Lyana seeks to contribute to the growing scholarship on Indigenous Community Planning and what that looks like for diverse urban Indigenous populations. In partnership with the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia (NCCABC), her work underscores the urgent need to involve Indigenous communities in addressing issues at the intersection of justice and health. Along with fellow public scholar Ashley Akins, Lyana has created The Suitcase, an exhibition that explores the daily life of her grandmother, a Carrier (Dakelh) woman, which is showing at the Liu Institute Lobby Gallery from December 8, 2016 – January 31, 2017.
Research Description
I'm doing an exploratory case study of the work of the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia (NCCABC) as an example of Indigenous Community Planning in urban settings. NCCABC provides culturally appropriate services to Indigenous peoples and communities through advocacy, counselling and referral services. A vast majority of NCCABC's clients have addiction and/or mental health issues related to long-term, often intergenerational, experiences of trauma. While responding to immediate needs and crises, NCCABC also aim to get at the root causes of involvement with the justice system. Its work therefore is oriented towards addressing the fundamental causes of health disparities: poverty, economic inequality, social stress, discrimination, and other social and economic inequalities (Corburn, 2009). This research examines how NCCABC's work might weave together planning and public health as an organization on the front lines of Indigenous community development. Research findings will inform therapeutic planning in the context of providing supportive community services.
What does being a Public Scholar mean to you?
For me, being a public scholar is about engaging with communities beyond the university and committing to relationships that will endure beyond the dissertation. It is about moving beyond traditional academic comfort zones and contributing to meaningful public dialogue.
In what ways do you think the PhD experience can be re-imagined with the Public Scholars Initiative?
As workplaces continue to evolve and change, so too will the skills and experiences of PhD graduates. This initiative provides opportunities for students to collaborate and be inspired by the work of others and to consider how their own work can expand into the public consciousness. These connections are invaluable for creating opportunities that can expand beyond academia.
How do you envision connecting your PhD work with broader career possibilities?
I have long been engaged in community-based, participatory education and research. I feel very strongly that academic work can be deeply informed by Indigenous Knowledge and that collaborative work in communities creates opportunities for innovative research and education in academia. My PhD work has allowed me to do applied research and I feel that this prepares me for a range of possibilities after graduation.
How does your research engage with the larger community and social partners?
Early in my research I began creating relationships with an urban Indigenous organization that works across multiple fields, including justice (primarily) as well as health and social service delivery. I have negotiated a collaborative research agreement in which I have committed to producing reports and presentations for multiple audiences that will translate our research findings to the broader public.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
After my Master's degree, I had planned to pursue a career in medicine. Through personal experience, I had seen that health care professionals had little training in cultural perspectives on addictions and mental health. I knew how important it was to understand historical experiences of colonization to understand contemporary experiences of health. Ultimately, I had a desire to more immediately use my skills, knowledge and experience to address health inequities through doctoral level research.
Why did you choose to come to British Columbia and study at UBC?
I am fortunate to be pursuing doctoral studies in the School of Community and Regional Planning at UBC. It is a welcoming place for interdisciplinary study and has allowed me to fully explore my interests in governance, history, health and storytelling. What primarily drew me to the school was the specialization in Indigenous Planning which began in fall 2012. This is an important step towards recognition of Indigenous peoples' rights to plan their own communities.
For me, being a public scholar is about engaging with communities beyond the university and committing to relationships that will endure beyond the dissertation. It is about moving beyond traditional academic comfort zones and contributing to meaningful public dialogue.
