Meet 2022 ISSP Scholar Daniel Nychuk

Starting a new master’s program can be nerve-wracking. Daniel Nychuck sees the Indigenous Summer Scholars Program (ISSP) as one way to ease the transition. A Métis man and recent BComm (Honours) graduate, Daniel begins The University of Winnipeg’s Master’s in Development Practice: Indigenous Development (MDP) program this fall.

“In the ISSP I hope to build a foundation of knowledge and relationships to add to my current education and skillset to help strengthen my understanding of what it takes to be a graduate level student both in and out of the classroom,” Daniel said. “I have had the opportunity to try and learn new things during the workshops that I have not had the chance to do during my undergraduate degree. I look forward to using these useful skills and practices moving forward in my future endeavours.”

Daniel learned about the ISSP while scrolling Instagram, where he saw a post advertising the Manitoba Food History Project to potential summer scholars. At the time, Daniel was waiting for his admission decision from the MDP program. “I felt it would be a great opportunity to network, meet other Indigenous Scholars and learn more about the research process,” Daniel said. He applied and was admitted.

Having grown up on his family’s farm, Daniel is in many ways familiar with food production in Manitoba, making him a perfect fit. The Manitoba Food History Project is a SSHRC funded oral history project that aims to produce a comprehensive history of food manufacturing, production, retailing and consumption in Manitoba from 1870 to the present day. Team members include Dr. Janis Thiessen, the principal investigator and a Professor of History at the University of Winnipeg, Kimberly Moore, Adjunct Professor and Program Co-Ordinator at the University of Winnipeg Oral History Centre, and Kent Davies, Adjunct Professor and Audio Technician at the UW Oral History Centre.

Daniel is looking forward to seeing the results of his time on this project archived at Oral History Centre and showcased on Preserves, the Manitoba Food History Project’s podcast. “I am excited to learn how to go through the entire process of turning an interview into a properly archived document through transcription, summary, and proper documentation. The opportunity to turn my work into a podcast is also something that excites me this summer as it will give me the chance to learn how to properly edit audio, research, and cite all work at a post graduate studies level,” Daniel said.

“I have enjoyed all the workshops within the program that have given me the opportunity to learn proper research, etiquette, and communication skills that I can use toward my MDP studies,” Daniel said. Daniel’s end goal is to contribute to sustainable Indigenous development and aid in capacity building projects within Indigenous communities. He looks forward to combining his background in commerce with the skills and knowledge gained through the Master’s in Development Practice: Indigenous Development program to achieve that end.

Daniel (second from the left) is pictured in front of the Manitoba Food History Project’s food truck with the other team members: Dr. Janis Thiessen (far left), Kent Davies (second from the right), and Kimberly Moore (far right).