RESEARCH INTERESTSMy doctoral dissertation features a documentary film telling the story of dedicated Indigenous educators who were the prominent driving force behind the creation and implementation of the Native Studies (NS) courses offered in publicly funded high schools in Ontario. The film brings to light the fact that their contributions which, in some cases span over 40 years of constant effort, are not acknowledged on the Ontario Ministry of Education website where the NS courses are described. In addition to addressing this omission my dissertation will include the creation of a website where members of the Indigenous and non-indigenous communities can access transcripts of the interviews from my MA and of raw footage from the PhD research.My post-doctoral focus will address the quantification of the impact of the Mushkeg Media series, Finding Our Talk: A Journey Through Aboriginal Languages, on the enhancement of language and oral traditions in the Indigenous communities represented in 39 episodes. My MA focused on studying the implementation of the Native Studies (NS) courses offered in high schools across Ontario from 1999-2000 to the present by the Ontario Ministry of Education (MOE). The MOE's commitment to educate Ontarians regarding Aboriginal issues is assessed via the quantification of NS courses offered and the number of students enrolled. A secondary focus addresses regional geo-social factors and their impact on cultural continuity.Since 1991, I have been working on research regarding Aboriginal land claims as well as doing community consultation linked to finalizing negotiated agreements between Indigenous organizations and the Federal and Provincial governments. Since my move to Kingston in the fall of 2008 I have worked with the academic and artistic communities at Queen’s and in the Kingston area.PhD Supervisor: Dr. George LovellMA Supervisor: Dr. Anne Godlewska