Third annual Indigenous Research Day showcases research initiatives and community collaborations focused on Indigenous knowledge and issues
The McMaster Indigenous Research Institute hosted its third annual Indigenous Research Day on Nov. 13, 2024. The event gathered Indigenous researchers, students, faculty and community members to showcase Indigenous scholarship, research, methodologies and unique knowledge-sharing approaches.
Held at CIBC Hall, the event aimed to centre Indigenous voices and foster academic relationships. The event featured speakers, panelists and facilitators of Indigenous heritage representing diverse fields of study and traditional knowledge.
The event featured speakers, panelists and facilitators of Indigenous heritage representing diverse fields of study and traditional knowledge.
Elder Dixie Doxtator spoke at the beginning of the event, inviting participants into a space of respect and reflection, reminding attendees of the deep spiritual connection between the land, people and Indigenous ancestors.
She acknowledged the wisdom of those who came before and called upon the strength and guidance of the Creator, the Four Directions and the natural world - core elements in many Indigenous spiritual traditions. The Creator represents a higher power or source of life, while the Four Directions symbolize the cardinal directions, each associated with specific teachings, elements and cycles of life.
Savage Bear, director of MIRI and assistant professor in the department of Indigenous Studies, delivered a welcome address and opening with greetings in multiple Indigenous languages. The address honoured the legacies of influential Indigenous figures such as Justice Murray Sinclair and Dawn Martin-Hill of McMaster University, celebrating their contributions to Indigenous health and community partnerships.
Bear emphasized the importance of fostering respectful and ethical research with Indigenous Peoples, with an eye on future generations of Indigenous scholars.
Panel discussions began with three students from the first cohort of the new Indigenous Studies master's program, starting with Kendal Garlow's work on fostering tradition, identity and access to Haudenosaunee food options. This presentation explored how traditional food systems preserve culture and promote wellness within Indigenous communities.
Panel discussions began with three students from the first cohort of the new Indigenous Studies master's program, starting with Kendal Garlow's work on fostering tradition, identity and access to Haudenosaunee food options.
Kelsey Chan followed with a discussion on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which aims to uphold Indigenous rights and sovereignty in British Columbia. Her presentation highlighted the critical role that legal frameworks like DRIPA play in supporting Indigenous self-determination and advancing justice.
Tia Kennedy presented on the community-based model for revitalizing Doodem (clan) governance on Walpole Island First Nation (Bkejwanong), emphasizing the importance of restoring traditional governance structures to empower communities and strengthen cultural ties.
Research presentations delved into Indigenous governance, climate action and language revitalization, centering around the theme of restoring sovereignty to Indigenous peoples. They highlighted knowledge and decision-making processes that have historically been taken away and displayed the implications of this with mediums such as virtual reality.
Research presentations delved into Indigenous governance, climate action and language revitalization, centering around the theme of restoring sovereignty to Indigenous peoples.
The third annual Indigenous Research Day united diverse voices to share insights, research and cultural practices, fostering dialogue and collaboration across disciplines.
The Indigenous studies department celebrates Haudenosaunee culture and reconnects community at their back to school social
The annual Traditional Haudenosaunee Social is a start of term social that is co-hosted by the Indigenous studies department and Indigenous Student Services. The back to school social event occurred on Sept. 5, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. located in the sport hall of the David Braley Athletic Centre.
Nicole Martin-Enlund, the academic department manager for the Indigenous studies department in the faculty of social science, spoke to the Silhouette about the social. Martin-Enlund, a member of the Mohawk Turtle Clan from Six Nations, has been working in the Indigenous studies department for over a year, formerly working with the Indigenous education council.
“It’s great being able to be a part of the different Indigenous communities on campus,” said Martin-Enlund when asked about their background at McMaster University. “We’re kind of a close knit community, all working together, all working towards common goals and initiatives, one of those being the start of the term social,” said Martin-Enlund.
We’re kind of a close knit community, all working together, all working towards common goals and initiatives, one of those being the start of the term social.
Nicole Martin-Enlund, academic department manager, Indigenous Studies Department
The Traditional Haudenosaunee Social is a part of the department's introduction to Indigenous studies course, INDIGST 1A03. The social has been incorporated into the course syllabus and schedule and made mandatory for enrolled students to attend. “The reason why we do that is we would like to get our students to know each other. We would like to get the students to know the different Indigenous communities on campus,” said Martin-Enlund.
Martin-Enlund highlighted that other Indigenous groups such as the McMaster Indigenous Research Institute were present at the social. The Indigenous Health Learning Lodge in the faculty of health sciences and the Indigenous Education Council were also present. This event provided attendees the opportunity to learn more about Indigenous Student Services.
Indigenous Student Services hosts many events throughout the year. “These events are not just for the Indigenous community. They are cultural programming that’s open to all students, staff and faculty,” said Martin-Enlund. “At McMaster there is closed programming for Indigenous students only. But a lot of times for the Indigenous studies department and Indigenous Student Services, we host events that are open to everyone so that we can bring a little bit of that cultural awareness to everyone at McMaster.”
We host events that are open to everyone so that we can bring a little bit of that cultural awareness to everyone at McMaster.
Nicole Martin-Enlund, academic department manager, Indigenous Studies Department
In order to put together this back to school welcome for the McMaster community, planning began a few months in advance. “We actually start planning for the social in July. It is a few months in the works because we bring in Indigenous community partners,” said Martin-Enlund. This year's social featured performances by Cam Hill and his group of singers and others who are invited as guests from the Six Nations community.
Within Haudenosaunee culture, each song has a different meaning. At the social, Cam Hill explained to the audience that each song represents a different story. He first said the name of the song, explained how the song and dance are performed and then explained the story behind each one. This was shortly followed up by a performance of the song and dance.
The event also featured complimentary merchandise from all the various departments present and traditional foods. “It’s important, if you’re having a traditional social that you have traditional foods,” said Martin-Enlund. Some traditional foods provided included sweet grass tea and three sisters soup.
“We’re celebrating the students being back and being together. So that is really what a traditional social is all about. It’s about celebration,” said Martin-Enlund when emphasizing the significance of the event for McMaster students.
We’re celebrating the students being back and being together. So that is really what a traditional social is all about. It’s about celebration.
Nicole Martin-Enlund, academic department manager, McMaster University
The Indigenous studies department and Indigenous Student Services welcomed all students to their back to school social and encouraged students of all backgrounds to step into the space. “It’s one of the reasons why we have Indigenous studies here at McMaster. As we want to spread educational awareness. And we want people to experience and understand the culture,” said Martin-Enlund.
Indigenous Student Services has many more social events planned throughout the school year. You can visit their Instagram for details about their upcoming events throughout the year.
Co-presidents Emma Robertson and Olivia Beausoleil reflect on the growth the Indigenous Student Athlete Council has experienced along with its potential future
A group of McMaster student-athletes are making strides in their sports while also working to foster inclusivity and representation for Indigenous student-athletes. The Indigenous Student Athlete Council has created a place for Indigenous student athletes to build community and increase visibility within the McMaster community.
Co-presidents Emma Robertson and Olivia Beausoleil both created ISAC and built it into what it is today. Both are student athletes themselves; Robertson is a part of McMaster’s cheer team, while Beausoleil is on the women’s football team.
“Athletics and Recreation had the idea [for an Indigenous student athlete council] and Emma and I had both reached out with interest in getting involved in it. So collectively Emma and I sort of got it off the ground,” said Beausoleil.
ISAC’s core goals are to provide a space to advocate for Indigenous student athletes at McMaster, provide Indigenous student athletes a safe community and increase representation and visibility of Indigenous student athletes.
“With ISAC, we’re looking to really increase the inclusivity of Indigenous student-athletes within athletics and recreation at McMaster and advocate for the interests of Indigenous student-athletes,” said Robertson.
With ISAC, we’re looking to really increase the inclusivity of Indigenous student athletes within athletics and recreation at McMaster and advocate for the interests of Indigenous student athletes.
Emma Robertson, Co-president
McMaster Indigenous Student Athlete Council
One aspect of the council that has been especially meaningful is that it has acted as a space to share personal experiences and stories through their meetings. This provides a platform for Indigenous student-athletes to connect and build community with one another
“Even just hearing each other’s stories, sometimes our meetings even get a little off topic, but hearing personal stories as an Indigenous athlete is interesting and being able to share them myself is interesting,” said Beausoleil.
The council began just two years ago. Since then it has been able to grow and improve in meeting its goals. They have been able to increase their outreach and have achieved a greater overall presence throughout the beginning of the fall semester.
“One thing we’re looking to do is really grow the council and get more members or visibility on campus. So even at the start of this year, having a presence at welcome week or student orientations has been great. We’ve met some first year Indigenous student athletes so we’re hoping to have a new meeting soon to invite and welcome some potential new members,” said Robertson.
Along with growing in visibility, the council has grown its connections with other groups in McMaster’s student-athlete landscape. Groups like McMaster’s Black Student- Athlete Council, the Women’s Athletic Leadership Committee and the LGBTQ2SIA+ Athletic Advocacy Group along with the Indigenous Student Athlete Council all aim to provide support for marginalized student-athletes at McMaster. These groups have also served as a model for the Indigenous Student Athlete council as they have worked to build themselves up.
“This year we’ve been connecting more with the leaders of other student groups. This has been helpful to see what challenges they’ve had and things they’ve succeeded in and how we can work together,” said Robertson.
One of the ISAC’s biggest events is its Orange Shirt Day event. Orange Shirt Day aims to recognize the tragedies of the residential school system and the Indigenous children who were taken from their families.
This year the council is holding its Orange Shirt Day event on Sept. 28. This event will be hosted during the men’s and women’s soccer and rugby games at Ron Joyce Stadium. It will take place from 12:00 p.m. when women’s soccer kicks off against Algoma University, until 8:00 p.m. when men’s rugby kicks off against Western University.
“So right now our event is on Sept. 28. With the women’s and men’s soccer and rugby games. We have a couple different things going on there. We’re going to be selling orange shirts there, we have different Indigenous vendors who are going to be present on the concourse selling things. We may or may not have a singing group coming as well,” said Robertson.
This will be the council’s second year in a row running an Orange Shirt Day event during a McMaster sports event. With a year under their belt, the council has been able to grow this event and get more people involved.
“Last year when we started, the council didn’t really start until the beginning of September, so it was a lot more last minute and a bit crazier. But this year, we started meeting and planning things out earlier in the summer, so it’s been nice to have more time to do that. We’ve also been able to reach out to other Indigenous student services and the Indigenous studies department and have been working with some of the staff there to coordinate with other things going on with truth and reconciliation on campus, as well as getting help and support from them has been great,” said Robertson.
As Orange Shirt Day approaches, the council’s co-presidents also hope to create a long lasting space for the coming years. Gaining new members has been a challenge for the council, but Robertson and Beausoleil have worked tirelessly to keep the council running.
“Just building the council is important. There are currently only four of us on the council, but a lot of us are in our final year here. So, being able to make sure we have some members to carry forth the council in the coming years so it doesn’t die off just as we’ve gotten it going,” said Olivia Beausoleil.
Just building the council is important. There are currently only four of us on the council, but a lot of us are in our final year here. So, being able to make sure we have some members to carry forth the council in the coming years so it doesn’t die off just as we’ve gotten it going.
Olivia Beausoleil, Co-president
McMaster Indigenous Student Athlete Council
With its continued growth and refinement, the council hopes to be a strong and supportive space for Indigenous student-athletes at McMaster.
