In March, mentors from different countries were able to meet in person for the first time, as the first cohort of mentors were virtual due to the pandemic. This in-person component has opened up possibilities for collaboration between mentors. The mentors enjoyed hiking Humpback Rock, visiting local art collective Visible Records, and participating in classes on Disability Justice, Global Development Theory, and Global Activism.
“Knowledge is generated outside the academy, and that includes conceptual, theoretical knowledge,” explains David Edmunds, director of Global Development Studies, a track in the Global Studies program.
Putting this sentiment into practice, Sophie Wong, a Global Studies student reports, “Working with Dusty [Gill] has truly been a transformative experience for me as a researcher. There is plenty of discussion about including indigenous perspectives and methods in science, but no one is able to teach you how to actually go about that. I’ve also never really been exposed to Native perspectives and experiences before my participation in this program, but something this project has really helped me with.” Giving the mentor perspective, Gill explains, “To connect to the students as a global mentor has created an opportunity to become a live interactive textbook, which has proven to be very impactful for all of us.”