Jessica Barudin

Jessica Barudin (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Indigenous Community Planning at the University of British Columbia's School of Community and Regional Planning. A Kwakwaka’wakw academic, elected leader of the ‘Namgis First Nation, and mother, she integrates Indigenous knowledge systems with trauma-informed practices in her work. Her research focuses on community-led wellness initiatives, language revitalization, and the intersection of Indigenous feminisms with land stewardship and cultural transmission.

• PhD in Individualized Studies, Concordia University (2023)

Her doctoral research, “Braiding Knowledge through Breath, Language, and Movement,” explores culturally responsive wellness programs for Indigenous women and two-spirit peoples. She co-created the First Nations Women's Yoga Initiative (FNWYI) and leads the Indigenous Yoga Collective, emphasizing embodied practices, spiritual connection, and intergenerational knowledge sharing.

Jessica’s work spans Indigenous public health, decolonial healthcare strategies, and community planning education. She advocates for holistic wellness frameworks that prioritize Indigenous sovereignty and ecological reciprocity.