Experiences of Six Indigenous Women Scholars in British Columbia: An Anishinaabe Case Study on the Impacts of Institutional Culture and Workload on Wellness

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 9:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Addressing Campus Climate and Representation Issues in Higher Education

Abstract

This study examined the experiences of six Indigenous women scholars in British Columbia, focusing on how institutional culture and workload inequities impacted their wellness and professional growth. Using qualitative methods grounded in Indigenous narrative storytelling and an Anishinaabe Medicine Wheel framework, the research revealed how gender, cultural identity, and academic expectations shaped participants’ experiences. Findings surfaced eight key themes, including cultural taxation, relational wellness, and institutional barriers. The study emphasizes the urgent need for systemic change in higher education to recognize and support Indigenous women’s leadership beyond symbolic inclusion. It advocates for structural reforms that foster equity, decolonization, and the holistic well-being of Indigenous women in academia.

Author

• Ursula Katic-Filis, University of Calgary