McVea, Holly
BSc Honours, MSc NRES - Biology (in progress)
Biography
As the Manager of Indigenous Initiatives, Holly McVea leads the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII) in managing strategic projects that promote Indigenization and decolonization across curricula, policy, and procedures. A key focus of Holly’s role includes restructuring the OII to introduce new positions aimed at supporting Indigenous graduate students, advancing Indigenous-focused research, and strengthening connections with regional campuses and Indigenous communities. Holly collaborates with staff, faculty, and community partners to support initiatives that integrate Indigenous perspectives into the academic and operational framework of the university. Her responsibilities also include guiding faculty in curriculum development, consulting on inclusive policy reform, and fostering cultural exchange to deepen relationships with Indigenous communities.
Research and Expertise
Holly was a researcher in plant phytochemical anti-cancer compound production and is currently researching Indigenous traditional medicine conservation in aquatic ecosystems. She is a graduate student in NRES MSc, Biology at UNBC. In her current research, she is working with the Swan River First Nation to re-vegetate their industry-disturbed steam ecosystems with native medicinal flora. Simultaneously, she is investigating the site and plant decontamination/phytoremediation potential of Bebb's willow/diamond willow (Salix bebbiana) to inform future re-vegetation efforts in the Swan River Watershed. Her project not only supports the physical wellness of the Swan River First Nation, but helps to empower the Nation, as the aim of the project is to create cultural use sites for community members to live and learn on the land while practicing their ancestral language, ceremony, and ways of knowing.
- Biodiversity/Ecology
- Culture
- Environment
- Indigenous Health
- Indigenous Peoples
- English
- French