The Speakers 

Marilyn Buffalo was named ‘Morning Sun Woman’ in a Plains Cree Sun Dance ceremony because she is an early riser. She was born and raised on Samson Cree Nation in Hobbema, Alberta, Canada. Marilyn Buffalo has 50 years of service in indigenous community development in seeking truth and reconciliation in education, national and international indigenous policy development, sports and recreation, justice, family law, veteran and elder rights, land rights, language rights, economic and business development. Marilyn gives full credit to her leadership development to her ancestors on both sides of her family; her early mentor was paternal grandfather John Tootoosis, a treaty activist that organized the National Indian Brotherhood, now the Assembly of First Nations. 

Marilyn is a descendent of Yellow Mud Blanket, brother of Chief Poundmaker, original signatory to Treaty No. 6 of 1876. Marilyn the eldest of twelve children was very close to her maternal grandmother Harriet Buffalo, the youngest daughter of World War 1 sniper Henry Louis Norwest. As a result, for many years while her grandmother was alive, Marilyn researched family history and organized family memorial feasts in remembrance honour of The Great Henry Louis Norwest. 

Through a wide range of national and international affiliations, Marilyn has given a Voice to Canada’s Indigenous Women, Youth and Children in all political, social, and economic affairs. At age 25, Marilyn was the first indigenous person appointed as Advisor on Native Affairs to the University of Alberta from 1975 – 1979. She is Founding Chair of the General Faculties Council Committee on Native Studies and advised the President and Vice President (Academic). Marilyn laid the foundation for the Faculty of Native Studies, Native Student Services and created a format for all aboriginal programming at the University of Alberta campus. In 1985, Marilyn founded the Aboriginal Peoples Commission for the Alberta Liberal Party and extended to a national level within the Liberal Party in 1990. She co-authored the Red Book; Chapter 7 (Liberal Party’s Aboriginal Policy Platform) adopted by Prime Minister Jean Chretien for October 1992 federal election. In 1992 - 93, Marilyn served as the National Director of Aboriginal Policy, for Prime Minister Jean Chretien in Ottawa, Canada’s national capital city. Marilyn served as Senior Policy Advisor to National Chief Ovide Mercredi from 1994 to 1997. In October 1997, Marilyn was one of four indigenous women global delegates invited by the Rockefeller Foundation to the State of the World Forum in San Francisco chaired by Mikhail Gorbechev. Marilyn served as President of Native Women’s Association of Canada from 1997 to 2000. During that period, she negotiated and implemented a 5-year national partnership agreement with HRDC, the net worth of $15 million for aboriginal women employment and training initiatives. From 2000 to 2005, Marilyn acted as Senior Policy Advisor to the Samson Cree Nation in Ottawa and at the same time, Marilyn advised a legal team on policy and communications matters associated with landmark treaty rights and breach of trust lawsuit, Victor Buffalo vs. the Queen. 

Chatelaine Magazine recognized Marilyn in December 2000 as Canada’s Role Model of the Year. In May 2001, Marilyn joined the Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency Adrienne Clarkson, on a two week State Tour of Chile and Argentina, where she spoke at universities, chiefs meetings and panels. In 2002, Marilyn was presented an Eagle Feather Award by the Southern Chiefs of Manitoba in recognition of her continued dedication to Canada’s First Nations Land and Treaty Rights. Marilyn was recipient of a Golden Eagle Award, in March 2004, from Native Women’s Association of Canada for her lifetime contributions to Canada’s Aboriginal Women. At the United Nations Indigenous Permanent Forum (May 2004) Marilyn served as the Chair of UN Global Indigenous Women Assembly in New York, New York. Marilyn is a recognized public speaker on television, radio, print media, conferences and universities, recently spoke on ‘Aboriginal Youth and Women are Canada’s #1 Asset’ to a group of CEOs at Calgary Petroleum Club, Canadian Cancer Society, and National Aboriginal Government Employees Conference. 

In continuing her life work for the betterment of aboriginal peoples, her current focus is on the educational and cultural developmental needs of Samson Cree Nation children and youth. Marilyn is an independent indigenous affairs consultant currently based in Edmonton, Alberta.

