Aidan Sheppard

2022 Weston Family Awards in Northern Research recipient

PhD student
University of Alberta

Two-Eyed Seeing involves viewing the world through both an Indigenous and a Western lens when conducting research. It’s the guiding framework Aidan is using as he works towards his PhD in conservation biology at the University of Alberta. Aiden is hosted by Yukon University in the Traditional Territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.

He is working in partnership with Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation and Wildlife Conservation Society Canada in Yukon South Beringia to identify and monitor climate change refugia—areas in which a species can survive a period of unfavourable conditions—for biocultural indicator species such as wolverines and caribou.

His research will directly support and supplement ongoing climate adaptation work by Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation. It will also demonstrate novel approaches for identifying and monitoring species-specific climate change refugia in the North.

Aidan is committed to supporting Indigenous-led conservation, and contributing to structural change in research and academia as a member of the Conservation Through Reconciliation Partnership.

Learn more about the Weston Family Awards in Northern Research.