Photo Credit: Jodi O Photography

Jennifer Leason

PhD
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers/Kwe

Positions

Chair: CIHR Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Maternal Child Wellness

Faculty of Arts, Department of Political Science

Child Health & Wellness Researcher

Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute

Contact information

Location

Community Research Space: Earth Science925
Office: Earth Science`752

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Background

Educational Background

B.A. University of Saskatchewan, 2000

Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, University of British Columbia, 2017

Research

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
ANTH 410 LEC 01 01 Cntmpr'y INDG Affairs Canada 2021

Projects

CIHR: Exploring Economic Costs of Obstetric Evacuation and Social-cultural Benefits of Indigenous Midwifery

https://reclaimingindigenousbirth.ca


CIHR: Honouring Voice and Vision- Exploring Incarcerated Indigenous Women's Maternity Experiences

https://www.honouringvoices.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

Publications

  • 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)

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