معرفی
Dr. Jennifer Leason is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Calgary. She holds a prestigious CIHR Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Maternal Child Wellness and serves as a Child Health & Wellness Researcher at the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute. Her work focuses on addressing maternal-child health disparities for Indigenous Canadians through research on reproductive health, pregnancy, birth, postpartum experiences, and early childhood development.
Dr. Leason earned her B.A. from the University of Saskatchewan in 2000 and completed her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies at the University of British Columbia in 2017. As a member of the Pine Creek Indian Band with maternal Indigenous roots from Duck Bay, Pine Creek and Camperville, Manitoba, and paternal Ukrainian-Norwegian roots from Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan, she brings her lived experience and Anishinaabe perspective (her Anishinaabe name is Kessis Sagay-Yas Egett Kwé: First Shining Rays of Sunlight Woman) to her academic work.
Her research interests center on Indigenous Maternal Child Wellness, with particular focus on traditional birth practices, Indigenous midwifery, cultural safety in healthcare, and addressing systemic health disparities affecting Indigenous communities. Dr. Leason's work examines how social determinants of health impact Indigenous maternal-child outcomes and explores culturally appropriate interventions to improve wellness. She investigates the complex intersections of colonialism, healthcare systems, and Indigenous knowledge in shaping birth experiences and child health outcomes.
Analysis of Dr. Leason's recent publications reveals a strong thematic focus on Indigenous health equity, with particular attention to reproductive justice, traditional birth practices, and healthcare access disparities. Her work spans multiple disciplines including public health, Indigenous studies, medical ethics, and health policy. A notable pattern is her commitment to community-engaged research that centers Indigenous voices and experiences, particularly regarding maternity care, incarceration impacts on Indigenous women, and substance use challenges in Indigenous communities.
- Reverend Dr. Chief John Snow Award, University of Calgary (2019)
- PEAK Scholar, University of Calgary (2018)
- Best Children's Books of the Year [2025 Edition], Bank Street College of Education (2025)
- Finalist Indigenous Voices Award (2025)
- Impact Award in Health and Wellness, University of Calgary, Faculty of Arts (2025)
- CBC Best Books for Kids & Teens 2020 (2020)
- Runner-up: Sustainability Teaching Award (2020)
Dr. Leason leads significant CIHR-funded projects including 'Exploring Economic Costs of Obstetric Evacuation and Social-cultural Benefits of Indigenous Midwifery' (ReclaimingIndigenousBirth.ca) and 'Honouring Voice and Vision- Exploring Incarcerated Indigenous Women's Maternity Experiences' (HonouringVoices.ca). Through her Canada Research Chair position, she mentors emerging Indigenous scholars and collaborates with communities to develop culturally grounded approaches to maternal-child wellness. Her work bridges academic research with community needs, focusing on practical solutions to address health disparities while honoring Indigenous knowledge systems and self-determination in healthcare.
Dr. Leason has established meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities and healthcare organizations, creating spaces for Indigenous voices in health research and policy. Her Reclaiming Indigenous Birth initiative works to document and revitalize traditional birth practices, while the Honouring Voices project addresses the maternity experiences of incarcerated Indigenous women. These projects exemplify her commitment to research that directly benefits Indigenous communities and contributes to systemic change in healthcare delivery.