Benjamin is a Métis scholar in the department of Anthropology at the University of Alberta. His work explores material culture, trade networks, and the stories carried through belongings, with particular attention to beadwork, visual expression, and the cultural meanings embedded in material practices. He currently serves as President of the Indigenous Graduate Students’ Association, where he advocates for Indigenous representation, relational research practices, and meaningful collaboration across disciplines.

Dr. Young-Leslie (she/her) has a background in medical anthropology. Her research has focused on cultural responses to international health campaigns, from maternal-child health in Tonga, to HIV and gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea, to facemasks and COVID-19, in Canada. In her capacity as a Special Project Lead in FGPS, Dr Young-Leslie is developing a new Killam-funded Interdisciplinary Grand Challenges doctoral program at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Peers (they/them) is currently a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Disability and Movement Cultures. Their work bridges three fields: adapted physical activity, socio-cultural sport and movement studies, and critical disability studies. Dr Peers is part of several interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary projects, including previously leading the social justice component of University of Alberta’s ‘Smartwear Revolution’ grant , and co-leading the Recreation Collective.

Dr. Gluzman (she/her) is interested in the interdisciplinary potential of creative practice at the intersection of science, technology and society. She has an undergraduate degree in biopsychology, a masters in theatre directing, and a PhD in Communication, Science Studies, and Interdisciplinary Cognitive Science. Most recently, she completed a project reconsidering experimental methods in cognitive neuroscience experiments on autism, where she collaborated with cognitive neuroscientists to design alternatives to deficit-based experimental paradigms. She is the Director of the Experimental Ways of Knowing Laboratory (EWOK Lab) at the U of A. 

Angie (she/her) is not only a scholar but also a critical care nurse with over 15 years of frontline experience at the Misericordia Hospital. Her research focuses on ICU survivorship, Post-Intensive Care Syndrome in Families (PICS-F), caregiver wellbeing, and culturally responsive approaches to caregiving, with a particular focus on Punjabi and South Asian families. Angie has experience in community-based and interdisciplinary research, working collaboratively with clinicians, researchers, and community partners to improve support for families navigating critical illness and recovery.

Olesya’s (she/her) research focuses on gender and social inequalities, intersectionality, policy analysis, and community-based praxis. As a Graduate Research Assistant, she contributes to the interdisciplinary research on affordable housing titled “Intersectionality in Action Partnership” (led by Dr Sara Dorow). Olesya serves as the President of the Sociology Graduate Students Association (SGSA) for the Academic year 2025/2026.

Calvin’s (he/him) research is focused on functional and body compositional changes within disease states - at the moment, he is applying this to prostate cancer groups receiving androgen deprivation therapy. Clinically, Calvin works as an Emergency nurse at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, where he serves as a clinical skills instructor and frontline nurse. He has worked as part of numerous interdisciplinary teams in his research and clinical roles, including social workers, artists, engineers, physiotherapists, and physicians. His PhD supervisor is Dr. Edith Pituskin. 

Navarra Houldin (they/them) is an MA candidate in Gender and Social Justice Studies specializing in the Digital Humanities at the University of Alberta. Their research areas of interest are academic accessibility and Victorian erotica. In addition to their own research interests, Navarra has done extensive work with the Linked Early Modern Drama Online (LEMDO) project under Dr. Janelle Jenstad at the University of Victoria and is currently the project's Documentation and Training Lead. 

Ajibola, popular known with his Canadian sobriquet as Jibs, is a third year PhD student in Educational Policy Studies and the President of the Black Graduate Students Association.

He received his Masters Degree in Social Sciences at the University of KwaZulu Natal in Durban, South Africa as a Mandela Rhodes scholar and his undergraduate degree in Political Science at the University of Ibadan in his home country Nigeria. 

Professionally, he has worked at the intersection of institutional governance, policy design and discourses of development. Like a snail, he carries his home around.

