The University of Winnipeg has announced the hiring of eight Indigenous faculty members across multiple disciplines.
In a press release sent out this week the school says the move is part of its ongoing commitment to reconciliation and enhancing BIPOC representation. These new tenure-track positions span the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, Gupta Faculty of Kinesiology and Applied Health, Faculty of Business and Economics, and Global College.
This cluster hire follows a process that began in January, aimed at increasing Indigenous representation and supporting reconciliation initiatives at UWinnipeg. Dr. Pavlina Radia, Provost and Vice-President, Academics, emphasized the university’s focus on community engagement throughout the hiring process. “An essential part of Reconciliation is ensuring that Indigenous faculty are amply represented and supported at post-secondary institutions,” she said.
The new hires will join various departments, including Indigenous Studies, Criminal Justice, Business & Administration, Anthropology, Environmental Studies and Sciences, and Kinesiology. Some faculty members have already begun teaching this fall, with others set to start in the winter term.
Dr. Chantal Fiola, Associate Vice-President, Indigenous, expressed excitement about the new appointments. “Bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge, they are sure to enrich the collective contributions to society made by UWinnipeg,” she noted, adding that the university is eager to uplift the voices of these scholars.
The newly hired faculty members include Christy Anderson (Indigenous Studies), Dr. Kristen Desjarlais-deKlerk (Business & Administration), Robert Hamilton (Indigenous Studies), Ashley Hayward (Kinesiology and Applied Health), Dawnis Kennedy (Criminal Justice), Danika Billie Rose Littlechild (Environmental Studies and Sciences/Master’s in Development Practice), Aandeg Muldrew (Anthropology), and Dr. Derrick M. Nault (Indigenous Studies). Each brings diverse expertise in fields such as Indigenous law, health, language, and history.
The initiative is part of UWinnipeg’s broader efforts to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action. It builds on other recent developments, such as the introduction of new Indigenous language certificate programs and the Indigenous Course Requirement, both launched in previous years.
The hiring process began with a ceremony and will conclude with a welcoming feast for the new faculty members in the coming weeks.