email: niigonwedom@ou.edu 

Academic Preparation  

2004 – present             M.A. Candidate

Department of English, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

Concentrations: Native American Literatures, Indigenous Orality, American Literatures

                                                *2004-2006 Department of English Sutton Fellowship Recipient

1999 – 2004                Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Department of English, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Concentrations: Aboriginal Literatures, Critical Literary Theory, Children’s Literatures, Victorian Studies, Theatre, Ojibwe

*Graduated Summa Cum Laude – Student of Highest Distinction

2001                            Performing Arts Certificate

Native Theatre School, Centre for Indigenous Theatre, Toronto, Ontario

Concentrations: Acting, Creative Writing, Contemporary & Traditional Song/Dance, Improv, Mime

1994 – 2000                Bachelor of Education (Teaching Certificate)

Faculty of Education, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Teachables: English, Theatre/Drama, Improvisation, Politics, Reading in Content Areas, Creative Writing, Native Studies, ESL

1994 – 2000                Bachelor of Arts (General)

Department of Politics, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Concentrations: Global Economic Theory, Native Studies, Ojibwe

1998 – 1999                Visiting Scholar (B.A. contribution year)

Department of English, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario

Concentrations: Native Peoples in Canadian Literature, Post-Colonial Theory, Global Indigenous Resistance

Languages

-         Fluent in English and French

-         Some Ojibwe & Sinhala
 

Awards Received

National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, The University of Oklahoma, 2004-2006.

National Aboriginal Achievement Award Scholarship, Arts & Education, 2004-2005.

Sutton Research Fellowship, Department of English, The University of Oklahoma, 2004-2006.

Weaver Book Award for Best Term Paper in Native Literature, Dr. Alan Velie's "Native Literature from 1969 to present" Seminar, The

University of Oklahoma, 2004.

Student of Highest Distinction, The University of Winnipeg, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004.

Academic and Personal Achievement Role Model, Manitoba Interlake Promoting Aboriginal Student Success Committee, 2002.

Royal Bank Canadian Interuniversity Academic All-Canadian, Ontario University Athletics, 1999.

Leonard Foundation International Scholarship, Leonard Foundation, Toronto, ON, 1996-97.

Rotary International Citizenship Scholarship, Rotary International, 1994-95.

Publications

sinclair, N. j. “Tending to Ourselves: Hybridity and Native American Literature.” Contexts in Aboriginal/Native American Writing in Canada and the

            US. Eds. Paul DePasquale, Renate Eigenbrod, and Emma LaRocque. Peterborough: Broadview P, published fall 2006.

sinclair, N. j. “Gimiwan” and “Niimi'idii-nagamon.” WLT2.Vol.6. Norman, Oklahoma: World Literature Today P, Autumn 2004.

sinclair, N. j. “Speaking on the Metaphors of Witness: Jeanetta Calhoun on D. Martinez’s The Devil’s Workshop.” lynx. Online Journal. 19

            October 2004. <www.ou.edu/lynx/>.

sinclair, N. j. “Three Poems.” juice. Vol. 4. Winnipeg, MB: University of Winnipeg P, Sept. 2004.

sinclair, N.j. “Scared of the Urban Reserve?  Why?” Editorial. The Uniter. 6 November 2003: 3.

sinclair, N. j. “Games Leave a Lasting Legacy.” Eagle Feather News. September 2002: 12.

sinclair, N.j. “North American Indigenous Games Gears Up.” Eagle Feather News. February 2002: 4.

sinclair, N.j. “The New Act.” Prairie Fire: First Voices, First Words. 22.3. (2001). Ed. Thomas King. Winnipeg, MB: Prairie Fire P, 44.

sinclair, N.j. “Native Theatre School completes another year.” Eagle Feather News. August 2001: 7.

sinclair, N.j. “The Bus from Toronto to Winnipeg.” Speaking Crow. Ed. Ryan Land. Winnipeg, MB: Speaking Crow P, 2001. 

