Category: Indigenization

Dr. Ross Hoffman
Department of First Nations Studies

Dr. Ross Hoffman is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of First Nations Studies. He completed his Ph.D. in Native Studies at Trent University in 2005. His teaching, research and service, rests within both the western academic tradition as well as an Indigenous knowledge tradition.

As an academic, his focus has been to respect, balance, bridge, and integrate these two epistemological traditions. This ‘dual scholarship’ is possible because he has been blessed with the guidance of Elders within an academic environment and in community-based traditional settings.

Edōsdi Judy Thompson
First Nations Studies

Dẕenēs̱ hoti’e. Edōsdi ushyē. Tałsetān didene hots’ih. Tsesk’iye esdā tsehi. My name is Edōsdi, which literally means “someone who raises up children and pets” or more simply, “someone who is a teacher.” My doctoral dissertation, Hedekeyeh Hots’ih Kāhidi – “Our Ancestors Are In Us”: Strengthening Our Voices Through Language Revitalization From A Tahltan Worldview, guided the development of a language and culture framework. Since 2012, our language revitalization team has implemented a language authority, opened two language nests, brought a Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization Program to our territory, as well as working on the development of K-12 school language curriculum, children’s books, apps, and an online and print dictionary

FNST-444 First Nations Cultural Heritage Through Moose-Hide Tanning
Mildred Martin and Yvonne Pierreroy, Nak’azdli Dakelh Elders with Dr. Agnes PawlowskaMainville, First Nations Studies
May 2-20, 2016

This experiential-learning course introduces students to the process of tanning moose-hides in the traditional Dakelh way. Through this hands-on experience, students will also explore issues relating to Indigenous cultural heritage including themes such as recovery, protection and revitalization.

Introduced in part in a FNST – Introduction to Traditional Ecological Knowledge class, students in this three week-long spring class will further their understanding of Indigenous history as well as appreciation for Dakelh traditions, skills, and language .