I am a bilingual social and cultural anthropologist and fibre artist based in Quebec, Canada.
I offer consultancy related to the environment, agriculture, food and rural issues.
I work with foundations, networks, community-based organizations, universities and artists at local, provincial, national and international levels.

What I do

I support the emergence of creative, place-based responses to the local social and biophysical environment. I take people and places as they are, where they are, and help them connect to each other as they build, use and share knowledge.

How I work

As a person deeply rooted in place, I understand the importance of working with what is locally available to craft relevant responses to the needs of human communities, local landscapes and the myriad living beings that inhabit them.

My approach is to co-create a process that responds to the needs of my clients and those seeking to make changes. The process generally involves

bringing people together
focused inquiry on specific topics
facilitating, coordinating and supporting others in learning
weaving together of different strands of work to build collective understandings
crafting something new: an activity, a project, an approach, a community of practice, a piece of art

Anthropological inquiry

My life and work are informed by anthropology and its approach to building knowledge and understanding human cultures and social phenomena. Anthropology teaches us to enter unfamiliar contexts with an open mind and to understand from the perspective of the Other. Anthropologists are taught to document rigorously what they observe, to ask evocative questions, to refrain from imposing categories and assumptions on others and, ultimately, to understand from within. Many types of methods can be used, but qualitative methods (participant observation, individual and group interviews, mapping and more) are core skills for anthropologists.

Participatory Action Research

My work is also informed by a commitment to participatory action research and community development processes. In all my work, actors are central and I seek to support their agency. I do not to seek knowledge on people, but for people, providing perspective which can then be used to inform action. This may take the form of a practice, a program, a project, a policy, or other.

Trans-disciplinary collaborations

Virtually all of my work involves dialogue across and between disciplines. I have worked with natural scientists, evaluation specialists, public health experts, designers, educators, demographers, geographers, economic development specialists, artists and more. I am convinced that this is a path to rich insights and skillful action.

My clients

Foundations

McKnight Foundation is an example of a foundation I work with. The Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems (see ccrp.org) funds collaborative research between smallholder farmers, leading local researchers, and development practitioners to explore solutions for sustainable, local food systems. Part of CRFS’s work involves Farmer Research Networks (FRNs) and my role, since 2015, is to support their development in a range of different ways, for example by organizing and facilitating opportunities for sharing learning within and beyond the program; by synthesizing and communicating learning; by participating in developmental evaluation processes, and more.

Networks

The Community Health and Social Services Network (see chssn.org) is an example of a network I have worked with since 2009. It is an umbrella organization that aims to contribute to the vitality of English-speaking communities in Quebec by building strategic relationships and partnerships within the health and social services system to improve access to services. My role involves community-based participatory action research and evaluation on various initiatives, as well as supporting collective learning.

Community-based organizations

I have worked with many community organizations to develop adapted responses to local issues (such as youth out-migration, social isolation among seniors, mental health in rural areas, early childhood services, travel for health services, and more). I develop focused research using mixed methods approaches in order to ground action in a solid knowledge base, taking into account the complexity of local realities.

Universities

I am an associate professor of the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) in the Sociétés, territoires et développement department. Along with other researchers and local stakeholders, I am currently developing a research project on the potential for revitalizing a sustainable, fair, and place-based wool value chain in the Lower Saint Lawrence region.

Artists and makers

My artistic practice has connected me to other artists and craftspeople, particularly those working with fibres and plant-based dyes. I am seeking to connect anthropology, art and community development by helping to develop local fibre and textiles systems (wool for instance). I am interested in revitalizing ecological fibre networks, involving farmers, processors, entrepreneurs, and designers committed to circular economies and agroecology.