Craig Ginn

Craig Ginn

PhD

Positions

Associate Professor (Teaching)

Faculty of Arts, Department of Classics and Religion

Director

Faculty of Arts, International Indigenous Studies

Contact information

Email

cwcginn@ucalgary.ca

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 220-5612

Background

Educational Background

PhD University of Leeds, 2009

Biography

Craig is an Associate Professor (Teaching) at the University of Calgary in the Department of Classics and Religion and serves as the Director of the International Indigenous Studies Program. Craig has taught at the U of C since 2009 during which time he has taught a wide variety of courses including Jews, Christians and Muslims, Religious Perspectives of Death & the Afterlife, From Jesus to Christ, Bible as Literature, and Christianity in the Developing World. He has developed two courses, Religion in Popular Music and Indigenous Traditions & Worldviews. His current research interests include religion and music, the historical-comparative study of religion, and Louis Riel as religio-political figure.  He is active in interdisciplinary research also, serving as a Co-Investigator in a community-based study exploring links between health, spirituality, and wellbeing within the Métis Nation of Alberta.  He is currently serving as a guest editor with the international peer-reviewed journal Religions.  Craig is a musician and scholar whose music and videos draw attention to Indigenous histories and worldviews. At the 2023 Métis Recognition Awards he received the inaugural Excellence in the Arts Award. Craig’s projects available as open-access educational resources include the Songs of Justice Project (2021) and the Animal Kinship Project (2024). 

Projects

Songs of Justice Project

The Songs of Justice Project is a collection of songs and videos that address the impact of colonialism while celebrating the perseverance of Indigenous teachings. Five songs from draw attention to the historical and current significance, both spiritual and political, of Louis Riel and the Métis people.

https://www.craigginn.com

Animal Kinship Project

The Animal Kinship Project is a collection of songs and videos that honour the impact and presence of animals, highlighting Indigenous understandings of relationality. Two songs address the devastating loss of animals, the plains bison in the late-19th century and Inuit sled dogs from 1950-1975.  

https://www.craigginn.com

Awards

  • Social Innovator Ignite Prize, Social Innovation Hub, Innovate Calgary. 2024
  • Excellence in the Arts, Metis Nation of Alberta Region 3. 2023
  • Teaching and Learning Grant, Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. 2022
  • Research Fellow, Evolve to Innovate. 2022
  • Patient-Oriented Research, CIHR Indigenous Health Research (IHR). 2021
  • Energizing the Arts, University of Calgary. 2021
  • Falling Walls Conference Nomination, Hunter Hub, University of Calgary. 2020
  • SU Teaching Excellence Awards Nomination, Students' Union Teaching Excellence Awards Committee. 2017
  • SU Teaching Excellence Awards Nomination, Students' Union Teaching Excellence Awards Committee. 2016

In the News