Amy Shawanda, PhD
Assistant Professor
Indigenous Health Scholar
Department of Family Medicine
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Amy Shawanda is Anishinaabe from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory, Manitoulin Island. She obtained her bachelor's degree in law & justice and Indigenous studies and holds a master's degree in Indigenous Relations from Laurentian University. She obtained her Indigenous studies doctoral degree at Trent University. Prof. Shawanda was the Provost Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto in the Waakebiness Institute for Indigenous health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health.
Her scholarship is centered around Indigenous ways of Being, Doing, and Knowing. Prof. Shawanda is driven on passion to make a difference for Indigenous communities. She provides innovative approaches to bridging the gap between western medicine and traditional Indigenous health and wellness practices such as her Paawaawayin漏锔� workshop, policy work, and advocacy for the importance of honoring Indigenous knowledge and traditions. Her greatest reward is seeing positive change take root in the communities she serves.
Prof. Shawanda is a respected mentor and educator, inspiring the next generation of Indigenous healthcare professionals. She serves as a role model for Indigenous youth, proving that it's possible to succeed in the world of medicine while staying true to one's cultural identity. She is community driven, generationally inspired, and social justice oriented.
Research interests
Prof. Shawanda is an interdisciplinary, distinctions-based, qualitative health researcher. Her work combines cultural competency in healthcare, health policy and advocacy, and cultural resilience and wellbeing. Currently, she is an Indigenous sleep researcher and an author to dream knowledge work: Dream methodologies and Dream citations. She collaborative partner on the Indigenous commercial determinants of health, mental health projects, family wellness, and Anishinaabe health ethos.
Keywords
Indigenous health, Indigenous pedagogies, qualitative research, healthcare access, sleep, dream knowledge, Anishinaabe health
Publications
Chapter in Books
| August 2024 |
Our Ancestors and Mental Health: Engaging in Meaningful Dialogue on Mental Health from Indigenous Knowledge Sources Educational Contexts of Psychopathology and Mental Health Co-authored with Bobbi Henry |
| July 2023 |
Indigenous Pedagogies and the implications of EdTech, data, and AI in the classroom Perspectives on Indigenous Pedagogy in Education Edited by Sheila Cote-Meek and Tamia Moake-Pickering Co-authored with Robyn Rowe |
Journal Articles
| July 2023 |
Bridging the commercial determinants of Indigenous health and the legacies of colonization: A critical analysis Global Health Promotion Co-authored with Daniel Eisenkraft-Klein Link: |
| July 2023 |
Pkwenezige (Smudging Ceremony): A First Nation Right to Ceremony Asia-Pacific Journal of Canadian Studies Link: |
| June 2023 |
Commentary: Does Health Care? Accountability Matters for Indigenous Patients Healthcare Policy Link: |
| May 2023 |
Nda-nwendaaganag (All My Relations): A relational approach to citation practices Turtle Island Journal of Health Link: |
| May 2023 |
Dream Methodologies Turtle Island Journal of Health Co-authored with Joshua Manitowabi Link: |
| April 2023 |
Using the Medicine Wheel as theory, conceptual framework, analysis, and evaluation tool in health research SSM 鈥� Qualitative Research in Health Co-Authored with Angela Mashford-Pringle Link: |
| June 2022 |
Anishinaabe Research Methodology that assisted in the Act of Resistance by Resurging Anishinaabe Motherhood Traditional Teachings and Pedagogies Asian Journal of Canadian Studies Link: |
| August 2020 |
Baawaajige: Exploring Dreams as Academic References Turtle Island Journal of Indigenous Health Waakebiness- Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health University of Toronto Link: |
| July 2017 |
An Examination of the Integration Processes of Anishinaabe Smudging Ceremonies in Northeastern Ontario Health Care Facilities Laurentian University Link: |
External Links
Aanoodizewin Podcast:
Kina Gwaa Gegoo Gzhe-Mnidoo Gaa Bgidana Maagii'ing: