Bernard C. Perley

Dr. Bernard C. Perley is a Director and Professor in the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies at the University of British Columbia, within the Faculty of Arts. His work bridges anthropology, art, and Indigenous advocacy, focusing on language revitalization and community-based research. He holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from Harvard University, alongside degrees in Fine Arts and Architecture.

Education:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (Studio Arts), University of Texas at Austin
• Master of Architecture (Architectural Design), University of Texas at Austin
• PhD in Social Anthropology, Harvard University

Research Interests: Perley’s work centers on Indigenous language preservation, ethnocosmogenesis (recreating cultural worlds through storytelling), and the intersection of art with activism. He emphasizes experiential learning, such as landscape-based pedagogy and graphic novels to convey Indigenous histories. His projects include installations on Maliseet language revitalization and satirical comics critiquing colonial practices.

Grants & Projects: Perley has contributed to initiatives like the Public Humanities Hub’s Research Clusters and Faculty Fellowships. His current projects include a graphic novel exploring mythic time and climate change, blending Indigenous oral traditions with modern narratives.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Musqueam community on ancestral land studies and co-leads interdisciplinary teams in art, education, and anthropology.