I am a third year PhD candidate here at the Faculty of Education. My research interests include: Indigenous education, Indigenous education policy, educator practice, and decolonizing education.

My dissertation research explores educator perspectives on First Nation, Métis, and Inuit education in Ontario secondary schools. In focussing my attention on the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Ontario First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Education Policy Framework, released in 2007 my research asks: How do educators understand and enact government and board policies on FNMI education?

Through my exploration of this question I am hopeful that my research will make important contributions in the following areas:

• Operationalizing theories related to decolonizing education in Canada
• The ways decolonization is envisioned and enacted by educators in their local context
• Making visible the voices and perspectives of educators in research
• Developing recommendations about professional development, policy, and practice improvements based on educator contributions that will strengthen the delivery of FNMI education programming

I am lucky to be guided in this journey by my supervisor Dr. Rebecca Coulter.

Rebecca Coulter, PhD

Supervisor