Research on human-bear relationships recently drew a Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) anthropology student to northern B.C.
Mackenzie Kurta was searching for opportunities to gain hands-on research experience while completing her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology degree when KPU instructor Dr. Sarah Fessenden invited her to participate in the project in Smithers, B.C.
Kurta’s role involved understanding how a wildlife rescue organization — Northern Lights Wildlife Society — feeds the bears and how the community supports rehabilitation efforts. Drawing on the participant observation method, Kurta completely immersed herself in the research by volunteering with the rescue — sorting food donations, cleaning pens, observing bear feedings and engaging with the community.
“The rescue has 124 bears and requires a lot of food to support them,” says Kurta, who also completed KPU’s NGO and Nonprofit Studies Certificate Program. “My role was figuring out what community support looked like, what kinds of relationships they were building and how food waste was being used by the organization.”
The project is led by Dr. Lauren Harding at the University of Northern British Columbia, with Dr. Fessenden serving as a consultant on food-waste recovery.
The research is exploring issues related to human-bear conflicts, community perceptions of bears and bear conservation. The goal is to lay a foundation for the development of region-specific policies and management tools for bear conservation.
“Our NGO and Nonprofit Studies program at KPU has complemented this academic research by working in partnership with a wildlife organization called Northern Bear Awareness Society,” says Dr. Fessenden. “Through grant writing and project design, our collaboration helps build their capacity as they work to spread awareness as well as advocate for meaningful policy changes in order to minimize the destruction of bears.”
Kurta credits her instructors and program for the opportunity to participate in hands-on research as an undergraduate student.
“There are so many opportunities with KPU’s anthropology and NGO programs, and the possibilities of what you can do with your degree are endless,” she says. “Something that KPU gave me, which I don't think other universities can, is that relationship with my instructors. Because without those relationships, I don't think this opportunity would have been possible.”
KPU’s Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology program prepares students for life, work and research in diverse local and global communities. Students can cultivate and demonstrate skills in inter- and intra-cultural communication, analysis and both scientific and humanistic methodology.
