Frances Slaney

Frances Slaney is an Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Carleton University. Previously, she taught anthropology at the University of Regina (1996–2005). She holds a BA from the University of British Columbia, and MA and PhD from Université Laval. Her research focuses on socio-cultural anthropology, including Tarahumara ethnography, material culture, and the history of anthropology, particularly the career of C. Marius Barbeau and his collaborations with Canadian artists.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, University of British Columbia
• Master of Arts in Anthropology, Université Laval
• Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology, Université Laval

Research interests span Tarahumara ritual practices, the anthropology of museums, and Barbeau's European education (under R.R. Marett and Marcel Mauss) and its impact on Canadian cultural practices. She is completing a book on Barbeau’s intellectual legacy.

Grants include SSHRC post-doctoral and standard research grants, and Wenner-Gren Foundation funding. Teaching includes undergraduate courses like ‘Material Culture and Museums’ and graduate courses such as ‘Theories of Visual and Material Culture.’ She has supervised M.A. and Ph.D. students on topics ranging from Thai martial arts to hospice care narratives.

Her work bridges anthropology and art history, exploring how cultural heritage and modernist movements intersect. Current projects emphasize Barbeau’s role in shaping Canadian multicultural aesthetics.