Current Research
Ph.D. Geography, McGill University
Homeless in a Homeland: Housing (in)Security and Resource Development in the NWT
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Julia Christensen
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2008 Trudeau Scholar
julia.christensen@trudeaufoundation.net
Profile
Born and raised in the Northwest Territories, Julia Christensen is committed to making a positive and meaningful contribution to northern peoples and places.
Through her doctoral research, Julia explores the link between housing insecurity and homelessness in the context of northern communities. "Housing is integral to human wellbeing," she says. "It defines our access to community, services, work opportunities, and relationships." Julia's doctoral research is rooted in the recognition that housing is a right, and that its tenure is an expression of social inclusion and citizenship. "By allowing a significant portion of our population to live without their most basic needs met," she asserts, "we allow our neighbours to be disenfranchised and excluded in the most fundamental way."
Julia has a broad range of northern research experience, nationally and internationally. In addition to her doctoral studies, she is co-investigator of an International Polar Year project on "The Impacts of Oil and Gas on Peoples of the Arctic Using a Multiple Securities Perspective", contributor to the University of Århus-based "Metropolia Arctica" project in Denmark, and contributor to the University of Tromsø-based "Human Security in the Arctic" initiative in Norway.
Julia is co-director of Northern Students/Northern Research, an initiative to promote community-based research by building bridges between northern student researchers and northern communities; and, co-director of the Canadian Youth Steering Committee's Time Capsule project aimed at presenting life in the North through the eyes of northern youth using photography and other art forms.
As a freelance journalist and consultant, Julia has valuable experience exploring techniques for effective communication and community participation. To broaden the accessibility of her research, Julia works to reach a wider audience with popular writing, visual media such as photography and community research workshops.
Current Residence
Montreal, QuébecLanguages
English, FrenchDegrees
- Master of arts in Geography, University of Calgary
- Bachelor of Arts (double major) in Geography and International Relations, University of British Columbia
Current Research
Homeless in a Homeland: Housing (in)Security and Resource Development in the NWT
The primary aim of this research is to understand the links between economic growth, housing insecurity and homelessness in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Since 1999, the territorial economy has enjoyed unprecedented growth largely due to the emergence of a diamond mining industry and increased oil and gas activity. At the same time, homelessness in the territory has risen sharply. This project explores the meaning and context of homelessness in the North, its connections to housing insecurity, and how this relationship is affected by the dynamics of economic growth.
Past Research
- Metropolia Arctica: Modern urban issues in the circumpolar North
- International Polar Year project: the impacts of oil and gas activity on arctic peoples using a multiple securities perspective
- Political change, indigenous knowledge and resource management in the mackenzie valley, Northwest Territories
Awards
- Canada Graduate Scholarship, doctoral award, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
- Association of canadian universities for northern studies / northern resident scholarship
- First place; Indigenous Peoples specialty group student paper competition, association of american geographers
- Province of Alberta Graduate Scholarship
- Union of Northern Workers Josie Gould Scholarship
Social Engagement
- Co-director, time capsule project, Canadian youth steering committee, International Polar Year
- Co-director, northern students/northern research
- Canadian delegate, ship for world youth program, Japan
- Participant, Canada World Youth/Jeunesse Canada Monde, Quebec-Tunisia
Work Experience
- Teaching assistant, Department of Geography, Mcgill University
- Researcher, human security in the arctic project, University of Tromso, Norway
- Freelance writer/consultant, Canada
- Special projects consultant, Genesis group, Yellowknife
- Features/national editor, The Ubyssey newspaper, university of british columbia
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