The new experiential course immerses students in Haudenosaunee culture, reconciliation, and land-based learning through a ten-day canoe journey along the Grand River
This past summer, the Indigenous Studies Department ran for the first time a new course titled "Two Row on the Grand Paddle." Associate Professor Bonnie Freeman led this experiential learning opportunity, which was available to students for the first time.
The course aimed to deepen students' understanding of Haudenosaunee culture, treaty history, and reconciliation through hands-on participation in the annual "Two Row on the Grand Paddle" canoe journey.
Freeman, who is Algonquin Mohawk and a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, has been involved in the canoe journey for almost ten years. She sees the course as a chance for students to connect what they learn in the classroom with real-life experiences.
"It was important for me to show [students]… that when we learn from an academic perspective, these theories and experiences, it's so much different than when we put them into practice," said Freeman.
It was important for me to show [students]... that when we learn from an academic perspective, these theories and experiences, it's so much different than when we put them into practice.
Bonnie Freeman, Associate Professor
Indigenous Studies Department
She stressed that this course was not just an academic exercise but an immersive experience intended to build connections with Indigenous teachings, the land, and one another.
The "Two Row on the Grand" journey is based on the historical Two Row [Gaswéñdah] Wampum Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Dutch settlers. During the course, students canoed along the Grand River, which is tied to the Haldimand Treaty lands. They had the opportunity to engage with traditional Indigenous teachings and cultural practices and participate in discussions regarding reconciliation throughout the ten day journey.
Freeman’s engagement with land-based Indigenous learning began during her university days. The idea for this course stemmed from those early experiences. "It was a spiritual journey, and I was immersed in the ceremony, with horses, on the land, and learning those teachings," said Freeman, reflecting on her first exposure to land-based learning. Her passion for integrating these life-changing experiences into academic programs has driven her commitment to making the canoe journey a part of the Indigenous Studies Department's course offerings.
According to Freeman, the course was received with great enthusiasm from the student. "They said it was completely life-changing for them," said Freeman. She added that students appreciated the opportunity to apply what they had been learning in classrooms in a meaningful and practical manner.
The course involved facing physical challenges like navigating rapids and developing paddling skills. It also focused on promoting reconciliation in a practical and community-based manner. The course highlighted the importance of establishing connections with the land and between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
Freeman recalled how some students reflected on the experience. "What was important... about reconciliation is the day-to-day living and the importance of having those relationships and establishing them," said Freeman.
The "Two Row on the Grand Paddle" course establishes a standard for expanding experiential learning within Indigenous studies as the Indigenous Studies Department expands its course offerings.
To enrol in Bonnie Freeman’s land-based learning course, students should review McMaster University’s offerings in Indigenous Studies or Social Work. Registration opens on the Two Row Paddle website in mid-March 2025, and the course is primarily aimed at third —and fourth-year students with relevant academic backgrounds. For detailed information and guidance, students are encouraged to consult academic advisors. As the course involves hands-on, experiential learning, it offers a unique opportunity to engage deeply with Indigenous knowledge and practices, fostering meaningful steps toward reconciliation.
The program invites students to engage with Indigenous knowledge and address contemporary Indigenous issues
The Indigenous Studies Department at McMaster University launched its MA in Indigenous Studies program this year, welcoming its first cohort of students in September 2024. The new program allows students to engage deeply with Indigenous education, knowledge, histories and contemporary issues through both academic study and community-based research.
The program offers two distinct tracks: a 12-month major research project and a 16-month community-based research project. All students complete three core courses—Indigenous Studies Research Methods (INDIGIST 702), Theories in Critical Indigenous Studies (INDIGST 701), and Indigenous Studies Experiential Learning (INDIGIST 704)—along with three elective courses of their choice.
In an email statement to the Silhouette, Renae Watchman, chair of the Indigenous studies graduate committee, stated that students participate in a year-long, non-credit professional development course. Those in the major research project stream must write a paper 7,500 to 8,000 words long, while the community-based research project requires a final paper of 10,000 to 12,500 words.
