Centering Community Voices in Impact and Engagement

About

Name	Etana Tam
Title	First Nations Engagement Manager
Company	First Nations Fisheries Council of BC
Grad year	2023
Program	Bachelor of Science in Food and Resource Economics

Following graduation from the UBC Bachelor of Science in Food and Resource Economics program in 2023, Etana Tam transitioned into a position with the First Nations Fisheries Council of BC. During her time in LFS, Etana explored a wide range of academic interests and opportunities that helped shape her path, ultimately guiding her toward work grounded in community perspectives and incorporating Traditional Knowledge into decision-making.

Today, Etana brings that same commitment to her role as First Nations Engagement Manager at the First Nations Fisheries Council of BC. She supports initiatives that uplift Indigenous perspectives and contribute to healthier lands, waters, and communities across the province. In a recent conversation, Etana reflected on her path after LFS, shared the importance of embracing curiosity and diverse coursework, and offered thoughtful advice for students starting their own university journeys.

When it comes to your future, what are you most excited about? 

There are many things I’m excited for, so it’s hard to pick just one – but an overarching theme is that I’m excited for the opportunity to contribute to healthy and resilient environments and communities. There is really incredible work happening across the province, and I feel very fortunate to learn from communities and take part in some of that work to care for our oceans. I hope to one day contribute to the development of an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area or support marine planning efforts in BC.

How did you navigate the transition from university to the workforce? Do you have any advice for students preparing to graduate? 

There were a few challenges when I transitioned from school into a full-time career. I’m sure many people can relate, but one of the biggest challenges was simply getting into the workforce and the anxiety that comes with finding a job after graduation. I was also surprised to find that friendships and community look different, as there is less flexibility throughout the week to meet with others. For those of you who are also nearing the end of undergrad, I would encourage you to extend yourself some grace during this period as you look for a job, and to lean on your network to see what opportunities might be out there. Also, I know this isn’t an option for everyone, but if you’re able to, I’d really encourage you to enjoy the time between graduation and starting full-time work. It’s a rare period where you don’t have the responsibilities or constraints that come with school or a job. 

Considering your undergraduate years, was there anything you did or experienced that has helped you to set yourself up for your career? 

In my fourth year, I took LFS302B, an impact evaluation analytics course that was originally meant to take place in Indonesia. Although the pandemic prevented us from travelling, I still had the opportunity to work with an Indigenous community there to learn from and integrate Traditional Knowledge into our impact assessment of their project. It was an incredible experience, and it shaped what I envisioned my future career to be. I realized how much I enjoyed work that centers community perspectives and incorporates Traditional Knowledge into decision-making. That interest has stayed with me and is reflected in my current role, where I’m grateful to continue doing similar work. 

Getting to know my professors and taking advantage of office hours was also really helpful. Since my program was fairly small (a cohort of about 20 students) I had the opportunity to dive deeper into the material and at times, challenge the ideas that were being taught. Building those relationships with professors also made it much easier to secure references after graduation which is really handy. 

What advice would you give to someone who is just beginning their university journey?

Make the most of your electives and don’t feel like you have to rush through university! Some of my favourite courses weren’t even part of my program, classes like religion, climate justice, and creative writing, but they completely opened up my perspective and challenged the way I thought. For instance, my climate justice course was eye opening as an economics major, helping me see the gaps in traditional economic theory and reshape some of my own ideas. Those experiences ended up being some of the most memorable and valuable parts of my university career.