Laurier expert alert: National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 20, 2019
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – National Indigenous Peoples Day is June 21. The following Wilfrid Laurier University experts are available to comment on a variety of topics related to Indigenous peoples and Indigenous rights:

Kathy Absolon King is an associate professor in the Indigenous Field of Study in the Faculty of Social Work and director of the Centre for Indigegogy. She has a background in Indigenous studies and Indigenous holistic social work practice and can speak about Indigenous people’s history in Canada, wholistic healing, Indigenous teaching and learning and Indigenous knowledges and culture. She is Anishinaabe from Flying Post First Nation. Contact: kabsolon@wlu.ca.

Gus Hill is an associate professor and associate dean in the Indigenous Field of Study at Laurier's Faculty of Social Work. He is an expert in Indigenous health and wellness, community capacity building, community-based research and holistic social work practice. He is Anishinaabe from the Batchewana First Nation. Contact: ghill@wlu.ca or 519.884.0710 x5279.

Alex Latta is an associate professor in the departments of Global Studies and Geography and Environmental Studies. He is an expert on Indigenous rights and natural resources, particularly water. He is available for comment on environmental and resource issues in Indigenous communities in Canada, particularly in the Northwest Territories, and in Latin America, particularly Chile. Contact: alatta@wlu.ca or 519.884.0710 x3115.

Susan Neylan is an associate professor in Laurier’s Department of History. She is an expert on the history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations in Canada and specializes in the relationship between Indigenous people and the church in British Columbia in the 19th and 20th centuries. Contact: 519.884.1970 x3595 or sneylan@wlu.ca.

Miguel Sioui is an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. He is an expert on Indigenous knowledges, Indigenous land-use and environmental management, particularly in eastern and northern Ontario, northern Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Yucatan, Mexico. He is of Huron-Wendat and Colombian descent. Contact: msioui@wlu.ca or 819.639.1789.

Darren Thomas is a lecturer in the Indigenous Studies program and a PhD candidate in community psychology. He is an expert on Indigenous rights, self-determination and resource governance and has studied how Indigenous communities are consulted prior to development, such as in the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario. Contact: dthomas@wlu.ca or 519.756.8228 x5773.