Colton Van Der Minne

M.Sc. | he/him/his

Hello! My name is Colton. I am from ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) First Nation on my father’s side, and of settler descent on my mother’s side. I live in Tofino, found within the ḥaḥuułi (territory) of our ḥawiih (chiefs) on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. I am excited to be conducting my work in partnership with ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ and Ha’oom Fisheries Society, who support and facilitate the rights-based fisheries of five nuučaan̓uɫ (Nuu-chah-nulth) Nations including ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ.

Being situated on the coast, and with the ḥaḥuułi including numerous lakes and streams, the waters and their inhabitants have always been central to ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ lifeways. I aim to bring my Nation’s passion, love, and respect for these waters and beings into my research. My priority throughout my work is to uphold ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ governance and knowledge while contributing to my community’s wellbeing. I have also been deeply connected to, and fascinated by, the ocean all my life. It is where I am happiest, and where I find peace. The intersection of these goals and interests has taken me towards ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ fisheries research. I began down this path during my bachelor’s degree in marine biology, completed in 2023, which included an honours thesis with the Centre and Ha’oom.

I am immensely grateful to be pursuing my passion and interests in a way that supports my community. However, I also recognize that the academe in which I participate is a colonial institution with a history of discrimination and violence towards my Nation and many other Indigenous Peoples. With these factors in mind, it is both my joy to take part in this work and my responsibility to conduct it ethically and equitably.

Email: c.vanderminne[at]oceans.ubc.ca