College Dean's Message

tân'si, nitôtêmak,

Welcome to this edition of our newsletter. I’m proud to open with an important message from our inaugural Associate Dean, Indigenous Engagement, Dr. Kisha Supernant. Since stepping into this leadership role in July, she has already helped strengthen our college’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and to the work outlined in Braiding Past, Present and Future. As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Dr. Supernant's reflections underscore the importance of facing the truth as part of the work of reconciliation, by calling on our community to confront residential school denialism. I encourage everyone across CSSH to read her message, explore the resources she shares and consider how we can each take meaningful responsibility for the work ahead.

Pishshapmishko,

Chris Andersen

Special Guest Message

Taanishi kiiya? Kisha Supernant dishinihkaashoon.

I am honoured and humbled to have joined the College of Social Sciences and Humanities this past July as the inaugural Associate Dean, Indigenous Engagement. Having dedicated academic leadership in this role is essential to advancing Truth and Reconciliation within CSSH, aligning our efforts with Braiding Past, Present and Future, and supporting broader Indigenous initiatives across the University of Alberta. As a Métis woman and citizen of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, I step into this position with the goal of enhancing, supporting, and amplifying Indigenous-engaged research and teaching across our college.

We have many scholars, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who have been doing meaningful work with Indigenous partners, often for decades. However, there is still so much we can do to share knowledge, build robust systems and structures that support this work, and meaningfully engage Indigenous community partners in research and teaching. My first few months have been focused on listening, learning, visiting, and building good relations across the college, standalone faculties, and university-wide systems. I look forward to continuing to shape the goals of this role in conversation with many of you in the months ahead.

As this newsletter precedes the 5th National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I see my role as an invitation to share resources, encourage reflection, and centre truth. My work over the past several years has confronted the challenge of how we use the tools within our academic disciplines to support Indigenous communities find, document and protect burial places of children who never came home from Indian Residential Schools and related institutions. 

Truth must come before reconciliation is possible; in an organization like the U of A, there is a danger of rushing to reconcile without fully accounting for the truth, truths that ask us to confront long-held understandings of who we are, what Canada is and how research and teaching at the University of Alberta have impacted Indigenous peoples, lands and knowledge systems over the past 118 years.

Unfortunately, as truths are told, we are seeing significant backlash and a rise in residential school denialism. I invite our community to actively stand against the attempts to silence and downplay the truths of Survivors, families and communities. To support your ongoing learning, I encourage you to explore the recently released volume Truth Before Reconciliation: Confronting Residential School Denialism, edited by Sean Carleton and Niigaan Sinclair. This timely book includes the voices of Survivors, journalists, academics and others continuing to stand up against denialism. Dr. Crystal Fraser (Associate Professor in the Department of History, Classics, and Religion) and I contributed a chapter based on a conversation with Elder Barb Cameron on the vital role of community in truth-telling. I invite you to purchase a copy, as all proceeds are being donated to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. 

I look forward to walking this path with all of you.

Maarsii,

Kisha Supernant, Associate Dean, Indigenous Engagement, CSSH

College Updates

CSSH Narrative Lens sessions

Two of five CSSH Narrative Lens sessions have now taken place. Three sessions remain in Oct., bringing together perspectives from across Arts, Business, Education and Law to explore connections across our teaching and research and develop shared narrative lenses for the college.

Choose the session most relevant to your role and experience and reserve your spot. Each session is limited to 50 participants. Refreshments will be served. 

FIND YOUR SESSION AND REGISTER

Leadership and Policymaking in Precarious Times

The Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Democracy invites you to a keynote event featuring David Coletto on Oct. 29.

 In the spirit of the Lougheed legacy of visionary leadership, this event is designed to open a door to new ways of thinking. The presentation will consist of a concise 30-min address intended to spark fresh perspectives, followed by a moderated Q&A session. 

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

Office of Research

Thank you, SSHRC IG applicants, peer reviewers, V/ADRs and research coordinators

CSSH was able to mobilize surge support from RAS (2), RSO (6), and CSSH (4) to manage a significant increase in SSHRC IG applicants across campus. This was a true collective effort, and we are deeply grateful to our colleagues — V/ADRs, professors, peer reviewers, and research coordinators — along with partner research units who worked tirelessly through the summer.  Thank you to everyone involved for your dedication and support!

Dr. Temitope Orioloa, Associate Dean, Research

Gordon Hirabayashi Lecture Live-Stream Event

Dr. Audrey Kobayashi, Distinguished Professor Emerita at Queen's University, will be speaking on "Redress and Resolution: future choices for Japanese Canadians." The lecture will trace the path from former U of A professor Gordon Hirabayashi’s inspirational leadership to the achievement of the Redress settlement and beyond. Refreshments will be served. 

Date: Friday, Oct. 2
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: U of A Law Centre, Room LC113
REGISTER HERE

2026 Celebration of Research

Researchers and research teams in Arts, Business, Education and Law to attend our annual Celebration of Research event:

Date: Thursday, Oct. 15
Time: 2:00p.m - 4:00 p.m
Location: University Commons Atrium

There will be brief opening remarks by President Bill Flanagan and SSHRC Past President Ted Hewitt. Refreshments will be served and registration is not required.

Research Administration Education Series

The Research Partner Network strives to support researchers and administrators in managing funds by providing education and training. Our Research Administration Education Series (RAES) continues with the following webinars:

Series 1, Session 2:  Finalizing Funding (via Zoom) 
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 7
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00  p.m.
REGISTER

Series 2, Session 2:  Tri-Agency Guide to Financial Administration (via Zoom)
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 27
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
REGISTER

Office of Education

Staffing Announcement

The Office of Education is excited to welcome Heeyeong (Pixel) Park as a new Scheduling and Timetabling Coordinator. Pixel joins scheduling team members Gayeung Doan, Amanda Khamvongsa and Fatma Mohammed.

We are also pleased to welcome three new Program Coordinators to our team: Holly Johnson, Leah Armontrout Spencer and Jacklyn Rocha. Holly, Leah and Jacklyn join Program Coordinator Holly Nichol.

Student SSHRC Applications Workshop

Over two dozen doctoral students from across the college collaborated on each other's SSHRC award applications as part of our annual workshop on Aug. 14. Similar sessions will be offered for students applying for master's awards in October. For questions about the next session, please contact cssh.pc@ualberta.ca.

Performance Corner

Department of Drama:  Hedda Gabler

Studio Theatre and MFA directing candidate Giulia Romano bring Henrik Ibsen's classic to the stage. Caught between longing and constraint, Hedda’s search for agency exposes the thin line between autonomy and annihilation.

Date: Oct. 8-17
Location: Timms Centre for the Arts
Learn More

Department of Music: The World Is a Problem: Music after 1960

Join Patrick Nickleson in conversation with Benjamin Piekut (Cornell University) as they explore the landscape of music and performance from the 1960s to today.

Date: Oct. 8
Location: FAB 2-7
Learn More

Department of Art & Design: What I Made When My People Were Dying 

In their MFA Intermedia exhibition, Aynaz Raoufian and Mona Sahi explore themes of memory, grief, loss, care and language through performance, installation, sculpture, and interactive media.

Date: Oct.13 - 24
Location: FAB Gallery
Learn More

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