Dreaming up a Just and Sustainable Future

I grew up in Colombia, where I witnessed social and environmental injustices that shaped my commitment to sustainability and social equity. I later moved to Canada to pursue higher education, studying Human Geography, Environmental Studies, Ecological Restoration, and Community Planning. Over the years, I have gained professional experience as a Campaigner, Community-Based Researcher, and Communications Director. During my time on these lands, I have had the privilege of working with a range of organizations dedicated to addressing social and environmental injustice, leading community engagement projects focused on youth empowerment, water governance, and Indigenous land-based education.

My professional journey began on the unceded territories of the Nuu-chah-nulth peoples, where I spent nearly a decade advancing environmental justice with Friends of Clayoquot Sound. Working alongside Elders and Knowledge Keepers, I helped raise awareness about industrial impacts on land and water, co-creating events that mobilized communities around ecosystem protection and culturally grounded economic futures.

My commitment to land stewardship deepened through my work with the Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty. In this role, I supported governance processes for wild salmon conservation, helped coordinate the Wild Salmon Caravan, and uplifted land-based education through the Indigenous Food and Freedom School. I also contributed to arts- and culture-based engagement, including organizing the Clayoquot Salmon Festival and participating in the Koksilah Music Festival.

As a planner-in-training specializing in Indigenous Community Planning, I have developed a deep appreciation for culturally grounded collaboration and long-term strategic thinking. I have seen firsthand how integrating culture and care for the land strengthens community-building efforts. While advocating for environmental protection on the coast, my friend Joe Martin—a Nuu-chah-nulth master carver—introduced me to the teachings of “ʔiisaak” (Respect) and “ʔiisaaksinḥiʔin” (Observe, appreciate, and act accordingly). These teachings have become central to my planning practice and to how I approach life.

This is what drew me to Indigenous Community Planning at UBC. I wanted to learn how to contribute to processes rooted in respect, reciprocity, and long-term nation-building—work that goes beyond stopping damage and instead supports communities in repairing, restoring, and reimagining what is possible for future generations.

How are you applying the skills you learned through your studies at SCARP?

My studies at UBC have given me a framework for approaching my work through relational accountability, community-driven processes, and land-based understanding. My time at UBC helped me integrate theoretical knowledge into practical planning tools such as community engagement design, situational analysis, and culturally grounded visioning processes.

Today, I use those skills to support Indigenous-led initiatives focused on self-determination, environmental justice, and food sovereignty. Whether I am coordinating governance work to protect wild salmon, helping facilitate land-based education programs, or supporting community festivals and cultural events, I draw on the principles of ethical engagement, decolonizing methodologies, and collaborative planning that I learned at UBC.

Most importantly, UBC strengthened my ability to listen deeply, build relationships, and co-create processes that reflect community values and aspirations. These skills have become central to how I support Indigenous Nations in envisioning healthier, culturally rooted futures for their people and territories.

What advice would you give a student entering SCARP?

The advice I would give any one in life is the same advice I give myself which is to follow these simple five rules for life:

1. Follow your dreams
2. Work helping people and the planet
3. Say what you think
4. Cultivate relationships
5. Let yourself be happier.

I would tell any new student entering this program to stay grounded in what brought them here in the first place. Follow your dreams—even the ones that feel too ambitious or uncertain. This field attracts people who care deeply, so let your passion guide the kind of work you want to do and the communities you hope to serve.

Remember that planning is ultimately about helping people and caring for the planet. If you keep those two commitments at the centre of your learning, your decisions—both academic and professional—will feel purposeful and aligned.

Say what you think. Your perspectives, questions, and lived experiences enrich classroom conversations and community partnerships. Speak honestly, listen humbly, and allow your voice to grow.

Cultivate relationships with your peers and the land. You will learn from your peers as they will become collaborators, mentors, and lifelong friends who walk alongside you long after the degree ends. Having a strong community makes this program super fun.

Finally, let yourself be happy. Enjoy the process, celebrate your growth, and make space for moments of joy. This journey is as transformative personally as it is academically—allow yourself to feel that fully.