David Krug (he/him) 

Hello! I'm David Krug, a graduate student in the Restoration Futures Lab at the University of Victoria. I come from mixed European settler descent and hold a keen interest in community-led restoration, native seeds, environmental education, and mine reclamation. For the past three years, I've lived and worked in the so-called Yukon, actively supporting community-led restoration initiatives alongside Yukon Seed & Restoration Inc.
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In my research journey, I aim to delve into understanding how our perception of socio-ecological systems and native plants influences restorative land actions. Embracing an imperfect and heart-centered approach, I acknowledge my role as a settler scholar. I firmly believe in the transformative power and significance of building meaningful relationships, considering it a cornerstone of all my endeavors. I look forward to connecting with inspiring individuals in this field.

Yukon Seed & Restoration Inc. 

Yukon Seed and Restoration Inc. (YSR) is a Yukon First Nation owned company that specializes in restoration and reclamation of disturbed sites using locally sourced native seed and plant materials. YSR seeks to find creative and custom-designed solutions to reduce impacts on ecological and socio-political systems. YSR’s partnerships affirms the connection between people and the planet through collaboration connecting scientists and Indigenous knowledge keepers. By working closely with First Nations, landowners, developers, and regulatory agencies, YSR balance the needs of their clients and communities to deliver sustainable, long lasting, and resilient solutions that lift impacted ecosystems into better health and towards self-sufficiency. Reclamation is an ever-changing process. YSR employ the principles of adaptive management and reciprocity to develop site specific prescriptions that incorporate Indigenous and scientific knowledge to develop tailored solutions. YSR is led by youth and elders and seeks every opportunity to exchange knowledge and share opportunities with the people whose land their projects take place on. 

Visit their website here!​

Academic Supervision 

Nancy Shackelford

Hello! I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Environmental Studies and the Academic Director of the Restoration of Natural Systems Program at the University of Victoria. I was born and raised in West Texas, in traditional Jumano and Apache territory. My experience with restoration is diverse, from the scrubby woodlands of Texas to the grasslands of Colorado, to the amazing cedar and fir forests on our local coastline. I have a deep, abiding, unshakeable love for data, knowledge, and leveraging our shared work to continually enhance restoration outcomes. I gravitate towards terrestrial restoration in experimental and observational science, but am continually expanding my integration of the social, human sides of restoration. 

Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles

I am Black/Ojibwe/settler and am a citizen of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. My research interests are multifaceted, including Indigenous geographies/epistemologies, human-environmental interaction, political ecology, and tribal cultural resource preservation/protection. I’ve served in a variety of leadership roles in the Indigenous Peoples Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers (AAG); I am also a member of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA), and the Canadian Association of Geographers. (CAG). I also serve as a member of the editorial board of the journal Native American and Indigenous Studies. ​

Community Advisory Committee

Coming Soon!
We work on the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples. The Songhees and Esquimalt, as well as the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples have deep, historical relationships with the land that continue to this day. Most of our group are uninvited settlers here. We are committed to deepening our understanding of how we can assist in the movement of reconciliation, dismantling the systems that continue to cause harm, and honoring the traditional stewards that have shaped this land.