Tommy Happynook

Dr. Tommy Happynook (ḥapinyuuk, čaačaaciiʔasatḥ of Huu-ay-aht First Nations) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Victoria's College of Social Sciences. His work centers on Nuu-chah-nulth ways of knowing, focusing on land, language, and identity through a lens of reconciliation and cultural reclamation.

• PhD in Anthropology from University of Victoria

His research integrates applied Indigenous ontologies, epistemologies, and pedagogies, emphasizing land-based learning and relationships with non-human knowledge holders like lands, waters, and skies. Recent publications address biodiversity metrics integration and environmental policy alignment through Indigenous knowledge systems.

He teaches courses on Indigenous peoples in Canada, including:

• ANTH 201 – Indigenous Peoples, Anthropology, and Colonization (forthcoming)
• ANTH 331 – Indigenous Peoples’ Health in Canada
• ANTH 336 – Contemporary Indigenous Issues in Canada
• ANTH 436 – Applied Indigenous Ways of Knowing

His work involves collaborations with Indigenous communities and institutions like the Alberni Valley Museum and Bill Reid Gallery.