About Dr. Sean Lessard
I’m Woodland Cree from Montreal Lake Cree Nation in Northern Saskatchewan. As an award-winning educator and former youth worker, teacher, and counselor, I focus on innovative educational programs and Indigenous youth empowerment. Currently, I’m a Professor at the University of Alberta, specializing in Indigenous Education, working alongside, relentlessly advocating, researching, and writing about the experiences of Indigenous youth and families, both inside and outside educational spaces.
Dr. Sean Lessard »Academic Achievements
- B.Ed., University of Alberta, 2000, Social Studies/Native Studies
- M.Ed., University of Alberta, 2010, Educational Psychology (Special Education)
- Ph.D., University of Alberta, 2013, Elementary Education
- Rehabilitation Services Diploma, Lakeland College, 1994
- Indian Teacher Education Program, University of Saskatchewan, 1998
Professional Appointments and Promotion
- Full Professor, 2024 University of Alberta
- Associate Professor, University of Alberta, Teacher Education & Aboriginal Studies (January 2016 – Present)
- Assistant Professor, University of Regina, Core Studies and Indigenous Education (January 2013 – Present)
- Adjunct Professor, University of Regina, Faculty of Education (January 2016 – Present)
Honours and Distinctions
- Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Student Award, University of Alberta, 2010–2012
- Kaplan Graduate Student Award, University of Alberta, 2011–2012
- Pat Clifford Award Early Career Research in Education, Canadian Education Association, 2015
- CRTED Outstanding Teacher Education Doctoral Dissertation Award, University of Alberta, 2015
- Distinguished Alumni, Lakeland College, 2018
- Narrative SIG American Educational Research Association Early Research Award, AERA, 2019
Acknowledgment and Connection
Why Name to Place?
I was driving home from a week-long visit in my home community of Montreal Lake Cree Nation. I had been working with youth who were struggling. I was thinking of the geography, the trees, the water and the land and how much they shape the place and quite literally shape us. The importance of understanding our name and the place that connects us stayed with me. I started to use it as a reminder to try to seek understanding and meaning of the names and places of the youth that I work alongside. I feel if we more fully understand the importance of this idea the more sustained we will become, the more connected to our stories.
Service
My commitment to service extends far beyond the walls of academia. I approach service with a radical dedication to breaking down barriers and fostering imagination through impactful experiences.
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My work involves personal, physical, financial, and spiritual investments, spanning the realms of wellness, the arts, and technology. A significant component of my service revolves around counselling and touchstone conversation, offering crucial support to youth facing challenges, particularly those grappling with hopelessness.
Regrettably, over my career, I have experienced the loss of 21 young lives to suicide. This painful reality has made me a known and trusted figure in the community, sought after by parents and grandparents to work with their children. The older generation has affectionately given me the names Muskwa (bear) and Muskwacicy (bearspaw), highlighting the profound impact of my actions, ethics, and service to children.
Teaching
My teaching philosophy is deeply rooted in my commitments and early experiences. I embarked on my career at 17, working closely with youth seeking alternatives to traditional educational systems. These early encounters shaped my pedagogical approach and life, highlighting the importance of forming meaningful connections within community contexts. After often meeting these youth on the streets, I understood the significance of relational pedagogy in fostering genuine connections.
Research
My research journey has been a dynamic and evolving exploration, placing a strong emphasis on the value of partnerships and collaborative research. Initially centered around youth, families, and wellness, my research plan has continually surpassed and expanded its horizons with each iteration. Engaging in extensive research teams, I have assumed roles as both a researcher and a leader in collaborative research spaces, recognizing the profound importance of relational ethics and the co-construction of knowledge.
It bubbles up inside of me, some of those stories he shares with me. Little bubbles inside me start floating from the bottom to the top of my stomach reaching out in all directions. I think when I imagine them, they are all kinds of colors mostly bright yellows, my favourite. There are different shapes and sizes, small to large and large to small, they have this way of gently lifting me up inside.
Lessard, 23
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy evolves through continuous reflection on complex questions of pedagogy and philosophy. When discussing the future of Indigenous youth education, I resist being labeled an expert, acknowledging the intricate nature of these inquiries. I engage with various stakeholders by identifying ‘small wins’ and focusing on the positives. Advocating internationally, I actively dialogue with policymakers, recognizing the need for collective efforts to bring about meaningful change.
Courses Taught
Speaking Engagements
When you work with me, you become part of the Red Worn Runners program, where part of my fee is to donate shoes to elders and youth so each community member has the opportunity to always travel places within their imagination.