A Q&A with University Medal winner Alison Schultz
Congratulations to Anthropology student Alison Schultz on receiving a University Medal for Outstanding Graduate Work (Master’s Level) at Carleton University’s 2026 Convocation.
Alison’s award-winning graduate thesis is titled, “Combustive Realities of Pregnancy Care: The Politics of Risk and Emergency in the Northwest Territories.”
Why did you decide to study the impact of wildfires on pregnancy care in the Northwest Territories for your master’s thesis?
After taking some courses on health policy and environmental health in my undergrad, I had a growing interest in how climate change is impacting health, specifically in the North. At the same time, I was also learning about birthwork out of a personal interest and started following the Northern Birthwork Collective (NBC). When the wildfire evacuations happened in the summer of 2023, I saw NBC was connecting folks with services and reached out about the research project idea. It all sort of snowballed from there and they connected me with Hotiì ts’eeda NWT SPOR Unit (HT) who oversaw my research at the community level. I could not — and would not — have done this work without HT and NBC.
Is there something you learned while undertaking this research project that’s really stuck with you?
Both the positive and negative experiences of those I spoke with have stuck with me, and are stories I keep close to my heart. Pregnancy can already be a time of stress and uncertainty, and the intensity of those feelings came through in every conversation I had. It has made me think very differently about how we handle emergencies and just how much wildfires are impacting health and health care systems. Not only among pregnant people, but all people who need consistent care. Working with HT and NBC was very special and taught me so much. I cannot thank everyone involved enough for their impact on this research and support; it really was a co-created work.
As convocation approaches, is there anything you’ve been reflecting on about your time at Carleton? Any people in particular who helped make your time here special?
My time at Carleton has been amazing. I was very lucky to have a great cohort and supervisors who made the stressful times a bit lighter. I also had the opportunity to work with Professor Barbara Leckie alongside two wonderful research assistants, Carmen and Sam, all of whom I learnt so much from. I’ll always think fondly of this time in my life, all the places this research has taken me and the incredible people I’ve been able to meet because of it.