Joy Porter

Professor Joy Porter is the University of Birmingham 125th Anniversary Chair and Professor of Indigenous and Environmental History. She leads the Treatied Spaces Research Group, focusing on Indigenous environmental and political concerns. Her current projects include the AHRC-funded 'Historic Houses Global Crossroads' and 'Brightening the Covenant Chain.' She holds editorial roles at Cambridge University Press' Elements in Indigenous Environmental Research series. Porter's research spans Indigenous treaties, environmental history, and decolonization, with notable works like Trauma, Primitivism and the First World War (2021) and the upcoming Canada’s Green Challenge (2025). She has received awards including the Royal Historical Society Fellowship and National Teaching Fellow designation. Her work bridges academia with policy, advising on Indigenous heritage and environmental law. She supervises PhD students in areas like water cultures and Indigenous treaties.

• Education: PhD (1994), MA (1990) – University of Nottingham
• Grants: £1.49M AHRC grant (2024-27), £931k AHRC grant (2021-24)
• Consultancy: Works with heritage sites, exam boards, and governments on Indigenous cultural heritage

Research Interests: Porter’s work examines Indigenous treaty frameworks, environmental diplomacy, and the intersection of history with modern challenges. She advocates for inclusive heritage practices and Indigenous leadership in global environmental policymaking.