Sarah Perry, MA

Meet the Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Area(s) of Atlantic Study: Newfoundland & Labrador (Canada)

Academic Background

Sarah is a History PhD Candidate at McMaster University, specializing in environmental history. She has an MA in History and an Honours BA in History & Peace Studies. Her doctoral research examines how environment, race, and cultural identity shaped Newfoundland’s mining communities in late-19th to early-20th century Canada. This research also utilizes folklore and storytelling as primary sources to re-centre a traditionally industrial/labour-focused history as a community-based project. Outside of her dissertation, Sarah is a graduate student researcher on the SSHRC-funded Mining Danger Project.

Research Interests

Outside of her doctoral project, Sarah is interested in research relating to:

• Indigenous Studies

  History of Atlantic Canada

  History of Witchcraft

  History of Nature & the Body

  Environmental Folklore & Mythology

She has written for the Network in Canadian History & Environment (NiCHE), Kayak Magazine, H-Net, and other online journals such as Historically Modern, on themes such as environmental history, mining history, and Indigenous culture.

Why Written in the Waves?

Beyond her academic research, the Atlantic is close to Sarah’s heart. She is forever proud of her Newfoundland culture and considers the East Coast her home. In a field that often neglects Atlantic history, Sarah wanted to create a space where people cared about the local communities of the Atlantic. She believes in the power of women and underrepresented communities in higher academia, and as homage to her Indigenous (Mi’kmaw) heritage, advocates for research methodologies that extend beyond the traditional academic definition. To Sarah, research is not a process, but also sacred and beautiful.

Contact Sarah: