- M.Sc. in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2023
- B.A. In Geography (Sustainable Resource Management Stream) and Indigenous/Xwulmuxw Studies, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo BC, 2020
Bio
Aleesha Jones completed her M.Sc. as an Indigenous student within the Integrated Studies of Land and Food Systems program at UBC in 2023. She is currently an Indigenous Student Transition & Engagement Coordinator at the University of the Fraser Valley. She is Interior Salish from the Nlaka’pamux Nation in British Columbia. Aleesha was raised on Coast Salish territory and completed her undergraduate degree at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo.
In her undergraduate degree Aleesha majored in both Indigenous Studies and Geography (specializing in Sustainable Resource Management). This is where her passion for interdisciplinary work began, at UBC Aleesha continued to focus on interdisciplinary research.
Aleesha’s thesis work revolves around addressing and preventing modern colonization within research relationships between Indigenous communities and non-indigenous research institutions, with particular focus to food related research. Aleesha chose this area of research based on her previous and ongoing work with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) within the Science and Technology Branch. Aleesha is a research affiliate with AAFC and as such has been supported in her research.
Aleesha’s studies have been supported by the UBC Aboriginal Graduate Fellowship.