Indigenous Education & Community Connections

BA Political Science, Minor in Indigenous Studies; MA Indigenous Governance; PhD Educational Leadership and Policy

ÍY SȻÁĆEL (good day),

My family name is Sii-yaa-ilth-supt, and my English name is Dawn Smith. I am Nuu-chah-nulth from Ehattesaht, but grew up in W̱SÁNEĆ (Tsawout) with my late parents Clyde and Norma Claxton. 

Here at Camosun, I am an Education Strategists in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.  I assist faculty in the development of curriculum related to indigenization and/or sustainability.

My post-secondary education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in Indigenous Studies (2003) and a Master of Arts in Indigenous Governance (2007) from the University of Victoria. I have a doctorate (2018) in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of British Columbia. My research interests continue to include, Indigenous self-determination, Indigenous women and activism, educational leadership and ‘unsettling’ the academy (i.e., decolonization, indigenization, reconciliation, etc.).

HÍ,SW̱ḴE (thank you), Dawn

Courses Teaching/Taught:

Camosun Courses

• Indigenous Studies (IST) 243: Comparative Indigenous Issues
• Indigenous Business Leadership (BL) 105

University of Victoria Courses

• LE,NONET Preparation Seminar
• LE,NONET Community Internship
• Indigenous Education 373
• Child and Youth Care: Indigenous Context 230
• Indigenous Studies 200A and 200B
• Directed Reading Indigenous Studies 490