Mick Elliott

MBA, BSc.

Pronouns: Two-Spirit, Them/They

Positions

PhD (ABD)

Haskayne School of Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation [ENTI]

Contact information

mick.elliott@ucalgary.ca

Web presence

Background

Educational Background

MBA Indigenous Business Leadership and Management, Simon Fraser University, 2021

B.Sc Computer Information Systems, DeVry University, 2000

Biography

Mick Elliott-Keewatin (Okimâwâtik) is a proud two-spirited citizen of the Okanese First Nation with mixed ancestral roots to the UK, Belgium, and Germany. They live, study, and play in Mohkíntis (Calgary) and on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Reserve). As the inaugural Indigenous business PhD candidate (ABD) at the University of Calgary, their research examines how Indigenous people and our worldviews co-exist with dominant Eurocentric worldviews of existing business institutions to invite innovation and transformation. Drawing on decades of multinational corporate experience, they investigate pathways for institutional resurgence that prioritize Indigenous relationships in business scholarship and practice, extending this inquiry through a research fellowship at Mila AI Institute Quebec to explore how technology is informed by Indigenous worldviews and Knowledge systems might address socioeconomic inequities and support improved economic participation.

Mick also volunteers with Indigenous communities on governance, regulatory, and entrepreneurial initiatives and is part of the IEEE Smart Village North America group supporting socioeconomic transformation. Alongside academics, they are also on a spiritual and cultural journey, connecting with ceremony and a growing traditional family. They can often be found hiking and walking with their standard poodles and husbands

Research

Areas of Research

Reform(att)ing Canada's Relationship with Indigenous Peoples and their Economies

My Knowledge journey (research) looks at the tensions between Indigenous and neoliberal economies while visiting the reality of the socioeconomic gap that exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.

While situated in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, my business acumen lends itself to other business research disciplines including International Business, Organizational Behaviour & Human Resources, and Strategic Management.

Decolonization and Indigenization of Business Schools and Business

Drawing on my multinational corporation experience, I am taking an Indigenist / qualitative research approach to investigate what resources contribute to the development of dynamic capabilities within academic systems necessary to advance Indigenization and Decolonization.

Through this problematized-research I hope to create a framework that can be utilized to increase the representation of Indigenous peoples in academic spaces and around boardroom tables.

Artificial Intelligence / LLMs

Ruminations include leveraging my technology background to contemplate how AI could flip the classroom in higher education. What will pedagogy evolve to?

I am also curious how LLMs could be used to support aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders who might not have the benefit or access to mentors within underrepresented and marginalized communities.

Furthermore, I have created a Cree GPT instance as an Indigenous language tutor to support language and culture revitalization. Through this practical application, I am curious to advance research on how best to deploy culturally-appropriate LLMs solutions into Indigenous communities to counteract the ongoing impacts of residential school and assimilation policies. I have confidence this action-based research will support entrepreneurship, business development, governance support, and educational support with an Indigrnous worldview to increase conveyance into higher education.

Awards

Canada Graduate Scholar, Government of Canada - SSHRC. 2023
Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholar, Government of Alberta. 2022
Building Brighter Futures Scholar, CIBC Bank. 2022
Building Brighter Futures Scholar, McDonalds Canada. 2023
Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholar, Government of Alberta. 2023
Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholar, Government of Alberta. 2024

Publications

Transforming Indigenous Higher Education: Privileging Culture, Identity and Self-Determination: A Review. Emily Salmon. Academy of Management Learning & Education. (2024)
Charting the Course for Decolonization – Feasible Future or Puzzling Paradox. Emily Salmon, Theadora Carter, Mary E. Doucette, Shelley Price, Francois Bastien, Katelynn Carter-Rogers. AOM 2024. (2024)
Defining, Designing And Deploying Indigenous Research Methodologies In Management Research. Theadora Carter, Jordyn Hrenyk, Mary E. Doucette, Emily Salmon, Katelynn Carter-Rogers. AOM 2024. (2024)

Google Scholar

In the News

Paving an inclusive path: Haskayne's first Indigenous business PhD student on a journey to build a better tomorrow. UCalgary News - UToday. (2024)
Indigenizing leadership pathways: A journey through the impactful Ch’nook Scholars program. UCalgary News - UToday. (2024)
Ch’nook Scholars program provides community and support for Indigenous Haskayne students. The Gauntlet. (2024)

More Information

Supervisors: Dr. Jo-Louise Huq and Dr. Yvonne Poitras Pratt