Kelsey Chan, a member of the first cohort who chose the major research project, shared her enthusiasm in an interview with The Silhouette: "It's the best decision I could have made." Chan, of Indigenous and Chinese descent, is of the Eagle Clan of the House of Chief Wigvitba-Wákas. After completing her undergraduate studies in political science and Indigenous studies at McMaster, she felt this program was a perfect fit.
Chan’s research explores the long-term impacts of colonial legislation, particularly the Indian Act, on Indigenous sovereignty. “The Indian Act restricted Indigenous people's rights to governance, culture, and language,” said Chan. "Reclaiming Indigenous sovereignty is key to self-determination and healing.” Her work is deeply personal, as both her grandparents are residential school survivors and her mother attended an Indian Day School.
Chan explained how the program allows her to focus on her passion for governance and policy. "There are very few opportunities to pursue a master's degree in Indigenous studies in Canada... It was difficult to find both the opportunity and the faculty who understand your position and your identity," said Chan.
There are very few opportunities to pursue a master's degree in Indigenous studies in Canada. It was difficult to find both the opportunity and the faculty who understand your position and your identity.
Kelsy Chan, Master's Student
MPR Indigenous Studies
Kendall Garlow, another student in the program, is completing the community-based research route. A member of the Mohawk Nation and Wolf Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River, Garlow focuses on Indigenous food sovereignty, working with Six Nations Health Services. Her research engages closely with her community in discussions about preserving traditional food practices. "We’re making menu changes in long-term care homes to increase Haudenosaunee food availability," said Garlow, noting collaborations with local vendors, hunters, and gatherers.
The program challenges students to rethink conventional frameworks and integrate Indigenous worldviews. Garlow emphasized how this has shaped her own studies. "It pushes you to think critically about what you've learned and encourages you to question and challenge those ideas," said Garlow. This approach allows students to move beyond Eurocentric methodologies and focus on addressing the specific needs of their communities.
"We kept getting stuck trying to define Haudenosaunee food... We realized we needed to step back and figure out what works for our community. We're asking people, 'What is Haudenosaunee food to you?' 'What does that look like?'" said, Garlow.
Garlow and Chan highlighted the program’s supportive environment and staff and faculty who Garlow noted as being incredibly responsive, providing assistance with professional development and future planning. “Everyone asks, "What do you need?"... it feels like I'm able to do the things that I want to do," said Garlow. Chan expressed a similar sentiment, “The faculty listens to us and is forward-thinking about our needs, offering resources like CV workshops and PhD guidance," said Chan.
It feels like I'm able to do the things that I want to do.
Kendal Garlow, Master's Student
CRB Indigenous Studies
The program welcomes non-Indigenous students, fostering opportunities for cross-cultural learning and understanding. "No one can help us better than ourselves, but non-Indigenous voices are important too. There's value in both perspectives," said Garlow.
No one can help us better than ourselves, but non-Indigenous voices are important too.
Kendal Garlow, Master's Student
CRB Indigenous Studies
Chan expressed her excitement for the upcoming year: "They’ve already built such an incredible program," said Chan. Applications for the 2025 intake are now open, and the program is expected to grow, providing a foundation for future scholars to enrich Indigenous studies and promote community-based learning.
IHM co-chairs outline their plans to make discussion around Indigenous health more accessible and engaging
Three years ago, for our first Education and Reconciliation issue, The Silhouette spoke with the then co-chairs of the Indigenous Health Movement, Jayden Rivers and Alexa Vrzovski, about the student-lead group, its operations and its goals.
For this year’s return of this important issue, we spoke with current co-chairs Darci Debessige and Georgia Campbell about their goals for the group and where they hope to take it this year. Debassige is of Ojibwe ancestry and Campbell is Metis.
The Indigenous Health Movement was initiated in 2016 by students Yotakahron Jonathan, Yipeng Ge, Alex Liu, Sharon Yeung and Deepti Shanbhag as a group project. It was launched with the goal of harboring discussion and raising awareness about the systemic issues Indigenous folks face in the context of health and healthcare.
