Brenda Parlee, PhD

Professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Resource Economics & Environmental Sociology

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Contact Overview Courses Publications

Contact

Professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Resource Economics & Environmental Sociology

Email: bparlee@ualberta.ca
Address: 557 General Services Building
9007 - 116 St NW

Edmonton AB

T6G 2H1

Overview

Area of Study / Keywords

community-based natural resource management monitoring capacity-building biodiversity conservation

About

Dr. Brenda Parlee is an ally/settler scholar located in Treaty #6 Territory of Alberta and the homeland of the Métis (Alberta, Canada).

Parlee is a Professor and UNESCO Co-Chair in Collaboration for Indigenous-Led Research in Biodiversity Conservation, Health and Well-being at the University of Alberta (Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences). She is the Nominated PI of the NFRF funded project: ⴰⵔⵔⴰⵎⴰⵜ Ărramăt: Biodiversity Conservation and Indigenous Health and Well-being (2022-2027) and PI of Tracking Change: Local & Traditional Knowledge in Watershed Governance (SSHRC-PG) (2011-2019). She was a coordinating lead author of the IPBES Assessment on Sustainable Use of Wild Species. Parlee held the position of Canada Research Chair in Social Responses to Ecological change between 2007-2017 at the University of Alberta.

Parlee grew up in north-eastern Ontario and joined the University of Alberta in in 2004. She completed her BA at the University of Guelph, an M.E.S at the University of Waterloo and received her PhD from the University of Manitoba in Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM). Over the last 25 years, she has led and engaged in numerous research programs, embracing collaborative and community-based research methodologies with the aim of elevating local and Indigenous Knowledge systems and finding ways to improve the sustainability of people and nature both in Canada and globally.

Research

Research Approach

Parlee's research program is focused on strengthening capacities for community-based research and monitoring and developing opportunities for collaboration with Indigenous organizations and governments. She has a strong focus on interdisciplinary issues of ecosystem and human health and well-being both in Canada and internationally. A key focus of her work has been on biodiversity conservation, the sustainability of resource development in the arctic as well as issues of wildlife population, health and management. She has published more than 150 journal articles and books highlighting the importance of Indigenous Knowledge, leadership and participation in natural resource management; themes have included mining impacts on well-being and culture, community-based monitoring, wildlife disease risk, freshwater ecosystem health, sustainability of barren-ground and boreal caribou populations, youth engagement in action for biodiversity conservation.

Major Research Interests

collaboration for biodiversity conservation and Indigenous health and well-being
community-based natural resource management and community-based monitoring
health and well-being of Indigenous communities;
social-ecological systems and resilience;
participatory and collaborative research methodologies;
assessment, monitoring and management of resource development;
public involvement processes in natural resource management (e.g., environmental assessment in northern Canada)

Courses

R SOC 365 - Sociology of Environment and Development

Examines the relationship between development and environment at the local, regional, national and international levels. Critically discusses development strategies, the environmental and social forces promoting them, and the distribution of environmental and social impacts. Also examines alternative development strategies, sustainable development experiences and relevant international policy.

Fall Term 2024