Professor Jennifer Adese recently spoke to U of T News on the importance of raising awareness of Métis women and their stories within a Canadian context. Professor Adese explains that it is crucial to look into the historical accounts of Métis girls and women, examining the reasons why Métis, as a whole, were mistreated and oppressed. In order to stand in solidarity with minority communities, raising awareness of these issues is essential.
Professor Jennifer Adese is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, with teaching responsibilities at the UT Mississauga (UTM) Campus. Her research focuses on the intersection of Indigenous Studies, Cultural Studies, and Critical Race Theory.
We have posted an excerpt of the article below. The full story is available on the U of T News website here.
With a focus on women, U of T researcher aims to raise awareness of Métis issues in Canada
July 09, 2020
An Indigenous scholar’s long-standing research related to Métis women comes at a pivotal moment when understanding and standing in solidarity with people who are oppressed is crucial.
Jennifer Adese, an associate professor in the department of sociology at the University of Toronto Mississauga, has dedicated her efforts to Indigenous research throughout her academic career. However, it was attending the National Aboriginal Women’s Summit (NAWS) in 2012 that cemented her focus on the experiences of Métis women.
“It was at these proceedings in Ottawa that Indigenous women collectively came together to call on the provincial premiers in attendance to use their power to push the federal government to commit to a national inquiry on the high rates of Indigenous women who have gone missing...” said Adese during a recent interview for the VIEW to the U podcast.
“I had the privilege to sit alongside these women as they met with different members of government, other Indigenous organizations and even with United Nations representatives, and it gave me a pretty life-changing insight (into) the complex public strategies of resilience practised by Métis women.”