A collection of graduate research by Indigenous social work scholars

Stitching Our Stories Together showcases emerging scholars who, by centering their own nations, communities, and individual realities, demonstrate how Indigenous knowledges can challenge settler ideas and myths around pan-Indigeneity.

This collection is bookended with reflections from the scholars’ thesis supervisors, who describe their philosophy of mentoring and supporting students through an Indigenous lens, and how their pedagogies embrace the significance of relationality in Indigenous worldviews.

Stitching Our Stories Together points toward a future where Indigenous ways of knowing and being take their rightful place in spaces of higher learning and social work practice—a necessary intervention in a discipline that has historically been complicit in colonialist harm.

Sohki Aski Esquao, Jeannine Carrière is Métis and was raised in St. Adolphe Manitoba. She has been teaching social work since 1994 in Alberta and at the School of Social Work, University of Victoria, since 2005. In 2024 Jeannine is retiring from her academic career after many years of service to Indigenous social work education. Her research contributions have included topics such as Metis children’s identity, and needs for cultural safety in adoptions and child welfare services.

Jeannine Carrière's profile page

Catherine Richardson is a Métis professor and Director of the Concordia University First Peoples Studies Program. She is a registered clinical counsellor whose research focuses on Indigenous well-being, social service delivery, and recovery from interpersonal and systemic violence.

Catherine Richardson's profile page

“For those wanting to learn about the next thread shaping the tapestry of Indigenous scholarship, Stitching Our Stories Together is a must read.” —Margaret Kovach, University of British Columbia

“These teachings of Indigenous ways of knowing and being, written by Indigenous graduate students who share their ideas, stories, and life experiences, open the door for new ways of doing within academia, within social work practice, and within broader society.” —Dr. Sheri M. McConnell, Memorial University

“The profound and transformative impact of Indigenous senior scholars uplifting Indigenous graduate students pursuing thesis research is truly remarkable...The intergenerational exchange of knowledge and support creates a powerful legacy, ensuring that the voices and perspectives of Indigenous scholars continue to flourish and inspire future generations.” —Dr. Amanda LaVallee