Dr. Holly Mathias is Assistant Professor of Family Science in the Department of Human Ecology and Research Scientist with the Inner City Health and Wellness Program at the Royal Alex Hospital. Holly is an alumnae of the School of Public Health, where she earned a PhD in Public Health Sciences. She also holds a MA in Health Promotion and Certificate in University Teaching and Learning (Dalhousie) and BA Honours in Global Development Studies (Queen’s). Holly’s community-based research responds to two linked and pressing social and human rights issues in Canada: toxic drug poisonings and the growing burden of family caregiving in rural and remote Canada. She aims to generate policy-relevant data to enhance the lives of people who use drugs and their families. To support her research, Holly leads a regional community-academic partnership.

Jared Wesley is Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Co-Director of the Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Democracy, a professor of political science, and a member of the Black Faculty Collective at the University of Alberta.  He leads the Common Ground research team, which is examining the intersection of public opinion, political culture, and public policy in Western Canada.  He has co-authored three best-selling books in Canadian politics and public administration.

Dr. Samantha Cima is an Assistant Lecturer specialising in criminology and victimology. Her research focuses on sexual and intimate partner violence, with particular attention to the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and disability in help-seeking decisions and pathways. She teaches courses on victimology, criminology, and statistics, and is especially passionate about helping students discover and fine-tune their research passions. 

Emily is a PhD student at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health. Her research is centred around the ethics and outcomes of harm reduction in acute-care settings for systemically marginalized populations. In her spare time, Emily enjoys playing too many sports, reading, traveling to the lake and spending quality time with her family and dogs. 

Hello! I am a second year Master's student studying the relationship between colonialism, international law, and multinational corporations in the oil sector. Before becoming a member of the Interdisciplinary Student Conference Board, I previously organized student events such as the panel 'Political Science in Turbulent Times' for the  Department of Political Science under the PSGSA. I am looking forward to hearing from students across all disciplines about how we should tackle the problems we face. 

Sam Goertz (he/him) is a PhD student in the Department of Political Science, a member of the Common Ground project, and a Digital Scholarship Centre Fellow. He has facilitated dozens of focus groups across Alberta and loves the opportunity to use his theatre training to ensure sessions are engaging for every participant. 

Jovi Krieger is a PhD candidate in Sociology at the University of Alberta, specializing in Critical and Decolonial Criminology with a focus on crime-control politics, governmentality, and socio-legal studies. Her interdisciplinary research explores the governance of popular habitus in postcolonial societies, examining criminalization from a historical perspective through legal case analyses. In addition to research, Jovi has taught undergraduate sociology courses as a Graduate Instructor, designing curricula and engaging students in discussions on criminology and biopolitics. She has also actively participated in student governance instances at the University of Alberta.

Carmen is an MSc student in the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on documenting herders' perceptions of ecological and energy injustice in Mongolia through oral narratives and participatory mapping, examining the intersecting impacts of climate change and green colonialism using collaborative research methods. 

Alyssa Mae Quiroz Domingo is a registered nurse with a clinical background in neurosciences and mental health and a PhD student in Nursing at the University of Alberta. With training in both psychology and nursing, her interests include mental health, aging, migration, and community-based approaches to research and care. She also serves as one of the Events Coordinator for the Nursing Graduate Students’ Association (NGSA), helping organize events that bring graduate students together and foster a sense of community.

Cathrine (Kit) Becker (she/they) is a PhD student at the University of Alberta, Canada, and MA sociology graduate from Western University, Canada. Their research focuses on education and work, and the role of power and identity in influencing educational and career outcomes. She often uses qualitative methods, primarily interviews and discourse content analysis, but is also proficient in Stata and R. Their dissertation will look at the school-work transitions for minority STEM students.

Senyuan (Pronounced "Sen Yen") is a first year Master's student in the Department of Sociology. His research interests revolve around Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Knowledge Production, and Indigenous Quantitative Methods. For his thesis, he aims to better adapt Western quantitative methods, specifically questionnaires, to better represent Indigenous Peoples. An alumni of the UofA, he holds a Bachelor in Sociology/Psychology with a minor in East Asian Studies. 

