Department of History

Fitzpatrick is a historian whose research examines the intersection of colonialism, environmentalism, and the impact of forest fires across Turtle Island (North America). Focusing on the Syilx Okanagan and Secwepemc nations, spanning sections of central British Columbia and Washington State, her work traces the history of Indigenous land stewardship, its disruption through colonial processes, and the environmental consequences that have followed. A member of the Syilx nation, Fitzpatrick employs a community-engaged approach to document under-researched narratives and Indigenous epistemologies. Her research seeks to advocate for sustainable environmental practices informed by long held knowledge held within oral traditions.