UNBC Geography & Rights Action Field School to Guatemala

09/15/2026

GUATEMALA 2027
Announcing our 11th UNBC Geography + Rights Action Field School to Guatemala, May 2027

Watch out for information sessions planned for early October and mid-November 2026

Professor Catherine Nolin and Grahame Russell (Rights Action), co-leaders of the field school, have worked together since 2004 to organize and facilitate these experiential learning opportunities in Guatemala. They co-edited (and co-wrote several sections) of the book TESTIMONIO: Canadian Mining in the Aftermath of Genocides in Guatemala (Between The Lines, 2021).

This Field School is for UNBC students, as well as students from other universities.

We encourage professors and educators to share this information with interested folks.

more info:
https://www.unbc.ca/geography/field-schools/guatemala-2027-field-school

- Catherine & Grahame

(Photo on poster is from the May 2025 field school)

03/10/2026

FRIDAY - March 13th at 12pm PT
Dr. Michael Bakal will be speaking in the Global Friday speaker series this Friday, joining us online. Please see the connection details below and join us!

02/02/2026

Dr. Catherine Nolin is participating in Dalhousie University’s International Development Week event on Thursday to talk about Defensora(2013), her co-authored/co-edited book TESTIMONIO: Canadian Mining in the Aftermath of Genocides (2021) with Grahame Russell of Rights Action, and key colleagues in the fight for justice: lawyers Murray Klippensteins and Cory Wanless.

This event is organized by Ethiopia Davis-Spinks who participated in the 2025 UNBC Geography & Rights Action Field School to Guatemala with Catherine & Grahame.

Scan the QR code and register for the event that starts at 9am PT on Thursday.

02/02/2026

Causes of violence in Guatemala. A sick system of impunity

Read translated Prensa Comunitaria editorial written soon after an explosion of coordinate violence rocked three jails and the capital city on January 17-18, leaving nine police officers dead:

https://mailchi.mp/rightsaction/causes-of-violence-in-guatemala-a-sick-system-of-impunity

02/02/2026

Second killing of a Maya Q’eqchi’ land defender related to mining interests of Quebec-based Central America Nickel

“Our crime was to get the 10 mining exploration and exploitation licenses [of Rio Niquel / Central America Nickel] canceled. The owners may be angry because they may have paid a lot of money and now they want to take our lives”

Read more in a translated Prensa Comunitaria article:
https://mailchi.mp/rightsaction/second-killing-of-a-maya-qeqchi-land-defender-related-to-mining-interests-of-quebec-based-central-america-nickel

10/30/2025

Blueprints of Disruption Podcast interview with Grahame Russell

Canadian mining imperialism, Hudbay Minerals lawsuits and Guatemala's 13 Brave Giants

Hosted by Jessa McLean and Santiago Helou Quintero

Listen here: https://blueprints-of-disruption.captivate.fm/episode/canadian-mining-imperialism-guatemalas-13-brave-giants

read more here: https://mailchi.mp/rightsaction/blueprints-of-disruption-podcast-with-grahame-russell-2

09/08/2025

Congrats to Mackenzie Ostberg, Field School Alum, 2023 & Field School Teaching Assistant in 2025!

We are pleased to welcome two recent GEES MA graduates to the department in their new positions as Research Associates: Mackenzie Ostberg & Helena Scanlon.

Mackenzie Ostberg is working on the SSHRC-funded project “Indigenous Peoples Observatory Network” (IPON) that works with Indigenous Peoples globally to understand how the Indigenous climate-food-health nexus is affected by climate change, and further the design and implementation of co-produced adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Specifically, Mackenzie will continue to work with communities in the Robson Valley, BC, and in mountain regions elsewhere to examine these issues.

More info here: https://www.envchange.com/members