Dr. Dominique Henri

Research Scientist

Contributing to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s mandate to ensure wildlife is protected and conserved through the use of Indigenous and Western sciences and knowledge systems.

Conduct interdisciplinary, collaborative and participatory research that mobilize Indigenous and Western sciences and knowledge systems on culturally significant species under federal jurisdiction (migratory birds, polar bear, species at risk), particularly in Arctic and northern Canada;
Support the development and application of research practices ensuring that Indigenous community perspectives are effectively linked to scientific research activities within the Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate;
Provide policy and program advice to foster effective linkages of Indigenous knowledge systems with wildlife research;
Contribute to northern environmental impact assessments involving Indigenous communities.

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Current research and/or projects

Contributing to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s mandate to ensure wildlife is protected and conserved through the use of Indigenous and Western sciences and knowledge systems.

Conduct interdisciplinary, collaborative and participatory research that mobilize Indigenous and Western sciences and knowledge systems on culturally significant species under federal jurisdiction (migratory birds, polar bear, species at risk), particularly in Arctic and northern Canada;
Support the development and application of research practices ensuring that Indigenous community perspectives are effectively linked to scientific research activities within the Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate;
Provide policy and program advice to foster effective linkages of Indigenous knowledge systems with Western scientific approaches to wildlife research;
Contribute to northern environmental impact assessments involving Indigenous communities.

Professional activities / interests

Ethnobiology; ecological anthropology; science and technology studies; Indigenous knowledge systems; wildlife co-management; community--based environmental monitoring; environmental impact assessment; citizen science; community-based participatory research; Indigenous research methodologies.

Conducting and supervising research in partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations, universities, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Addressing issues identified as priorities by Indigenous communities through collaborative research that emphasizes reciprocity, knowledge co-production, capacity building, science outreach and community-led initiatives.

Education and awards

D.Phil. Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, 2012

M.Sc. Environmental Change and Management, University of Oxford, 2007

SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship, FQRSC Doctoral Scholarship, Rhodes Scholarship

Key publications

Drake, A.K., Dunmall, K.M., Nguyen, V.M., Provencher, J.F., Henri, D.A., Alexander, S.M. 2023. Bridging Indigenous and Western sciences: Decision points guiding aquatic research and monitoring in Inuit Nunangat. Conservation Science and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12972

Johnson, L.R., Wilcox, A.A.E., Alexander, S.M., Bowles, E., Castleden, H., Henri, D.A., Herch, C., King, L., Provencher, J.F., Orihel, D.M. 2023. Weaving Indigenous and Western ways of knowing in ecotoxicology and wildlife health: review of Canadian studies. Environmental Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2022-0087

Wilcox, A.A.E., Provencher, J.F., Henri, D.A., Alexander, S., Jessica, T., Cooke, S.J., Thomas, P., Johnson, L. 2023. Braiding Indigenous knowledge systems and Western-based sciences in the Alberta oil sands region: a systematic review. FACETS. https://dx.doi.org/10.1139/facets-2022-0052

Henri, D.A., Martinez-Levasseur, L.M., Provencher, J.F., Debets, C.D., Appaqaq, M. and Houde, M. 2022. Engaging Inuit youth in environmental research: braiding Western science and Indigenous knowledge through school workshops. The Journal of Environmental Education 53(5):261-279 https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2022.2125926

Sadowsky, H., Brunet, N.D., Anaviapik, A., Kublu, A., Henri, D.A. 2022. Youth-engaged community-based environmental research as supporting sustainable development in Nunavut, Canada. Polar Geography. https://doi.org/10.1080/1088937X.2022.2105972

Houde, M., Krümmel, E.M., Mustonen, T., Brammer, J., Brown, T.M., Chételat, J., Dahl, P.E., Dietz, R., Evans, M., Gamberg, M., Gauthier, M.J., Gérin-Lajoie, J., Hauptmann, A.L., Heath, J.P., Henri, D.A. et al. 2022. Contributions and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples to the study of mercury in the Arctic. Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156566

Sadowsky, H., Brunet, M.D., Anaviapik, A., Kublu, A., Killiktee, K., Henri, D.A. 2022. Inuit youth and environmental research: exploring engagement barriers, strategies and impacts. FACETS 7: 45-70. https://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2021-0035

Tomaselli, M., Henri, D.A., Akavak, N., Kanayuk, D., Pitsiulak, P., Kanayuk, R., Pangnirtung Hunters and Trappers Organization, Mayukalik Hunters and Trappers Organization, Wong, P., Richardson, E., Dyck, M. 2022. Nunavut Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit on the health of the Davis Strait polar bear population. Final project report. 114 pp + appendices.

