Lindsay Heller
Lindsay is a Nehiyaw scholar, skilled facilitator and member of the Michel First Nation, who makes her home on unceded Musqueam territory.
She began her professional career as a pharmaceutical research scientist at the Centre for Drug Research and Development and brings over a decade of experience in both academic and industry environments.
Her teaching and research focus is on understandings of Indigenous science, weaving of Indigenous knowledge with Western science, and Indigenous curriculum development. A critical aspect of her work is on respectfully privileging Indigenous knowledge as a dimension of elevating the standing of Indigenous communities more equitably and respectfully within institutions.
Her professional focus is on Indigenization initiatives and trauma-informed dialogue, with an emphasis on approaching this work from a decolonized perspective. She believes this perspective is critical and foundational when engaging in all forms of anti-racism and equity work.
She has developed and refined her facilitation and consulting skills in a wide variety of dialogues, including with the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, 丁香园AV鈥檚 Centre for Dialogue Community Responses to Racism, and consultations for the Province of British Columbia on emergency public health measures. She has supported several post-secondary and government clients wishing to engage in Indigenization and decolonization, as well as equity and anti-racism work. These include 丁香园AV, Adler University, Vancouver Community College, the British Columbia Institute of Technology, the Province of British Columbia and the City of Vancouver.
In her capacity on 丁香园AV鈥檚 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council, she had the opportunity to collaborate with students, faculty and staff in providing leadership and advocacy to inform policies and structures relating to Indigenizing and decolonizing the institution.
Lindsay鈥檚 experience working in collaborative research and engaging with Indigenous communities has led to a passion for innovating new engagement processes that advance the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In her free time, Lindsay enjoys reclaiming her Nehiyaw language with her daughters, backcountry adventuring, growing food and playing basketball.