Due to this lands history of colonialism and the attempted erasure of Indigenous cultures and people, Indigenous folks have poorer health outcomes for many conditions, are relatively lacking in access to health services and face racism within today’s health care system.
“There are vast differences in the health outcomes of indigenous people in Canada, but also across the world. There are vast differences in the healthcare that they receive, and the way that they are treated by healthcare practitioners,” said Debassige.
There are vast differences in the health outcomes of indigenous people in Canada, but also across the world. There are vast differences in the healthcare that they receive, and the way that they are treated by healthcare practitioners.
Darci Debassige, Co-chair
Indigenous Health Movement
Since its inception, the main event the Indigenous Health Movement has held is the Indigenous Health Conference. The group has since expanded and diversified its endeavors to engage people and raise awareness about Indigenous health. “We’ve run learning circles where you can have facilitators come in and run cultural programming. We had a birch bark basket making event last year, and we’ve had a speaker series, which are like smaller forms of a conference,” said Debassige.
Debassige and Campbell explained that the smaller events like their speaker series as well as some of their new ideas for this coming year are all aimed at engaging more students by making the movement more accessible and approachable. Because the movement aims to educate and raise awareness about Indigenous health to as many as they can, the group and its events are open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
One of their bigger projects this year that students should look out for is their new podcast called The Circle, which hopes to be a medium for discussion and awareness-raising just like the conference and speaker series. Debassige revealed that Campbell had initially proposed the idea in her application to join the Indigenous Health Movement.
"At the end of all of our applications for the executive team is “what is an idea that you have? What would you like to see happen?” Because people who have good ideas make good team members. And so at the end of this one application, it’s like, I just think that a podcast would be really cool … and I was like, “that’s a good idea,”” said Debassige. “A podcast I think is a good way to deliver information because it’s so accessible,” said Campbell.
A podcast I think is a good way to deliver information because it’s so accessible.
Georgia Campbell, Co-chair
Indigenous Health Movement
The group has over the summer recorded their first pilot episode of the podcast, and is hoping to release it in the coming weeks as they figure out the logistics of publishing it. For their first few episodes, they hope to speak with both current about and past Indigenous students, both about Indigenous health and their experiences and journeys.
Whether you are an Indigenous or non-Indigenous student or member of the campus community, the Indigenous Health Movement welcomes all to become involved in their events and partake in their opportunities to educate the community about Indigenous health and reconciliation.
McMaster Museum of Art exhibition We Remain Certain portrays Haudenosaunee’s complex history to strike conversations about our future
The We Remain Certain exhibition had its opening reception on Jan. 11 from 5-8 p.m. at the McMaster Museum of Art, and will be available for public viewing until Mar. 22, 2024.
This exhibition was funded in part by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics. Their other supporters include the Ontario Arts Council.
We Remain Certain depicts the lasting connection between the Haudenosaunee people and their Grand River Territory home. The Haudenosaunee, also known as “people of the longhouse,” Iroquois or Six Nations, are members of a confederacy of Aboriginal nations that reside across southern Ontario, eastern Quebec and south into New York State. This exhibition is curated by a collective of Haudenosaunee artists, and the contemporary pieces delve into Haudenosaunee land tenure, exploring the intricate history, treaty agreements and displacements along the Grand River. It ultimately aims to ignite conversations and thoughts around our collective future, utilizing Haudenosaunee "Original Instructions" as a foundation for understanding and collaboration.
This collection was curated by Protect the Tract Collective, a Haudenosaunee-led project that conducts research, policy development and encourages civil engagement through the promotion of land stewardship (caring for and continuously learning about a piece of land despite its ownership) over the Haldimand Tract, featuring artists Dakota Brant, Denny Doolittle, Betts Doxtater, Kaya Hill, Rick Hill, Arnold Jacobs, Ken Maracle, Steve Maracle, Shelley Niro, Greg Staats, Steve Smith, Kristen Summers and Jeff Thomas.
