2025 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

Name: What does colonialism have to do with this? The development of a risk management microcredential for Indigenous Land Based Program practitioners
Start: 2025-10-01T13:30:00-0400
End: 2025-10-01T14:30:00-0400

Main Conference: Tuesday, September 30 - Thursday, October 2, 2025

Preconference: Monday September 29 - Tuesday, September 30, 2025

*Schedule subject to change.

Wednesday October 1, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT

Connecticut / Rhode Island

Through the development of a risk management micro-credential for Indigenous Land Based practitioners, two former outdoor educators turned academics critically examine mainstream wilderness risk management practices through a decolonial lens. This workshop will provide a snapshot of the micro-credential developed through Lakehead University’s school of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism, and an overview of the Indigenous land based programming context in Canada and the US. Next, we will explore our positionality as white settler Canadians working in consultation with Indigenous partners and colleagues and provide some advice and encouragement for other allies seeking to decolonize their risk management practice. Finally, through examples from our work and audience engagement, we will share what we learned, how we applied that learning, and why this work matters.

Speakers

Julie Bremner

School of Outdoor Recreation Parks and Tourism, Lakehead University

Julie’s doctoral interests stem from her long career as a field instructor for NOLS, Where There Be Dragons and similar programs in Canada. Her current work weaves a passion for supporting experiential educators to foster just, equitable, diverse, inclusive learning communities... Read More →

Gail Kuhl

Assistant Professor, Lakehead University

Gail Kuhl (she/her/they) is a settler Canadian who resides in Thunder Bay, ON, the traditional territory of the Anishnawbe people and the treaty Territory of Fort William First Nation, signatories to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850. Gail is an assistant professor in the School... Read More →

Wednesday October 1, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Connecticut / Rhode Island Holiday Inn By the Bay:88 Spring St, Portland, ME 04119

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2025 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

Julie Bremner

Gail Kuhl

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