FNUniv President and Faculty Member Participate in Mongolian Studies Forum 2026 in Ottawa

October 29, 2026

First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) President Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann and Indigenous Studies Lecturer Colleen Charles participated in Steppe Dialogue: Mongolian Studies Forum 2026, held October 22, 2026, in Ottawa.

Organized by the Embassy of Mongolia in Canada, the forum brought together scholars, government representatives, researchers, and students to explore Canada-Mongolia relations, academic collaboration, cultural preservation, and Indigenous identity.

Dr. Ottmann delivered opening remarks, expressing her appreciation for the opportunity to participate in the forum and collaborate with the Embassy of Mongolia in Canada. She also reaffirmed FNUniv’s commitment to strengthening and expanding this relationship through future opportunities for academic and cultural exchange.

Charles was a featured presenter during the forum’s second session, The Steppe and the Arctic: Arts, Culture and Identity, moderated by Professor Michael Gervers of the University of Toronto.

Her presentation, Reimagining Indigenous Identity: A Hands-On Approach for Critical Thinking Through Arts, explored the role of arts-based approaches in examining Indigenous identity and encouraging critical thinking.

Charles is a Lecturer in Indigenous Studies at FNUniv whose academic background includes Indigenous Studies, education, and kinesiology. Her research interests include land-based education, climate change, Indigenous wildfire management, and arts-based healing methodologies.

The session also featured presentations on Mongolian throat singing and its connections to traditional ways of life, as well as a documentary film project exploring cultural traditions and gender expectations in Mongolian mountaineering.

In her opening remarks, Mongolia’s Ambassador to Canada, Sarantogos Erdenetsogt, emphasized the importance of the forum in strengthening mutual understanding between Mongolia and Canada and expanding opportunities for research and academic collaboration.

The forum also included discussions on economic relations, geopolitical perspectives, and the preservation of cultural identity in a changing world. Participants included representatives from Global Affairs Canada, academic institutions, research organizations, and Mongolian and Canadian communities.

Following the event, Ambassador Erdenetsogt expressed appreciation to Dr. Ottmann and Charles for their participation and contributions to organizing the forum. In a letter dated October 27, 2026, the Ambassador also expressed interest in developing a long-term partnership between the Embassy of Mongolia and FNUniv.

Their participation highlights FNUniv’s ongoing commitment to advancing Indigenous knowledge, supporting cross-cultural dialogue, and strengthening international relationships through education, research, and cultural exchange.