Hi there! My name is Tamika (pronounced ta-ME-kah). I was born and raised in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and Arviat, Nunavut. Growing up, I spent my summers camping, fishing and boating on Great Slave Lake, and cross-country skiing in the winters. In 2014, I finished my undergraduate degree in Biology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. After graduating, I worked at the Yellowknife office of Golder Associates Ltd., where I was fortunate to do a wide variety of environmental field work and visit some cool places. After that, I coordinated government participation in environmental assessment (EA) at the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Lands. This fast-paced experience sparked my passion for EA, encouraging me to learn more and potentially pursue a career in it. I recently spent two years living and working in Christchurch, New Zealand, spending much of my time backcountry hiking (or “tramping” as the kiwis call it), skiing and exploring in the mountains. In September 2020, I began my MSc. in Earth and Environmental Science at the University of British Columbia Okanagan’s Center for Environmental Assessment Research. In Kelowna I can be found skiing at Big White, attempting to longboard and climb, or reading at the beach or my favorite coffee shop (their flat whites are almost as good as New Zealand and Australia!).
I am fascinated by the complex interdisciplinary decision-making processes involved in environmental assessment, and have recently been interested in food systems. My research on northern food security in environmental assessment will link several of my interests, and I hope it will benefit northerners and EA best practice.