flexible and have a good relationship when working with the different communities given that they live in different environments. Even though all of the Nations are Mi’kmaq, I love working with them and seeing all the differences.
What about this project made you want to join the team?
Chad Walker, Megan Fuller, and Shelley Denny talked to me about the project and gave their input and Shelly encouraged me to just do it! It’s really similar to the job that I am doing now. This project is really interesting and something that I want to be a part of because it aligned with my goals and what I want career-wise.
Alitta’s favourite body of water, right outside the fisheries in Eskasoni