Rhea Daniels is a fourth-year Environment and Resource Studies student who is currently in her third term at GreenHouse. Having lived at St. Pauls in her first year of university and then having volunteered at an organic farm near her home, when she first heard about GreenHouse and a call for students to get involved with the Campus Food Systems project (an opportunity presented by Meal Exchange), Rhea was excited to get involved.
“I love the atmosphere of GreenHouse,” Rhea says.
"It’s inspiring to be around people with awesome ideas, something you don’t always find in the classroom. I’ve learned so much through fascinating conversations that have sparked new ideas for me.”
One new idea that began to grow in Rhea came about after taking a course in Native peoples and Public Policy. She decided she wanted to use her final eight-month residence at GreenHouse on a project that would benefit the Aboriginal community.
Originally, Rhea’s idea was to increase literature authored by people who self-identify as Aboriginal, but in her conversations with professors and members of the Aboriginal community, “people hinted that because I am not Aboriginal myself, it could be seen as intruding. That wasn’t my intention and there is no point to that.” Rhea also realized that her initial idea had been too broad in scope, and while she was slightly disappointed that her first idea was not feasible, she quickly realized that there were other related areas that were both more doable and respectful of the Aboriginal community.
While her idea is still a work in progress — as many ideas are only one month into the term — she plans to look at alliances between settler and Aboriginal peoples, and to look at finding where the gaps lie and where recommendations can be provided. She then hopes to use this information to possibly start a venture next term that helps to fill in these gaps.
“My project was so broad that I needed to talk with people,” says Rhea. “At GreenHouse, I know I have a group I can talk with in weekly sessions, and it’s a good way to get quick feedback, as well as to take part in activities that relate to my project.”
"A really important part of the journey at GreenHouse is finding out what you are passionate about. It’s okay to be at whatever stage you are at.”
Rhea recently became a recipient of the Fall 2015 Social Impact Fund, and received $1,000 towards the transcribing, editing, and publishing of the Narratives. The goal is to launch the book at the St. Paul's Pow Wow in 2016.
- by Susan Fish
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