Author

Jenessa Joy Klukas, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Jenessa Joy Klukas is an education/child welfare reporter. She’s Xaxli’p and Métis and grew up in Kitimat B.C., on Haisla territory. She currently resides in Songhees and Esquimalt territories. She graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in writing, specializing in creative non-fiction. She worked in childcare for eleven years and is passionate about ensuring that children are protected, educated and nurtured fairly and with compassion.

Jenessa Joy Klukas,'s Latest Articles

A silhouette of a Cascadia employee holding up a piece of seaweed that glows a golden yellow in the late afternoon sunshine.

Seaweed sovereignty: Cultivating kelp resurgence in W̱SÁNEĆ waters through new commercial farm

By Jenessa Joy Klukas, Local Journalism Initiative reporter & Philip McLachlan ● Features ● April 1, 2022

The seaweed farm partnership has more people out on the water than in previous years. It’s creating jobs, and nurturing growth within the community.

Three book covers are shown side-by-side. From left to right, they read: river woman, by Katherena Vermette; Five Little Indians, by Michelle Good; Split Tooth, by Tanya Tagaq.

Decolonizing your grown-up bookshelf

By Jenessa Joy Klukas, Local Journalism Initiative reporter ● Vancouver Island ● March 25, 2022

We’ve compiled a list of five books that feature Indigenous authors and illustrators

‘Honouring and celebrating stories’: Emerging Coast Salish artist inspired by community

By Jenessa Joy Klukas, Local Journalism Initiative reporter ● Vancouver Island ● March 22, 2022

Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun, from Snuneymuxw First Nation, describes art as a transformative journey – one that helped root himself into his community, and finding himself and his voice through art.

A 7-story all-glass side of the Royal Roads Museum, with trees reflected in them at the bottom of the image

How “Design Thinking” will help the BC Royal Museum Change

By Jenessa Joy Klukas, Local Journalism Initiative reporter ● Vancouver Island ● March 15, 2022

The Design Thinking Challenge is a collaboration between 10 universities in both Canada and the United States, where students are given a challenge to try and solve through research and conversation.

Decolonizing your teen’s bookshelf

By Jenessa Joy Klukas, Local Journalism Initiative reporter ● Vancouver Island ● February 25, 2022

We’ve compiled a list of young adult fiction books by Indigenous authors.

A sunburst of light filters through large, tall cedars in the Wildwood Ecoforest.

Indigenous and Western forest education find harmony at the Wildwood ecoforest

By Jenessa Joy Klukas, Local Journalism Initiative reporter ● Vancouver Island ● February 18, 2022

Educators at the Wildwood ecoforest have partnered with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers in an effort to blend Indigenous teachings with Western science.