Louise is a first year PhD Musicology student in the Department of Music and President of the Graduate Music Students' Association for the 2025-2026 year. Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, her research interests include popular music, music education, Canadian public policy, and music accessibility for marginalized communities, however, she continues to enjoy playing and conducting in and around her hometown community. Louise holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree from McMaster University with a minor in Political Science, an MA in Musicology from the University of Western Ontario. 

Calvin's (he/him) research is focused on functional and body compositional changes within disease states - at the moment, he is applying this to prostate cancer groups receiving androgen deprivration therapy. Clinically, Calvin works as an Emergency nurse at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, where he serves as a clinical skills instructor and frontline nurse. He has worked as part of numerous interdisciplinary teams in his research and clinical roles, including social workers, artists, engineers, physiotherapists, and physicians. His PhD supervisor is Dr. Edith Pituskin.

Louise is a first year PhD Musicology student in the Department of Music and President of the Graduate Music Students' Association for the 2025-2026 year. Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, her research interests include popular music, music education, Canadian public policy, and music accessibility for marginalized communities, however, she continues to enjoy playing and conducting in and around her hometown community. Louise holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree from McMaster University with a minor in Political Science, an MA in Musicology from the University of Western Ontario. 

Michelle Maroto is a Professor of Sociology and co-Director for the Transforming Research for Social Impact (TRSI) Hub. Her research interests include social stratification, gender and family, race and ethnicity, labor and credit markets, and disability studies. Her projects address the many dimensions of wealth inequality, the complicated dynamics behind social class in Canada in the Great Canadian Class Study, and labor market outcomes for people with different types of disabilities. Dr. Maroto's methodological expertise extends across qualitative and quantitative areas and includes survey development, longitudinal data analysis, and audit study methods. In addition, Dr. Maroto has a strong interest in community-engaged research, and she regularly brings together students and community partners through her Applied Research Internship course.

Leigh-Ann Waldropt-Bonair is a Sociology Ph.D. candidate at the University of Alberta. Her research interests include international migration, substance use disorders, aging, food security, and climate change. She engages with both quantitative and qualitative methodologies and has worked as a Research Consultant with various international organizations such as the ACP Observatory on Migration, the ACP-EU Migration Action; IOM, EU-COPOLAD, OAS-CICAD and PAHO. Ms. Waldropt-Bonair also conducted research on human trafficking and migrant smuggling in select Caribbean islands and her current research is focused on the movement of Caribbean immigrants to Canada and their integration outcomes.

Cathrine (Kit) Becker (she/they) is a PhD student at the University of Alberta, Canada, and MA sociology graduate from Western University, Canada. Their research focuses on education and work, and the role of power and identity in influencing educational and career outcomes. She often uses qualitative methods, primarily interviews and discourse content analysis, but is also proficient in Stata and R. Their dissertation will look at the school-work transitions for minority STEM students.

I am Farah Elgaweesh, and I am a third-year honours nursing student and the co-president of the Health Sciences Students Association, the College of Health Sciences students' representative association. I am passionate about the Sustainable Development Goals and how they intersect to affect the social determinants of health in our community, particularly Goal 5: Gender Equality. My research focuses on sexual assault prevention in immigrant populations and on reducing barriers to reporting. Over the past 3 years, I have also delved deeper into the realm of planetary health. I started as a research assistant in green chemistry and now in nursing and love to contribute into how these two fields intersect, especially in interprofessional research!

Cathrine (Kit) Becker (she/they) is a PhD student at the University of Alberta, Canada, and MA sociology graduate from Western University, Canada. Their research focuses on education and work, and the role of power and identity in influencing educational and career outcomes. She often uses qualitative methods, primarily interviews and discourse content analysis, but is also proficient in Stata and R. Their dissertation will look at the school-work transitions for minority STEM students.

Marilyn Buffalo was named ‘Morning Sun Woman’ in a Plains Cree Sun Dance ceremony because she is an early riser. She was born and raised on Samson Cree Nation in Hobbema, Alberta, Canada. Marilyn Buffalo has 50 years of service in indigenous community development in seeking truth and reconciliation in education, national and international indigenous policy development, sports and recreation, justice, family law, veteran and elder rights, land rights, language rights, economic and business development. Marilyn gives full credit to her leadership development to her ancestors on both sides of her family; her early mentor was paternal grandfather John Tootoosis, a treaty activist that organized the National Indian Brotherhood, now the Assembly of First Nations. 

Marilyn is a descendent of Yellow Mud Blanket, brother of Chief Poundmaker, original signatory to Treaty No. 6 of 1876. Marilyn the eldest of twelve children was very close to her maternal grandmother Harriet Buffalo, the youngest daughter of World War 1 sniper Henry Louis Norwest. As a result, for many years while her grandmother was alive, Marilyn researched family history and organized family memorial feasts in remembrance honour of The Great Henry Louis Norwest. 

Through a wide range of national and international affiliations, Marilyn has given a Voice to Canada’s Indigenous Women, Youth and Children in all political, social, and economic affairs. At age 25, Marilyn was the first indigenous person appointed as Advisor on Native Affairs to the University of Alberta from 1975 – 1979. She is Founding Chair of the General Faculties Council Committee on Native Studies and advised the President and Vice President (Academic). Marilyn laid the foundation for the Faculty of Native Studies, Native Student Services and created a format for all aboriginal programming at the University of Alberta campus. In 1985, Marilyn founded the Aboriginal Peoples Commission for the Alberta Liberal Party and extended to a national level within the Liberal Party in 1990. She co-authored the Red Book; Chapter 7 (Liberal Party’s Aboriginal Policy Platform) adopted by Prime Minister Jean Chretien for October 1992 federal election. In 1992 - 93, Marilyn served as the National Director of Aboriginal Policy, for Prime Minister Jean Chretien in Ottawa, Canada’s national capital city. Marilyn served as Senior Policy Advisor to National Chief Ovide Mercredi from 1994 to 1997. In October 1997, Marilyn was one of four indigenous women global delegates invited by the Rockefeller Foundation to the State of the World Forum in San Francisco chaired by Mikhail Gorbechev. Marilyn served as President of Native Women’s Association of Canada from 1997 to 2000. During that period, she negotiated and implemented a 5-year national partnership agreement with HRDC, the net worth of $15 million for aboriginal women employment and training initiatives. From 2000 to 2005, Marilyn acted as Senior Policy Advisor to the Samson Cree Nation in Ottawa and at the same time, Marilyn advised a legal team on policy and communications matters associated with landmark treaty rights and breach of trust lawsuit, Victor Buffalo vs. the Queen. 

Chatelaine Magazine recognized Marilyn in December 2000 as Canada’s Role Model of the Year. In May 2001, Marilyn joined the Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency Adrienne Clarkson, on a two week State Tour of Chile and Argentina, where she spoke at universities, chiefs meetings and panels. In 2002, Marilyn was presented an Eagle Feather Award by the Southern Chiefs of Manitoba in recognition of her continued dedication to Canada’s First Nations Land and Treaty Rights. Marilyn was recipient of a Golden Eagle Award, in March 2004, from Native Women’s Association of Canada for her lifetime contributions to Canada’s Aboriginal Women. At the United Nations Indigenous Permanent Forum (May 2004) Marilyn served as the Chair of UN Global Indigenous Women Assembly in New York, New York. Marilyn is a recognized public speaker on television, radio, print media, conferences and universities, recently spoke on ‘Aboriginal Youth and Women are Canada’s #1 Asset’ to a group of CEOs at Calgary Petroleum Club, Canadian Cancer Society, and National Aboriginal Government Employees Conference. 

In continuing her life work for the betterment of aboriginal peoples, her current focus is on the educational and cultural developmental needs of Samson Cree Nation children and youth. Marilyn is an independent indigenous affairs consultant currently based in Edmonton, Alberta.

Benjamin is a Métis scholar in the department of Anthropology at the University of Alberta. His work explores material culture, trade networks, and the stories carried through belongings, with particular attention to beadwork, visual expression, and the cultural meanings embedded in material practices. He currently serves as President of the Indigenous Graduate Students’ Association, where he advocates for Indigenous representation, relational research practices, and meaningful collaboration across disciplines.