Jennifer Leason
Affiliations
Chair: CIHR Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Maternal Child Wellness
Professor
Child Health & Wellness Researcher
Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute
Contact information
Location
Community Research Space: Earth Science925
Office: Faculty of Arts Tower712
For media enquiries, contact
Background
Educational Background
B.A. University of Saskatchewan, 2000
Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, University of British Columbia, 2017
Biography
My work draws on Indigenous law, matriarchal governance, lived systems, and community epistemology. My art is an extension of my work. It is a method of exploration that allows me to deepen my research intentions. Arts-based research methods are also practices that I bring into community-led research projects, where Elders, health practitioners, and community members identify the issues they want research to help shed light on, and the researchers support that illumination.
Theories I have articulated (so far) include:
Gwayakooshgawiin
Umbilical Consciousness
Gwayakooshgawiin (Living in Truth) is a relational theory that offers a framework for understanding knowledge, power, and responsibility to create new visions for a shared future. It draws on matriarchal governance, lived systems, Anishinaabe epistemologies, and Indigenous worldviews.
Watch this short film of my art animating this theory: https://www.jenniferleason.com/videos/gwayakooshgawiin/
Umbilical Consciousness is an architecture of life. It shows us that:
Relationship comes before institution.
Love and care are not the opposite of power; they are the condition of authority.
Those with greater capacity carry responsibility.
Separation should never happen before readiness, and
Every decision becomes an opportunity to carry Love forward.
Umbilical consciousness is a relational lifeline reaching back to those who carried us. And toward those we are carrying now and into the future. Perhaps this is the first teaching we receive, not through words, but through connection.
Research
Areas of Research
The purpose of my work is to help restore community-based care to create positive health outcomes for Indigenous moms, children, families, and communities. I have worked in a variety of roles on many collaborative projects over the past decade – as a lead researcher, professor, trainer, artist, and facilitator.
My approach is inclusive, participatory, and collaborative. I work with Matriarchal Elders, policy analysts, program officers, academics, and health practitioners such as Indigenous midwives. Collaborating across sectors and disciplines from the outset ensures that the knowledge that is created responds to the needs of those who need it.
Convening interdisciplinary research teams is key to success because it brings together multiple perspectives. As we dive into our research questions, we develop a shared understanding that is enriched by our diverse perspectives, training, strengths, and gifts. We use mixed methods to research, such as digital stories, systematic reviews, data, and economic modeling and analysis.
Because we work in a society and institutions that have been colonized, part of our efforts always focus on decolonizing data, research, and ways of being together. We address and overcome barriers as they arise.
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 410 LEC 01 01 | Cntmpr'y INDG Affairs Canada | 2021 |
| INDG 503 | Indigenous Methodologies | Spring 2025 |
| INDG 503 | Indigenous Methodologies | Spring 2023 |
| INDG 503 | Indigenous Methodologies | Spring 2024 |
| INDG 503 | Indigenous Maternal Child Health | Fall 2026 |
Projects
https://reclaimingindigenousbirth.ca
https://www.honouringvoices.ca
https://www.iwhrc.ca
Awards
- Reverend Dr. Chief John Snow Award, University of Calgary . 2019
- PEAK Scholar, The University of Calgary. 2018
- Best Children’s Books of the Year [2025 Edition]. Bank Street College of Education. , https://educate.bankstreet.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1027&context=cbc_awards. 2025
- Finalist Indigenous Voices Award. , https://indigenousvoicesawards.org/home-page. 2025
- Impact Award in Health and Wellness., University of Calgary, Faculty of Arts. 2025
- CBC Best Books for Kids & Teens 2020, https://www.cbc.ca/books/30-canadian-picture-books-to-watch-for-this-fall-1.5248128. 2020
- Runner-up: Sustainability Teaching Award, https://www.ucalgary.ca/sustainability/get-involved/programs/annual-sustainability-awards. 2020
- Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award. , Canadian Children’s Book Centre . 2025
Publications
- The Alberta Indigenous Mentorship in Health Innovation (AIM-HI) Network: Approach, Activities and Reflections of an Indigenous Mentorship Network Program. . 1. R. Barnabe, C., Henderson, R., Baker, J., Leason, J., Currie, C., Fellner, K., Henry, R., Voyageur, C., Crowshoe, L., . Advances in Health Sciences Education.. (2022)
- Exploring the contextual risk factors and characteristics of individuals who died from the acute toxic effects of opioids and illegal substances: Listening to the coroner and medical examiner voice. . Thompson, T., Enns, A., Rotondo, J., Leason, J., Hannah, H., Halverson, J., Huyer, D., Kuo, M., Lapointe, L. May-Hadford, J., Orpana, H. . (2021)
- The Forced and Coerced Sterilization of Indigenous Women: Strengths to Build Upon. . Canadian Family Physician Journal: Art of Family Medicine. 2021; 68(4). 302-303. (2021)
