Scholarship fuels partnership in community-based research
UM graduate student is working alongside Knowledge Keepers to empower Indigenous-led land stewardship
Hosna Banihabib’s undergraduate training in urban planning and design taught her the power of listening—to place, to people, to history. She took that forward in her planning for graduate studies, and she found she was drawn to Dr. Stephane McLachlan’s work in the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of Manitoba (UM), which focuses on environmental justice, environmental health, and Indigenous food sovereignty.
“As someone of Azerbaijani heritage from Iran, I feel a deep kinship with Indigenous communities whose languages, lands, and traditions have shaped their identities for generations,” says Banihabib. “In Iran we also have different ethnicities, and when I was doing my projects in urban planning and design, I always focused on what minority or vulnerable groups would be affected by my design as an urban planner. That’s when I dived into political ecology which evolved into environmental justice.”
Now at UM, her research is focused on helping Indigenous communities navigate the mining industry. To support her in her project, she applied for and received the Berkes Graduate Scholarship. She was nervous to apply at first, but in going through the process, she discovered what mattered most was not whether or not she received the scholarship, but what the impact of her work was going to be on the community.
“Receiving the Berkes Graduate Scholarship has been both a profound affirmation of my work and a practical lifeline,” she says. “They saw value behind an idea that a Knowledge Keeper had but didn’t know how to put it into action, and that’s where scholars and the community can come together.”
Her project began by speaking and building a relationship with Walter, the mining Knowledge Keeper in Kenora, on Treaty 3 territory, which is where her project is based. When a mining company wants to begin work in a certain area, they request an exploration permit from the government. Then the government has to share that permit, which includes the details about the location, the project and the mining activity, with the community.
Before any mining action can happen, there is a 30-day window where the public can make comments on the proposal or claim the land as cultural or heritage land. As Banihabib started building trust with Walter, he mentioned that while First Nations communities are aware of these proposals, most of them don’t have the proper time or the platform to react to these activities. With so many proposals coming in, Walter said he was having a hard time managing them and making appropriate claims or comments, which is where Banihabib found an opportunity to help.
“Their decision to trust me with co-creating tools that translate complex mining data into accessible maps and alerts fills me with gratitude and humility,” she says. “Knowing that my skills can ease community planning around resource impacts and support local decision-making makes every long day of this journey worthwhile, and it is an honour to return these results as a gift of respect and partnership.”
Financially, she said the scholarship also relieves the burden of travel, housing, and field‐work expenses. She says that not having to worry about making ends meet allows her to spend more time listening to and addressing the diverse needs of community members affected by mining activities, and to co-design Geographical Information System tools that deliver maps and alerts tailored to those needs.
“This scholarship has strengthened my confidence and resolve,” she says. “It confirms that the community‐based approach I’m championing—rooted in respectful partnerships with Grand Council Treaty 3 First Nation communities—is valued by leaders in the field. I feel empowered to delve deeper, share results in accessible formats, and uphold the principles of Indigenous-led conservation every step of the way.”
What does a future fueled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved.