EESC 180 Field Ecology - The Arctic

Students will develop an appreciation of the various cultural influences involved in settling and defining current day Churchill. Students will also be familiar with historical events impacting Churchill. Ecology is the study of the interactions between organisms and their environments. This course will also focus on the ecology of several species living in Churchill, Manitoba on Hudson's Bay. The classroom component during the spring semester introduces the cultures and history, as well as ecology and the focal species. The field component provides the opportunity for us to meet and interview various Churchill elders, experience first-hand traditional ways of life, supplement the cultural experience with resources from two local museums and participate in current day to day Churchill life -- life in a remote town not connected by road to the outside world. We will participate in workshops, lead a workshop, and take tours of town facilities, such as the Health Center, Duke of Marlborough school, Town Complex and Churchill Northern Studies Centre. We will study Arctic and sub-arctic species in their natural environment as part of several long-term monitoring studies. Our partners in these studies include Environment Canada, Toronto Ministry of Natural Resources, The Hudson Bay Project American Museum of Natural History, Churchill Northern Studies Centre and Parks Canada.

Credits

3

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the basic biology of the focal species: these include: Birds (tree swallows, lesser snow geese, Canada geese), Plants (black spruce-white spruce, purple saxifrage, tamaracks), Insects (sampling techniques
2. Describe the process of science, describe an observational study and interpret data
3. Describe and be familiar with the cultural influences in Churchill including Metis, Sayisi Dene (Chipewayan), Eskimo/Inuit, Cree, European
4. Understand the historical significance of major events shaping Churchill from pre-contact to present day
5. Demonstrate proficiency in maintaining a field journal
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the world from a specific non-U.S. viewpoint