Dr. Walner Osna

Biography

Walner Osna is a doctoral candidate in sociology at the University of Ottawa, specializing in social movements, ecotourism, land grabbing, and food sovereignty. He is currently collaborating as a co-applicant on a research project focusing on food sovereignty in northern Haiti, funded by Canada's Institute of Health Research. Additionally, he participates in a partnership research project with Canadian and Haitian researchers regarding land grabbing and peasant resistance in northern Haiti, supported by Carleton University's International Research Seed Grants. Osna has completed his master's thesis, which combines ecotourism and peasant resistance. He holds a degree in sociology from the Faculty of Human Sciences at the State University of Haiti. His professional background includes work as a social facilitator at the Karl Levêque Cultural Institute from 2015 to 2018, and previous roles in social justice organizations, including the Kolektif Jistis Min. Active in various academic and social organizations, he served as president of the Graduate Student Association in Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Ottawa and has been involved in multiple research and community development initiatives across Haiti. Osna is also a contributor to academic discussions on the intersections of food security, gender, and health issues affecting Haiti, and is a member of multiple academic and activist groups focused on extractivism and migration.

Research Interests

Experience