Heather Y. Shpuniarsky completed her Ph.D. at Trent University in Indigenous Studies with a dissertation entitled, “The Contemporary Relationship between the Anishnaabeg and the Haudenosaunee”. This work concerns the complex nature of the ancient relationship between these two nations and uses historical consciousness to grapple with it in a contemporary context. Heather has taught at Trent University for eight years.

Heather has been involved in a number of research projects, including: First Nation and non-First Nation alliances, a SSHRC funded project which explored the relationships created around areas of social justice and the environment. Heather has worked for Williams Consulting for the past 14 years on most contracts listed in the summary of work.

EDUCATION

 2012    Completed Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies at Trent University entitled “‘You know what I heard?’:  The Historical Consciousnesses of the Contemporary Relationships between the Anishinaabeg and the Haudenosaunee”, with minor revisions.

 2003   Completed a Master’s in Canadian Studies and Native Studies at Trent University entitled “The Struggles for Peace between the Nishnaabe and the Haudenosaunee in the late 17^th century”.

2000    Completed a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree at York University with a double major in Anthropology and History.

ACADEMIC AWARDS AND HONOURS

 2006-2007       Research Fellowship, Trent University

2005-2006       Ontario Graduate Scholarship; Dean’s Scholarship, Trent University

2004-2005       Research Fellowship, Trent University

2003-2004       Research Fellowship, Trent University

• Entrance Award, Trent University

1999-2000       Dean’s List, York University

PUBLICATIONS                                 

2016                            The Village of Hiawatha:  A History.  With the Hiawatha Village Book Committee.  Ningwaakwe Press.   Winner of the F.H. Dobbin Award from the Peterborough Historical Society.

2014                            Don McCaskill, Kevin Fitzmaurice, Jaime Cidro, and Heather Shpuniarsky.  Toronto Aboriginal Research Project, volume 3, Life Histories.

2013                            David Newhouse and Heather Shpuniarsky.  “Aboriginal Land Tenure Reforms in Canada: A Discussion of ‘Beyond the Indian Act’”. Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development, vol. 8(2): 12-23.

2012                            Heather Y. Shpuniarsky.  “Review of Decolonizing Native Histories:  Collaboration, Knowledge, and Language in the Americas, Florencia E. Mallon, ed.”  AlterNative Journal, volume 9(1): 102-103.   

 2010                            Lynne Davis and Heather Shpuniarsky.  “The Spirit of Relationships:  What We Have Learned About Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal Alliances and Coalitions”.  Re/Envisioning Relationships: Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Alliances and Coalitions, Lynne Davis, ed.  University of Toronto Press.

2009                            Heather Y. Shpuniarsky.  “Review of Travelling Knowledges:  Positioning the Im/Migrant Reader of Aboriginal Literatures in Canada by Renate Eigenbrod.”  Native Studies Review, volume 18, no. 2:  148.

2009                            Heather Y. Shpuniarsky.  “Review of Reshaping the University:  Responsibility, Indigenous Epistemes, and the Logic of the Gift by Rauna Kuokkanen.”  Native Studies Review, volume 18, no. 2:  150.

2008                            Yale Belanger, David Newhouse and Heather Shpuniarsky.  “The Evolution of Native Reserves”.  Handbook of North American Indians:  Indians in Contemporary Indian Society, vol. 2, Garrick Bailey, ed.  Smithsonian Institution: 185-196.

 2007                            Lynne Davis, Vivian O’Donnell and Heather Shpuniarsky.  “Aboriginal-Social Justice Alliances:  Understanding The Landscape of Relationships through the Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash”.  International Journal of Canadian Studies, volume 36:  95-119.                                

 TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 2020                Instructor INDG 1001H – Oshawa (WI):  Foundations of Reconciliation.  Trent University at Oshawa.