Alexander, S.M., Provencher, J.F., Henri, D.A., Nanayakkara, L., Taylor, J.J., Berberi, A., Lloren, J.I., Johnson, J.T., Ballard, M., Cooke, S.J. 2021. Bridging Indigenous and Western sciences in freshwater research, monitoring, and management in Canada. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 2:e12085. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12085

Martinez-Levasseur, L.M., Furgal, C.M., Hammill, M.O., Henri D.A., Burness, G. 2021. New migration and distribution patterns of Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) around Nunavik (Québec, Canada) identified using Inuit Knowledge. Polar Biology 44, 1833–1845. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-02920-6

Henri, D.A., Provencher, J.F., Bowles, E., Taylor, J.J., Jade, S., Chelick, C., Popp, J.N., Cooke, S.J., Rytwinski T., McGregor, D., Ford, A.T., Alexander, S.M. 2021. Weaving Indigenous knowledge systems and Western sciences in terrestrial research, monitoring and management in Canada: a protocol for a systematic map. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 2: e12057. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12057

Henri, D.A., Martinez-Levasseur, L.M., Jean-Gagnon, F., Weetaltuk, S., Mallory, M.L., Gilchrist, H.G. and Mallory, M., Jean-Gagnon, F. 2020. Inuit knowledge of Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea) and perspectives on declining abundance in southeastern Hudson Bay, Canada. PLoS ONE 15(11): e0242193. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242193

Henri, D.A., Carter, N.A., Salliq Project Management Committee, Arviat Project Management Committee, Ljubicic, G.J., Smith, P.A. and Johnston, V.J. 2020. Qanuq ukua kanguit sunialiqpitigu? (What should we do with all of these geese?) Collaborative research to support wildlife co-management and Inuit self-determination. Arctic Science. https://doi.org/10.1139/AS-2019-0015

Henri, D.A., Brunet, N.D., Dort, H.E., Hambly Odame, H., Shirley, J. and Gilchrist, H.G. 2020. What is effective research communication? Towards collaborative inquiry with Nunavut communities. Arctic 73(1):81-98. https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic70000

Alexander, S.M., Provencher, J.F., Henri, D.A., Taylor, J.J., Lloren, J.I., Nanayakkara, L., Johnson, J.T. and Cooke, S.J. 2019. Bridging Indigenous and science-based knowledge in coastal and marine research, monitoring, and management in Canada: a systematic map. Environmental Evidence 8:36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-019-0181-3

MacMillan, G.A., Falardeau, M., Girard, C., Dufour-Beauséjour, S., Lacombe-Bergeron, J., Menzies, A.K., Henri, D.A. 2019. Highlighting the potential of peer-led workshops in training early career researchers for conducting research with Indigenous communities. Facets 4:275-292. https://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2018-0046

Alexander, S.M., Provencher, J.F., Henri, D.A., Taylor, J.J. and Cooke, S.J. 2019. Bridging Indigenous and science-based knowledge in coastal-marine research, monitoring, and management in Canada: A systematic map protocol. Environmental Evidence 8:15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-019-0159-1

Henri, D., Jean-Gagnon, F. and Gilchrist, H.G. 2018 Using Inuit traditional ecological knowledge for detecting and monitoring avian cholera outbreaks among common eider ducks nesting in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Ecology and Society 23(1):22. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-09289-230122

Henri, D., Gilchrist, H.G. and Peacock, E. 2010. Understanding and managing wildlife in Hudson Bay under a changing climate: recent contributions from Cree and Inuit ecological knowledge. In: Ferguson, S., M. Mallory and L. Loseto (eds.). A little less Arctic: top predators in the world’s largest northern inland sea, Hudson Bay. London: Springer, pp. 267-289. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-90-481-9121-5_13

Henri, D. 2012. Managing nature, producing cultures: Inuit participation, science and policy in wildlife governance in the Nunavut Territory. D.Phil. thesis. Oxford: OUCE, University of Oxford.