- Indigenous Women's Stress and Postpartum Depression: Discussions from the Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey and Indigenous Maternity Narratives. International Journal of Indigenous Health. . International Journal of Indigenous Health. 2021; 16(2). 225-243. (2021)
- Exploring the complex context of Indigenous maternal-child health through maternity experiences: the role of social determinants of health. . Social Determinants of Health Journal. 2018; 4(2). 54-67. (2021)
- eHealth Interventions for Treatment and Prevention of Depression, Anxiety and Insomnia during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. . 2. R. Silang, K., Sohal, P., Bright, K., Leason, J., Roos, L., Lebel, C., Giesbrecht, G., Tomfohr-Madsen, L. . (2022)
- Reproductive and maternal health experiences of Indigenous women in prison: A Scoping Review. . Wang, C., Jurgitis, J., Cavanagh, A., Cheng, B., Kouyoumdjian, F., Leason, J. . Social Science and Medicine. (2025)
- Nuts’a’mat shqwaluwun: Knitting ways of life with Indigenous research principles to examine preterm birth in Quw’utsun. . Seymour, L., Peter, D., Tinoco, E., Thomas, E., Johnny, L., Yuen, B., Spry, L., Mendoza, F., Elliott, M., Webster, B., Waters, S., Sawchuck, D., Simpson, A., Leason, J., Janssen, P., Murray, J. . Canadian Journal of Public Health. (2025)
- Understanding the experiences of young, urban, Indigenous mothers-to-be in British Columbia, Canada. . Catherine, N., Leason, J., Marsden, N., Barker, B., Cullen, A., Simpson, A., Berry, B., Mohns, E., Yung, D., Zheng, Y., MacMillan, H., Waddell, C., . BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. (2025)
- Substance-Related Acute Toxicity Deaths in Canada from 2016 to 2017: Protocol for a Retrospective Chart Review Study of Coroner and Medical Examiner Files. . Rotondo, J., VanSteelandt; Kouyoumdjian, F., Bowes, M., Kakkar, T., Jones, G., Abele, B., Murray, R., Schleihauf, E., Halverson, J., Leason, J., Huyer, D., Jackson, B., Bozart-Emre, S., Shah, D., Rees, E. . JMIR Public Health and Surveillance. . (2024)
- Cost of medical evacuation and transportation of First Nations Peoples and Inuit who travel for medical care in Canada: A Systematic Review. . Radhaa, M., Leason, J., Twalibu, A., Davis, E., Dion Fletcher, C., Lawford, K., Darling, E., Wylie, L., Couchie, C., Simon, A., & John-Baptiste, A. . Canadian Journal of Public Health . (2024)
- Disparities in primary and emergency health care among “off-reserve” Indigenous females compared with non-Indigenous females aged 15-55 year in Canada. . Srugo, S., Ricci, C., Leason, J., Jiang, Y., Luo, W., Nelson, C., and the Indigenous Advisory Committee. . Canadian Medical Association Journal. (2023)
- Exploring the contextual risk factors and characteristics of individuals who died from the acute toxic effects of opioids and other illegal substances: listening to the coroner and medical examiner voice. . Thompson, T., Rotondo, J., Enns, A., Leason, J., Halverson, J., Huyer, D., Kuo, M., Lapointe, L., May-Hadford, J., Orpana, H. . Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Canada. . (2023)
- Beyond ACEs and PCEs: Relational Epidemiology and the Childhood Wellness Framework. . Leason, J.. (2026)
- Indigenous Epidemiology in Canada: Epistemic Struggle towards Evidence, Authority and Governance. . (2026)
- Matriarchal Wisdom: Indigenous Women's and Perinatal Health. Dr. Jennifer Leason. Introduction to Determinants of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples' Health in Canada, Canadian Scholars Press. 51-67. (2022)
- Sacred Bundles Unborn. 14. Mercredi, M., Leason, J., Turpel-Lafond, M.E., Boyer, Y., Lombard, A.R., Lawford, K., Affleck, E., Pambrun, N., Bourgeois, C., Stote, K., Cheechoo, K., Gedded, G., Johnson-Smith, G., Fairbairn., Saccsara Quispe, V., & Lafontaine, A . Friesen Press. (2022)
- “Meenunyakaa”: Blue Berry Patch. Leason, J. & Chartrand, N. . Theytus Publishing. 1-32. (2019)
- “Amopenachee: Hummingbird". . Leason, J. and Chartrand, N. . Orca. (2024)
- Substance-related acute toxicity deaths in Canada from 2016 to 2017: Protocol for a retrospective chart review study of coroner medical examiner files. . Rotondo, J., Abele, B., Bowes, M., Bozat-Emre, S., Halverson, J., Huyer., Jackson, B., Jones, Kakkar, GT., Kouyoumdjian, J., Leason, J., Murry, R., Rees, E., Schleihauf, E., Shah, D., VanSteelandt, A. . Government of Canada. (2023)
In the News
- University of Calgary: Dr. Jennifer Leason wins CIHR New Investigator's Award In Indigenous Maternal Child Health. http://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2018-03-26/anthropologys-jennifer-leason-receives-cihr-new-investigators-award. (2018)
- Indigenous author presents award-winning book. . (2026)
- Indigenous author visits hometown of former teacher, librarian her recent award was named after. . (2026)
- CBC Homestretch Amopenachee. (2025)
- TUCFA News and Views. Member Profile: Dr. Jennifer Leason- Advocating for Life, Dignity, and the Return to What was Taken. (2026)
- Indigenous Interdisciplinary Land-based Research Space created in Kananaskis Country first of its kind in Canada. . (2026)
More Information
For over a decade, I have won grants for academic research projects with an awarded value amounting to over $138,000,000. Details are provided below.
https://www.jenniferleason.com/research/grants/
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