The exhibit aims to communicate that, while the past remains certain, the future can be changed based on what we learn from our history.
“Arenhátyen tsi ní:tsi teyottenyonhátye’ kwató:ken tsi nī:tsi yonkwa’nikonhrayén:ta’s. Awęhęgyeh shęh hodęˀ dewahde:nihs, haˀgadagyeˀshǫˀ shęh nˀagwanigǫ̲ha:do:gę: It does not matter what continually changes, our understanding remains certain,” as stated on the M(M)A website.
Arenhátyen tsi ní:tsi teyottenyonhátye’ kwató:ken tsi nī:tsi yonkwa’nikonhrayén:ta’s. Awęhęgyeh shęh hodęˀ dewahde:nihs, haˀgadagyeˀshǫˀ shęh nˀagwanigǫ̲ha:do:gę: It does not matter what continually changes, our understanding remains certain
M(M)A website
C/O Georgia Kirkos
Dr. Dawn Martin-Hill combines her knowledge of anthropology with Indigenous research
In 1992, when McMaster’s Indigenous studies program was first introduced, Dawn Martin-Hill of the Mohawk wolf clan was one of the founders of the program. As an associate professor for both the department of anthropology and the ISP, she has worked through several projects that have brought attention to the Indigenous community and educated the people of the McMaster community.
Martin-Hill’s current research focuses on Indigenous knowledge and cultural conservation, Indigenous women, traditional medicine and health and the contemporary practice of Indigenous traditionalism.
In a recent interview with Mongabay, Martin-Hill explained how she was inspired to do the work she does.
“I am an anthropologist in my field research. I worked in northern Alberta, which was dealing with the oil industry and the logging industry. I spent a lot of time up there and saw the destruction to their land and the impact it was having on the community and how they had no resources whatsoever. But yet they managed to get to the [United Nations]. They managed to get decisions against Canada. I was impressed with the fortitude,” said Martin-Hill.
Martin-Hill noted the contrast between what she saw while working in northern Alberta and the conversations happening at university.
“When you see people putting everything on the line for the land and then you go to university and it’s all very ivory tower and theoretical — it made no sense to me,” said Martin-Hill.
In 2007, Martin-Hill wrote a book known as The Lubicon Lake Nation: Indigenous Knowledge and Power to give a voice to the Lubicon Nation, a Cree First Nation in Northern Alberta. The book aims to illustrate the history of the Lubicon using its documented history and talk about the hurdles they face from the Canadian government.
At McMaster, Martin-Hill has made her research focus centered on issues faced by Indigenous communities. Currently, she is working on Ohneganos, a Global Water Futures project that looks into Indigenous water research. The work they do aims to integrate western science with Indigenous and local knowledge.
“Our research uses an innovative research framework, informed by the Indigenous community partners, to facilitate sharing and integration of Western Science and Indigenous and Local Knowledges. This process of “co-creation” enables us to develop appropriate, place-based [and] sustainable solutions to the water crisis impacting our partner communities and other Indigenous communities across Turtle Island,”
dr. dawn martin hill
The research focuses on two different projects. One of them is Co-creation of Indigenous Water Quality Tools. Within this research project, there are three different focuses: traditional ecological knowledge, ecosystem health and sensor system and data synthesis.
This specific water project aims to target the Six Nations of the Grand River, which is comprised of Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca and Tuscarora. It hopes to keep track of the water quality and environmental health of both areas. This can then be used to make models that help develop sustainable solutions.
“Building capacity to monitor source waters with environmental sensors, we will investigate ecosystem health and the cause of health issues related to contaminated water, design inclusive poly-centric decision-making models for water governance and develop appropriate place-based sustainable solutions,” stated the Global Water Futures site.
Martin-Hill works tirelessly to advance the field of anthropology and shed light on the many injustices that Indigenous peoples face. The work she is currently doing ensures that information related to these injustices exist. At McMaster, Martin-Hill and other Indigenous researchers are what help educate the community on these issues that cannot be ignored.