2020                Co-Instructor INDG 2002H (WI):  Indigenous Resistance and Resurgence.  Trent University.

2019                Instructor INDG 2030H (FA):  Indigenous People and News Media.  Trent University.

2019                Instructor INDG 1001H-Oshawa (FA):  Foundations of Reconciliation.  Trent University at Oshawa.

2019                Co-Instructor INDG 2001H (FA):  Indigenous Peoples and the Nation State.  Trent University.

2019                Instructor INDG 1002H (WI):  Critical Events in Indigenous Studies.  Trent University at UOIT.

2019                Co-Instructor INDG 2002H (WI):  Indigenous Resistance and Resurgence.  Trent University.

 2018                Instructor INDG 2030H (Fall):  Indigenous People and News Media (Fall).  Trent University.

2018                Instructor INDG 1001H (Fall):  Foundations of Indigenous Studies.  Trent University at UOIT.

2018                Co-Instructor INDG 2001H:  Indigenous Peoples and the Nation State (Fall).  Trent University.

2018                Instructor INDG 2030H:  Indigenous People and News Media (Summer).  Trent University.

2018                Co-Instructor INDG 2000Y Online (Summer):  Politics and Indigenous Communities.  Trent University.

2018                Instructor INDG 2030 Online (WI):  Indigenous People and News Media.  Trent University.

2018                Instructor INDG 1002H (WI):  Critical Events in Indigenous Studies.  Trent University.

2017-2018       Instructor INS 201Y:  Introduction to Indigenous Studies, University of Toronto.

2017-2018       Co-Instructor INDG 2000 Online (FW):  Politics and Indigenous Communities.  Trent University

2017                Instructor INDG 1001H (F):  Foundations of Indigenous Studies.  Trent University

2017                Instructor and Developer INDG 2030 Online(Summer):  Indigenous People and News Media.  Trent University.

2016-2017       Co-Developer INDG 1001H Online (Summer):  Introduction to Indigenous Studies.  Trent University.

2016-2017       Co-Developer INDG 1002H Online (Summer):  Introduction to Critical Events in Indigenous Studies.  Trent University.

2015-2017       Co-Instructor INDG 1000 (FW):  Introduction to Indigenous Studies.  Trent University.

2016-2017       Developer and Co-Instructor INDG 2000 Online (FW):  Politics and Indigenous Communities.  Trent University.

2015                Instructor INDG 1011H (Fall):  Foundations of Indigenous Writing and Research.  Trent University.

2008-2015       Instructor INDG 2000 (FW):  Politics and Aboriginal Communities.  Trent              University.

2014-2015       Instructor INDG 1012H (Winter):  Foundations of Indigenous Research.  Trent University.

2014                Instructor ABS 201 (Summer):  Introduction to Aboriginal Studies.  University of Toronto.

 2013                Instructor ENVS 6153:  Native-Canadian Relationships.  Master’s of Environmental Studies Program, York University.

2009-2011       Instructor INDG1000:  Introduction to Indigenous Studies (Summer).  Trent University.

 2010-2011       Supervisor, Honours Thesis:  “Indigenous Peoples, Mercantilism and the FurTrade”, Trent University

                         Instructor INDG 490 – “My Family Genealogy and Indigenous Relationships in Eastern Ontario”, Trent University

Instructor INDG 490 – “The Evolution of British Concepts of Property and its Effects on Indian Policy”, Trent University

2009-2010       Instructor INDG 490- “Aboriginal Politics and Communities”, Trent University

Instructor INDG 490- “Two-Spirited Peoples and Aboriginal Communities”, Trent University

 2008-2009       Instructor INDG 490 – Reading Course.  “Aboriginal Representation in the Media”, Trent University            

Instructor INDG 490 – Reading Course, “Local Aboriginal History of Southern Ontario”, Trent University                       

Instructor INDG 381H: Research and Methods, Trent University

INDG 383H, Oral History: Reading Course, Trent University

2007-2008       Teaching Assistant for INDG 200:  Politics and Aboriginal Communities.  Course Instructor:  Mark Dockstator, Trent University 

                        Instructor INDG 490 – Reading Course.  “Local Aboriginal History of Southern Ontario”. 

                        Instructor INDG 490 – Reading Course.  “Politics and Aboriginal Communities”.  

2006-2007       Instructor NAST 4952:  Local Aboriginal History with Elder Doug Williams

2005-2006       Instructor NAST 490 – Reading Course.  “Section 35(1) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms:  Implications for Aboriginal Rights”. 

                        Teaching assistant for Indigenous Studies 381H: Research Methods with Lynne Davis                                       

 2004-2005       Instructor NAST 490 – Reading Course.  “Execution of Aboriginal Service Agencies in Peterborough”.

Instructor NAST 390 – Reading Course.  “The use of Section 35(1) for Aboriginal Self Government”.

2002-2005       Teaching assistant for NAST 200: Politics and Aboriginal Communities.  Course Instructor: Mark Dockstator(2002-2004); Kevin Fitzmaurice(2004-2005), Trent University

 2000-2002       Teaching assistant for NAST 100: Introduction to Native Studies.  Course Instructor: Mark Dockstator, Trent University

GUEST LECTURES

2018-2019       Treaty Relationships.  INDG 1001 and INDG 1002.  Trent University.

