Lena Dedyukina

Team Member at the United Spirit Nature Network (USNN), dedicated to advancing holistic environmental stewardship through the integration of Indigenous knowledge, community collaboration, and sustainable practices.

community engagement advisor

Lena Dedyukina

Lena is a second-year PhD student at the School of International Development and Global Studies at the University of Ottawa. She is an Indigenous woman belonging to the Yakut (Sakha) ethnicity from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) currently living on the unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory. She has a research background in food security, program evaluation, and community-based participatory research. For her doctoral research project, she examines environmental peacebuilding and Indigenous conflict resolution practices in the North American context, arguing that peaceful nation-to-nation relationship building between Indigenous peoples and nation-states must consider Indigenous ways of knowing and being and the decolonization of settler-colonial power dynamics.

She has a BSocSc degree in Sociology and Indigenous Studies and an MA (thesis) in Geography. For her MA thesis, Lena worked collaboratively with the Paulatuk (Inuvialuit Settlement Region, NWT) community researchers evaluating the cooking circle program funded by Nutrition North Canada through COVID-adapted community-based participatory research.

Since 2018, Lena has participated in several co-curricular activities as a Cultural Programming Assistant at Minwaashin Lodge, a Research Assistant for the First Nations community, helping to establish the Indigenous Ally Network student group at the University of Ottawa, Parliamentary Committee Volunteer in the Office of Elizabeth May (Green Party), and as Outreach Assistant for YKHEMP (Health Effects Monitoring Program) with the Laboratory of Dr. Laurie Chan, Faculty of Science.

These volunteering opportunities, in addition to several others, such as organizing student conferences and being a part of a graduate student journal editorial team, provided her with a breadth of experiences and knowledge that have enhanced her leadership, research, and communication skills. She is a Vice President of the International Development Graduate Student Association (GDVM), managing the organization’s social media platforms and website.

Lena is a mother to three wonderful children, a lifelong learner, educator, musician, photographer, and a little bit of an artist. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, painting, gardening, and reading in her free time.

Join Us in Preserving Nature

Our Mission

USNN’s mission is to empower Indigenous communities and allies to protect, preserve, and sustainably manage natural resources. We strive to achieve this through collaborative initiatives that prioritize cultural integrity, environmental responsibility, and community engagement. By bridging Indigenous leadership with innovative environmental solutions, USNN aims to create lasting impacts that benefit both current and future generations.

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Our Vision

USNN envisions a future where Indigenous wisdom and environmental stewardship guide global sustainable development, fostering a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature.

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Through Nature Conservation and Indigenous Collaboration

These core pillars define our approach, blending community leadership, sustainability, Indigenous wisdom, and advocacy to protect and preserve our natural world.

Indigenous spirit and holistic application

Incorporating Indigenous wisdom and holistic practices into all our environmental efforts.

Nature Advocacy

Advocating for policies and actions that preserve and protect natural ecosystems.

Community-Driven Initiatives

Empowering communities to lead in environmental stewardship through collaboration and collective action.

Building capacity in nature, sustainability, and conservation

Providing the tools and knowledge needed to protect and sustain our natural resources.