The Public Stories Lab Presents: "Quantum Entanglements and Critical Indigenous Fish Philosophy: looking back on 50 years of Critical Indigenous scholarship on science, philosophy, and fish in Canada and the USA"

Virtual Event: November 6, 2024
From 11:00-12:30 pm EST
Public Stories Lab

Please join us for an enlightening dialogue with fish philosopher, artist, and activist-scholar Zoe Todd.

This talk will explore the trajectories that guide my team's 'Critical Indigenous Fish Philosophy', starting with the fish philosophers that inform my current work. First and foremost, my late stepfather, Wayne Roberts, who was a Red River Métis scientist who passionately defended fish, amphibians, and all manner of creatures in his career in Alberta and ignited my passion for fish science when I was a child. I will also share how the work of founders of the discipline of Indigenous Studies, including Vine Deloria Jr and Leroy Little Bear, among others, shape my current thinking about fish, sovereignty and my team's efforts to build an anti-imperialist prairie fish science in our homelands. 

We encourage attendees to visit the website Critical Indigenous Fish Philosophy. 

Questions? Contact Viridiana Colosio-Martinez: vcolosi1@umbc.edu

Presenter Bio:

Zoe Todd (Citizen, Manitoba Métis Federation) is a Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Indigenous Governance and Freshwater Fish Futures at Simon Fraser University. They are a fish philosopher, artist, and activist-scholar from Alberta working towards establishing better ways to honour collective human obligations to fish in the prairies. They are also a co-founder of the Institute for Freshwater Fish Futures (2018), which is an interdisciplinary collective of Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, scientists, lawyers, architects, journalists, historians, advocates, and trouble-makers working to acknowledge our collective responsibilities to fish and water across plural watersheds and homelands in Canada and internationally. 

This event is being hosted as a part of the 2024-2025 Launch of the Public Stories lab which includes a events Co-sponsored by The Division of Professional Studies and Community Leadership Programs, The Shriver Center, The Minor in Critical Disability Studies, Department of Geography and Environmental Systems, Department of American Studies, Language, Literacy, and Culture Doctoral Program, Dresher Center Faculty group on Digital Storytelling.

For more info on how to RSVP and join the on-line event via WebEx, visit:

Come together with LHGSA to honor Día De los Muertos. We will decorate special picture frames to honor and cherish the memories of loved ones who have passed. There will be art supplies and food/snacks! 

When? Friday, Nov 1st 1-2PM 

Where? Commons 318

Meet Emma Swartling ‘10, anthropology, prenatal and pediatric chiropractor and owner of Lumos Chiropractic in Tacoma, Washington. She was drawn to UMBC to experience the East Coast after being raised on the West Coast. Emma combined her interests in cultural and biological anthropology, pre-medicine, and working with children to shape her career as a chiropractor. Take it away, Emma!

Q: What’s one essential thing you’d want another Retriever to know about you? 

A: Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), I started college with the intent to major in pre-medicine but ended up falling in love with anthropology. I was fortunate to find a career that allowed me to combine many of my multiple interests by following the path to chiropractic. Chiropractic has allowed me to use many of the skills in empathy and understanding that cultural anthropology teaches, and biological anthropology offers insights into human anatomy and function. It was the Chesapeake Bay Retriever that initially sparked my interest into learning more about UMBC. I love dogs and spent my childhood involved with dog training and showing, as well as teaching younger children involved in the same program. This is how I learned I enjoy working with children.

Q: Tell us about your current job. What do you enjoy most about it?

A: I am a prenatal and pediatric chiropractor and own my practice in Washington state. The best part about my work is being part of the village that supports people during the huge transition periods of pregnancy, postpartum, and childhood.

Q: Tell us about your primary WHY, and how it led you to UMBC.

A: What brought me to UMBC was the beginning of my love to travel and explore. After finishing the first two years of college in my home state, I decided to transfer to the East Coast to visit a part of our country that I had never seen. The initial reasons UMBC stood out are superficial: Maryland was a central location to explore north and south along the East Coast; the Maryland State flag is amazing; and most importantly, I wanted to say I went to a school where the mascot is a unique dog breed like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever!

I wanted an adventure and to try something new. I can honestly say, when my airplane landed at BWI in the dead of winter, I started to question my decision. Coming from the lush, always green PNW it looked like I was about to land in a brown and desolate land. I grew to appreciate the seasons while in Maryland and was awed by the abruptness of changes in weather. My first semester was timid—I was finding my footing and trying to discover my place. There were other students and professors who helped me make the most of the next three semesters, who helped me step out of my comfort zone and learn more about myself. I love the small community of UMBC, the ease in moving around a campus that felt both big and compact. 

Pictured left: Emma in a treatment room at her chiropractic practice, Lumos Chiropractic

Q: Tell us about the people who helped you grow at UMBC and how they helped shape your next steps.

A: UMBC helped to shape “my why.” I really enjoyed learning from many of the professors in the anthropology department, in particular a former professor, Seth Messinger, who taught many of my favorite courses including a course on Medical Anthropology. Anthropology courses that combined the study of other cultures and their medicinal practices were particularly engaging to me. I began to imagine my future career—what direction would anthropology take me?

My first semester was timid—I was finding my footing and trying to discover my place. There were other students and professors who helped me make the most of the next three semesters, who helped me step out of my comfort zone and learn more about myself.

Emma Swartling ’10

After graduating from UMBC, I took some time to travel and consider my career opportunities. It was when my chiropractor cousin suggested I come listen to a talk hosted by a chiropractic school that I began to consider it as a career. The presenters shared about their unique experience opening a chiropractic clinic abroad, living in a country other than their own, and interacting with and helping a small community that I started to put the pieces together. I could combine my many interests: cultural anthropology and working with different people, cultures, populations, pre-medicine, and biological anthropology by working with bodies, studying the human form and its function, and be able to work with children, support childhood development, and help to grow a healthier community. 

Q: What’s your favorite part of being a part of Retriever Nation?

A: I really appreciated UMBC’s focus on academics and on inclusion. Also, I found an amazing group of people at UMBC who were kind, generous, and fun in the fraternity of Phi Mu. Some of those friendships led to future travel and experiences that helped to shape my career choice.

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.