Maria Ramirez Prieto is a PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo and a SSHRC Doctoral Fellow, supervised by Drs. Skinner and Ostertag. Relationality and collaboration are central to her research as she works alongside Inuvialuit co-researchers and community members in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), NWT. Prior to fast-tracking into the PhD program, she completed one year of her MSc at the University of Waterloo and earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Nutritional Science and International Development from the University of Guelph.
Centred around principles of community-based research and community-identified priorities, her project explores the contemporary significance of country food for youth in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Intertwined with cultural and traditional practices, country food harvesting, preparation, and consumption are paramount for food security and the preservation of Inuit Knowledge and culture. As community engagement is a vital part of her work, Maria has spent considerable time building relationships within all six communities of the ISR to strengthen the quality and impact of her research.
Alongside an amazing team of Inuvialuit co-researchers, her project uses a multifaceted approach, including Photovoice methodology, talking circles with youth and Elders, and family group interviews, to illuminate nuanced experiences with country foods and the transmission of knowledge and skills across generations to support Inuvialuit food security and well-being.
