Allyson Stevenson to lead Metis Research at U of S
- Jeanelle Mandes | August 17, 2020
Metis researcher Allyson Stevenson will be the new Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI) Chair of Metis Research at the University of Saskatchewan.
“I was thrilled, it was like a dream come true. I’m really looking forward to devoting my attention to Metis research,” Stevenson said. “I’ve focused on the Sixties Scoop for my past projects, looking at the impact of child welfare on Metis and First Nation communities. With this new chair position, I’m really going to be focusing on Metis histories in the 20th Century in Saskatchewan…and the re-emergence of the Metis people.”
The role of the chair is to increase the profile of Metis research at the University of Saskatchewan. Stevenson will be conducting Metis research from a Metis perspective.
“I proposed a program of research to mentor Metis students at the university and to bring that higher profile of Metis research,” she said.
Stevenson will be starting the five-year position on July 1. Until then, she will finish her role as the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Peoples and Global Social Justice at the University of Regina, where she’s also an assistant professor in the Department of Politics in International Studies.
Looking at her career so far, Stevenson is grateful for the mentorship of Jim Miller who was her Master’s degree supervisor.
“He’s an award-winning scholar and really supported me and saw the potential in me before I really recognized that myself,” she said. “He was instrumental in me becoming a scholar and pursuing history as a major and a focus of my research.”
Stevenson also attributes Maria Campbell’s book Halfbreed as another source of inspiration, stating that she was moved by Campbell’s struggle and her work in revitalizing Metis culture and stories.
Stevenson is excited to embark on a new journey and is eager to work with the folks at GDI.
“To be recognized by my peers in the Department of Indigenous Studies and to be supported by GDI, it’s a real honour for me,” said Stevenson. “My goal… is that [when] people think of the University of Saskatchewan, they think of it as a Metis Centre of Excellence.”