51社区黑料

Dr. Michaela McGuire focused her doctoral research on Haida identity and belonging as constructed through state-driven policies and colonialism. Her thesis, , is grounded in Indigenous and Nation-based research methods.

McGuire completed her project within four years, despite its scope and complexity. Her research considers the Canadian state鈥檚 targeting of the Haida through colonial and genocidal policies, impacting a sense of identity, and belonging, indicative of state crime. Her research determines that Haida citizens need to feel like they belong in order to move forward as a healthy self-determined Nation.

In addition to maintaining a perfect 4.33 CGPA, McGuire also received multiple recognitions of her work including the Vanier鈥態anting Scholarship, SSHRC Graduate Scholarships (MA and PhD levels), Dean鈥檚 Entrance Awards (MA and PhD levels) and Punishment & Society Best Article Award.

Dr. Ted Palys, McGuire鈥檚 academic supervisor describes how ambitious her research was as well as how well she dealt with all of the layers of complexity.

Says Palys, 鈥淩eflecting the broad 鈥榮ocial justice鈥� framework that guides her work, Michaela鈥檚 dissertation highlighted how questions of identity, and especially Haida identity, was constructed (and undermined) in Canada鈥檚 colonial period and how it might be deconstructed and reconstructed in a self-determining Haida nation. The conceptual tentacles of these identity issues spread through many other justice issues and unpacking their impacts and implications made for an ambitious project. Lesser students would have been overwhelmed; Michaela had all the intellectual, methodological and theoretical skills to tackle it, and did so in a project that she is now turning into a book I am confident will become a seminal work in the area.鈥�

Reflecting on her time at SFU, McGuire is grateful to those that supported and inspire her.

鈥淚 would like to acknowledge my friends, family, and community for sticking with me through it all. Especially after going back to school to finish my undergraduate degree turned into 10 years of post-secondary! I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Ted Palys. Dr. Palys has challenged and strengthened me as a scholar, writer, and academic. I would also like to thank the participants in this research, and the many other mentors and educators who have guided me.  Lastly, I would like to acknowledge my nieces and nephews for motivating me in everything that I do,鈥� says McGuire.

Upon completing her dissertation at SFU, McGuire worked as a limited term lecturer in SFU鈥檚 Indigenous Studies department, and beginning in July she will move onto an Assistant Professor position with the School of Indigenous Governance at the University of Victoria. While at UVic, McGuire plans to continue her work in the fields of Indigenous justice, Indigenous Peoples experiences within the criminal justice system, and state crime.