University of Regina announces new Canada Research Chair

Recently, the University of Regina announced its newest Canada Research Chair (CRC), Dr. Allyson Stevenson, a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Peoples and Global Social Justice.

Stevenson is focused on raising the profile of Indigenous human rights in a global context, in particular, the rights of Indigenous women and children.

“Because Indigenous women and children are some of the most marginalized people in the world, to centre their experiences in this CRC reflects my goals to see social justice in research  from the design to the end of a project  as a way of actualizing justice for Indigenous communities.”

Stevenson says part of her CRC project will be to gain a deeper understanding of the Indigenous child removal system and its ties to government-based efforts of assimilation.

“While the methods of removing Indigenous children have changed over time, whether through residential schools, the Sixties Scoop or foster care, what remains consistent is that Indigenous children have been and continue to be removed from their families. And these practices aren’t specific to Canada.”

Stevenson, who is an adoptee and a historian, will also look at Indigenous child removal in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Latin America. She will also examine Indigenous women’s political organizing, with an aim to acknowledge the role Indigenous women have played in advancing Indigenous human rights in national and international realms.

Dr. David Malloy, Vice-President (Research), says the University of Regina is thrilled to have Stevenson join the University’s research community.

“Dr. Stevenson is a versatile and innovative scholar who will add Saskatchewan and Canadian perspectives to this important global conversation, and the University community, writ large, will benefit from her expertise.”

Stevenson says she’s excited to undertake her research at the University of Regina, and is privileged to be able to work and live in the heart of the Métis homeland.

“This CRC will contribute to the conversation taking place in Saskatchewan and across the country about Indigenous rights,” says Stevenson.

The Government of Canada created the Canada Research Chair Program in 2000 to make Canada one of the world’s top countries in research and development. With this prestigious federal appointment, Stevenson joins six other current University of Regina CRCs.