Empowering Indigenous futures through land, culture, and sovereign dreaming
Colonial educational frameworks have long marginalized our ways of knowing, while contemporary practices often prioritize Euro-Western visions of success, overlooking our perspectives and priorities as Indigenous peoples. Research that explores the intersection of land, identity, and sovereignty in education reasserts the centrality of Indigenous knowledge, supporting our communities in self-determination and cultural revitalization. | |
 | Dr. Melissa Twance Canada Research Chair in Land Pedagogies and Indigenous Futurities (Tier 2) Areas of Research
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Overview of ResearchDr. Twance’s research focuses on how teaching and learning connected to the land can help create strong futures for Indigenous peoples. She redefines education as a practice that supports and sustains Indigenous cultures, histories, and ways of knowing, rather than just traditional schooling. Working with her colleagues, Dr. Twance looks at how land, identity, and sovereignty are linked in education, aiming to create spaces where Indigenous knowledge can guide both current and future generations. Using arts-informed research and a community-engaged approach, her work challenges existing educational while honoring the deep relationship between land and culture, promoting practices that center Indigenous perspectives. | |
Dr. Twance's research exemplifies Lakehead University's commitment to advancing the following United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): | |
Contact Information Dr. Melissa Twance | |
