A biologist workplace becomes home
Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Jan 05/01) - When Lois Harwood first became a resource biologist for the Joint Management Committee in 1988, she began to earn the respect of her peers.
Her contributions led to improvements in fisheries co-management between various departments and committees in the Inuvialuit settlement region.
It also earned her the 2000 Inuvialuit/Canada Fisheries Joint Management Committee Co-Operative Management Award.
"This award in fact really reflects the work and the cooperation -- and the skills of many people all working together," said the mother of two young daughters.
During her four years with the JMC, Harwood, 44, helped shaped the committee in its early years.
Outside the scientific realms, she was able to help build relationships from Inuvialuit and Gwich'in hunters and trappers, as well as scientist and managers.
She played an integral role in the creation of the Alaska Inuvialuit Beluga Whale Committee.
On the scientific front, she co-ordinated the Beaufort Sea beluga workshop.
When she joined the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in 1992, she contributed to the community-based char fishing plans in Holman and Paulatuk.
She continued with whale research.
She also planned and coordinated the most complex and extensive aerial survey of beluga whale population in the Canadian Beaufort Sea.
It is research she began doing in Inuvik in 1980 during the summer months while working for oil companies while living in B.C.
She moved to Inuvik, to be closer to her work. She married Ruben Charlie of Paulatuk.
"It allows us for doing a lot more projects," said Harwood.
Moving to the North also allowed her to gain more knowledge from the hunters and trappers.
"We're joining scientific and local knowledge. I believe that living here helps that process," she said.
