Métis Responsibilities and Academic Expectations: At the Cross-Section of Identity and Research

Abstract

As a Métis person working in the academy, I have responsibilities to my community and my employer. There are times when my Métis values are at odds with the system. This paper serves as an introduction to who I am as a scholar. I outline my priorities and share the philosophical underpinnings of my research. I name some of the challenges that come from navigating identity and expectation, and I celebrate the partnerships that sustain my spirit and ways of being in academia. As part of a strong Métis collective, I am able to focus my time on things that matter to our community. These initiatives nourish my energies and allow me to advance other university-specific requirements in the areas of research, teaching, and service. It is a careful road to navigate and unique to the experiences of Indigenous scholars who are expected to bring their indigeneity to the forefront of who they are in their work. While research faculty are expected devote their time 40% to research tasks, 40% to teaching, and 20% to service, Indigenous scholars might argue that our work is nearly 100% service if we are doing it right.