Michelle Saunders

Michelle Saunders is an Inuk woman from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. After completing her BSc in Biology (Ecology and Conservation) through Memorial University in 2018, Michelle was awarded the Labrador Institute International Indigenous Internship travelling to Finland and Norway to work with University of the Arctic and the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat. Upon returning to her home in Goose Bay, she worked with the Torngat Wildlife, Plants and Fisheries Secretariat researching the intersection of birds and Indigenous knowledge.

With a passion for incorporating Indigenous knowledge into Western science systems, Michelle is continuing her work to center Indigenous voices for ptarmigan co-management in Nunatsiavut. Michelle is in the two-year thesis program and is supervised by Dr. Stephen Decker with partnerships with the Nunatsiavut Government and Torngat Secretariat.

In her free time, you can find Michelle snowshoeing, skiing, hiking and doing anything outdoors with her dog, Zuri