Meet Faculty Members of the Indigenous Social Work Program

Where are you from?

Zagime Anishinabek, Treaty 4 (also known as Sakimay First Nations). I’ve been out there time and again, but I’ve never lived out there.

What is something we don’t know about you?

I’ve never really had hobbies. I don’t like beading – the only really excellent skill that I have is teaching. I used to like reading until I did a PhD.

What is your area of study?

Indigenous Social Work; I like working with homelessness, prostitution, gangs, HIV/Aids, all the stuff that belongs to street people.

What do you research? Do you publish or have books (and do you want to talk about your publications?)

I do! I published from my dissertation – I have two books. I don’t know the names of them. Let me look it up. The first one is An Arrow in My Heart: A First Nation Woman’s Account of Survival from the Streets to the Height of Academia. The other one is called A Fire Burns Within: Teachings From Ceremonies and Culture. I have a third book, but I don’t know where it is. My publisher ghosted me. He was sick. We wrote another book, but I haven’t heard from him in a year.The third one is my MSW project. It is PROSTITUTION An Indigenous Woman’s Experience and View: “It’s A Lonely World.” The most recent book that I edited is on his website: iyiniwak wîcihitowak owîcihtâsowinihk Indigenous (Aboriginal) People Help Each Other in Social Work. There was another one that I was an editor for, and a bunch of them where I wrote chapters of books.

What are you most proud of?

I am proud of the fact that I have worked at this university for 26 years and I am getting my 25 year award through First Nations University of Canada Long Service Award this year. And that I have been sober for 35 years. None of this would have been possible without that.

Do you have a 5-year plan? What does it include?

No, I don’t have a 5 year plan. Just to continue on teaching and doing stuff to the best of my ability. Maybe retire after? The University can maybe kick me out, but I told someone that they’d have to take me kicking and screaming.

Where are you from?

St. Louis SK, which is a small Métis community/village.  I was raised there, then moved to Prince Albert in 2007, but St. Louis will always be home. 

What is something we don’t know about you?

I am a mom of two boys. Zepherin who is four, and Kohlson who is two. So very busy!

What is your area of study?

I am a registered Social Worker. I have both my Bachelors (2016) and Masters (2019) of Indigenous Social Work which I obtained through the First Nations University of Canada. I am currently in the process of completing a PhD at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine, in the Department of Health Sciences. My research focus is on Indigenous evaluation and program development.

What do you research? Do you publish or have books (and do you want to talk about your publications?)

I am fairly new to the research world. I did publish a scoping review on Indigenous evaluation methods and guiding principles. I am currently working on a second manuscript. In the past I have collaborated with other authors on their publications. I have also worked on a research team that focused on cancer and patient navigation in Indigenous Populations in Northern Saskatchewan.

What are you most proud of?

Being a mom!

Do you have a 5-year plan? What does it include?

Finishing my PhD! Overall, I feel happy and content with where I am at right now. I think this is the first time in my life where I have not had any clear concrete goals, and for now I think that is okay. I have worked so hard in my earlier years to achieve all of the goals I have set out for myself, and now I just want to enjoy life, travel, and continue learning and teaching!