Ecological research in collaboration with locals and indigenous peoples

Ilona is a PhD student researching reindeer ecology with Saami reindeer herders in Sweden. She is part of the interdisclipinary DurhamARCTIC programme at Durham University, UK, with a supervisory team from both biosciences and anthropology. At Umeå University, Ilona is a guest working with Johan Olofsson, EMG.

The seminar was separated into two parts. First a presention of the subject areas and the many opportunities, difficulties and questions which arise in research which takes place in collaboration with locals and indigenous peoples in the area. Afterwards the room was split into two groups to discuss their thoughts and experiences in the field. The participants was a mixed group of both natural and social scientists who had different perspectives, yet across the whole agreed on the value of crossdisciplinary methods.