Doctoral Defense Announcement – Laurence Boudreault, PhD Student in Forestry
You are cordially invited to attend the doctoral defense of Laurence Boudreault, a PhD student in Forestry, which will take place on Wednesday, December 3, at 1:30 PM in the Hydro-Québec Room (1210) of the Charles-Eugène-Marchand Pavilion, Université Laval.
For those who wish to attend online, here is the connection link: https://ulaval.zoom.us/j/8156465253?pwd=TkRaUFhtQVNxd0s1djdCdkIzaXcrdz09
Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 1:30 PM
Charles-Eugène-Marchand Pavilion
Hydro-Québec Room, 1210
1030 Avenue de la Médecine
Université Laval
Jury Members
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Chair: Éric R. Labelle – Faculty of Forestry, Geography, and Geomatics, Université Laval
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Research Supervisor: Alexis Achim – Faculty of Forestry, Geography, and Geomatics, Université Laval
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Co-supervisor: Maude Flamand-Hubert – Faculty of Forestry, Geography, and Geomatics, Université Laval
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UL Examiner: Alexandre Morin-Bernard – Faculty of Forestry, Geography, and Geomatics, Université Laval
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UL Examiner: Olivier Villemaire-Côté – Faculty of Forestry, Geography, and Geomatics, Université Laval
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External Examiner: Stephen Wyatt – School of Forestry, University of Moncton (Edmundston campus)
Thesis Title: Maalhakws (Black Ash) at the Heart of Ndakina: Cultural, Ecological, and Forestry Perspectives in a W8banaki Context for the Future of a Threatened Species
The black ash (Fraxinus nigra), or maalhakws in the W8banaki language, holds a central place in W8banakiak knowledge, identity, and daily life, particularly through basketry. This practice is grounded in a deep relationship with the land and the tree itself, which is regarded not merely as a raw material but as a living being carrying a shared history. Today, this species is severely threatened by the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), an invasive insect that causes rapid declines in ash populations across North America.
This thesis examines the challenges and prospects for the future of black ash and basketry within the W8banaki context, with the overarching goal of supporting the Nation in its adaptation to this crisis. Using an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of anthropology, wood analysis, and ecology, it explores: (1) the relationship W8banakiak maintain with black ash and its role in stewardship; (2) the wood properties that make the species irreplaceable for basketry; and (3) the growth conditions that promote high-quality wood.
By integrating these dimensions, the thesis proposes pathways for forest management that are both culturally meaningful and ecologically appropriate, contributing to the revitalization of black ash, the transmission of traditional knowledge, and the territorial self-determination of the W8banakiak.
Sincerely,