Julia Christensen

Julia Christensen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at Queen's University, situated on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples (Dish with One Spoon Territory). She leads critical research on northern and Indigenous housing systems while serving as Project Director for the CMHC- and SSHRC-funded At Home in the North partnership.

Her research centers on Indigenous self-determination in housing, home as sovereignty, and the impacts of colonial housing policies on contemporary northern housing crises. Christensen examines how historical policy frameworks perpetuate housing shortages while advocating for community-led solutions rooted in Indigenous governance and territorial knowledge.

Scientific Recognition

• Trudeau Foundation Scholar (2008)

As former Canada Research Chair in Northern Governance and Public Policy, Christensen now directs At Home in the North—a major collaborative initiative mobilizing researchers, Indigenous organizations, and governments to develop sustainable housing models. Her work bridges academic research with community action through this nationally funded partnership addressing systemic housing challenges across northern Canada.