Miguel Sioui

Miguel is a passionate Indigenous land and water stewardship researcher whose life and career are dedicated to weaving Indigenous knowledge systems with Western scientific approaches to confront the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. A central focus of his work is advancing the role of Indigenous Peoples and their stewardship practices, highlighting their critical role as stewards of the land since time immemorial. He emphasizes the invaluable contributions of Indigenous communities in shaping sustainable environmental practices, advocating for the recognition and integration of Indigenous leadership in the global conservation movement. Through his work, Miguel seeks to elevate Indigenous voices in environmental governance, ensuring that their knowledge systems are not only preserved but also actively shape the future of environmental policy and practice.

Miguel’s work is deeply informed by his identity as a member of the Huron-Wendat First Nation, and he holds a deeply personal responsibility, rooted in his cultural and family teachings, to act as a cultural translator and boundary spanner between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. He is committed to creating pathways for enhancing cross-cultural understanding, ensuring that Indigenous perspectives are not only included but lead the way in global conservation efforts and environmental governance. Beyond his scholarly contributions, Miguel sees his work as a continuation of his Huron-Wendat tradition of cultural diplomacy, emphasizing the need for meaningful relationship-building between Indigenous and non-Indigenous thought communities, based on trust and respect. His vision is to create inclusive and resilient conservation strategies that honor Indigenous voices while addressing the most complex global environmental issues.