Janelle Kuntz is Senior Researcher at the Firelight Group. She is a settler-Canadian with German and English heritage and is grateful to reside on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Janelle holds a Master of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Victoria with a focus on Indigenous women’s agency in environmental assessments. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology from the University of Alberta with a focus on Indigenous policy.

Janelle works with the Socio-Economic Research team at Firelight and has cross-sector experience conducting community-based research for traditional knowledge and use studies, health research, IBA negotiation support, socio-economic impact assessments, and more. The work she supports is often related to Indigenous rights within the context of resource extraction, where she is guided by community-led principles that support self-determination. 

Janelle is thankful to support numerous Indigneous governments, Nations, communities, and organizations across Turtle Island.