Johanna Stewart was born and raised in Sǫ̀mba K’è (Yellowknife), Northwest Territories. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria in Biology and Environmental Studies and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Science at Thompson Rivers University. Her research is focused on the red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis), which was assessed as a species of special concern in the Northwest Territories in 2024. Johanna is assessing the impacts of the extreme 2023 wildfire season on red-sided garter snakes in the Thebacha (Fort Smith) area, including the northern reaches of Wood Buffalo National Park. She is using mark-recapture techniques to assess the population size, structure, and health of red-sided garter snakes in the fire-affected area. She will also track snakes implanted with radio-transmitters to examine their migrations from winter denning sites to their summer habitat. This study will contribute towards evidence-based wildlife management decisions in the North and will help inform conservation strategies for species facing increasing levels of disturbance from wildfire