2017                The Process of Indigenous Community History.  INDG 3300.  Trent University.

2009-2014       Treaty Relationships.  INDG 1000. Trent University

2013                Aboriginal Health and Health Policy.  INDG 1000.  Trent University

2008                Aboriginal Communities and the Politics of Healing.  INDG 200. Trent University

2007                Local History of the Kawartha Area and Southern Ontario.  INDG 100.  Trent University

2006                 Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Alliances.  NAST 100.  Trent University

2005                Aboriginal Peoples in Ontario after 1945.  HIST 490.  Trent University

2004                Aboriginal Peoples and the Use of Force.  NAST 200.  Trent University

2003                Aboriginal Peoples and the Use of Force.  NAST 200.  Trent University

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

August 2009-Currently           Senior Analyst for Williams Consulting; Worked on projects in the field of First Nations Health and Evaluations, such as:  Indigenous Palliative Care research; Tobacco Strategy; Indigenous Health Governance; Regional Health Survey data gathering and analysis; Patient Journeys; Construction of First Nations Public Health Integrations models; Community Health Plans; First Nations Mental Health research; Prescription Drug Abuse research; and facilitations.

September 2013-Currently     Project Manager for the Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network, with the National Association of Friendship Centres; Working on projects such as:  Urban Aboriginal Histories, Urban Aboriginal Governance, Urban Aboriginal Service Delivery, and Urban Aboriginal Youth Leadership.

April 2017-July 2018              Curriculum Developer for Katimavik. A reconciliation-focused program that brings Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth together while learning a variety of skills and building relationships.

September 2016-April 2017   Online Curriculum Development, Trent University.  INDG 1000.

September 2016-April 2017   Online Curriculum Development, Trent University.  INDG 2030.

January-April 2014                Online Curriculum Development, Trent University.  INDG 2000.

October 2012-January 2013  Researcher for the Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network at the National Association of Friendship Centres.  Completed a comprehensive literature review concerning past and current research with urban Aboriginal peoples.

PRESENTATIONS

May 2014                    “The Challenges in Community Based Historical Research”, Canadian Historical Association, St. Catherines.

May 2011                    “The Role of Memory in the Contemporary Relationship between the Anishnaabeg and the Haudenosaunee”, Canadian Historical Association, Fredericton.

May 2011                    “‘We’ll Close a Sad Chapter in our History’: Apologies to Indigenous Peoples and their Effect on History”, NAISA Conference, Sacremento.

May 2010                    Training Session for Nvivo 8, Trent University

January 2009              Training Session for Nvivo 8, Trent University           

 February 2008            Visiting Scholar at Mount Allison University with the Unity Singers.  “A Night of Traditional Teachings and Aboriginal Song”; “Aboriginal Song and Hand drumming”

 March 2007                “Indigenous Knowledge in the Academy”.  Keynote presentation at Virginia Tech with Edna Manitowabi and Paul Sherman.

November 2006           “The Alliances Project:  Alliances and Coalitions between Aboriginal Peoples and Social Movement Organizations”.  Paper presented at Alliances and Coalitions Conference.

May 2006                    “The Landscape of Relationship:  Learning from the Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash”.  Paper presented at Walpole Island Conference.           

 June 2005                   “Alliances and Coalitions between Aboriginal Peoples and Social Movement Organizations”.  Paper presented at Canadian Indigenous Native Studies Association Conference.

 February 2003            “Wars between the Anishnaabeg and the Haudenosaunee in the late 17^th Century”.  Paper presented at the Simcoe Historical Society.                                                 

LANGUAGES

Nishnaabemowin (Ojibway): Three years of instruction.

French (reading comprehension)

Excellent knowledge of Nvivo (versions 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10)

COMMUNITY INTERESTS

 2005-present   Member of Unity Hand Drum Singers:  Performed at Elder’s Gatherings, Collaborated with the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, Indigenous Women’s Symposium, TED X Oshawa, Elementary Teacher’s Conference, Folk Festivals, Elementary Schools, Aboriginal Educational Conferences, Trent University Convocations, York University Convocation, Sir Sandford Fleming Convocation, International Women’s Days, Indigenous Knowledge Symposiums, Benefit Concerts, Aboriginal Day Events.