Conference Papers

"Native 'Lit' Service: The Scary Realities of Native Literature in Public School Classrooms." Shawane Dagosowin: The Aboriginal

        Education Research Forum, Winnipeg, MB, 2005. 

"As We Have Always Done: Native Writing." Indigenous Issues Seminar, First Nations University of Canada, Regina, SK, 2005.

"Giige Owiiyaw, Healing the Body: Rhetorical Contexts of Anishnaabe Literary Traditions in Gerald Vizenor's Bearheart: The        

        Heirship Chronicles." 2005 Native Literature Symposium, Minneapolis, MN, 2005.

"Would You Like a Relationship With That?: Critical Teaching in Corporate Classrooms." Critical Pedagogy Symposium, The University of

        Oklahoma English Department, Norman, Oklahoma, 2005.

Aboriginal Student Realities, Keynote Address, 2003 Promoting Aboriginal Student Success Awards, Selkirk, MB, 2003.  

"Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again: An analysis of the ideology of humour in the Victorian era utilizing Punch, Alice’s

        Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking-Glass." News from Everywhere: The 2003 Victorian & Edwardian University of   

        Winnipeg English Honours Conference, Winnipeg, MB, 2003.

"Planning our Future: Aboriginal Curricula and The Winnipeg School Division." Winnipeg School Division Administrators Conference, Gimli,

        MB, 2003.

"The Arts and Aboriginal Students." Keynote Address, Manitoba Association for the Arts Annual Conference, 2002.

Aboriginal Students, Reading, and the Literary Classroom, 2002 International Reading Association Annual Conference, Winnipeg, MB, 2002.   

Specialized Research Skills

• 17^th & 18^th century British literature archival work
• Aboriginal histiography & Native oral interpretation
• Canadian and American Aboriginal fur trade and treaty archive work
• International research methodology training and data collection techniques
• International collaborative and participatory community research training

Professional Experience

2004 – present             Teaching Assistant

The University of Oklahoma, Department of English, Norman, Oklahoma

                                                Courses Instructed: Principles of English Composition Levels I/II

Duties: formulating and instructing freshmen composition courses, student consultation, assessment  

2003 – 2004                Teaching Assistant

The University of Winnipeg, Dpts. of English & Theatre, Winnipeg, MB

Courses Instructed: Curriculum & Instruction fourth-year Theatre Education course & ‘Field of Children’s Literature’ second-year English Literature course

Duties: planning curriculum seminars, student consultation, lecturing, assessment

2002 – 2004                Aboriginal Consultant and Training Officer

Winnipeg School Division No.1, Winnipeg, MB

Sessions Instructed: Aboriginal history, Anishnaabe Cultural Awareness, Aboriginal Literatures

Duties: delivered Aboriginal epistemological training and recruitment for teachers and staff

2000 – 2004                Public School Teacher

Winnipeg School Division No. 1, Winnipeg, MB

Courses Instructed: Grade 7-12 Drama, English, Native Studies, Improvisation, Mathematics

-     Coach of two Provincial Champion Dramatic Improv teams

-     Native Studies and Drama Department head at École Kelvin High School, 2002-03

-     Devised, and created Grade Ten Native Literature Unit utilized and taught throughout division

2002                            Production Assistant

                                    National Film Board of Canada, Winnipeg, MB

Spirit of the Game, North American Indigenous Games documentary directed by Annie Frazier-Henry

1998 – 2000                Employment Equity Trainer

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Manitoba/Ontario Regions

Sessions Instructed: Anishnabe Epistemology, Cross-cultural Aboriginal Awareness in the Workplace

1997 – 1998                International Research Officer

Canada World Youth,  Sri Lanka/Canada Research Exchange

            Duties: Data collection on community agricultural projects throughout Ontario, Canada and Ambalantota Province,

      Sri Lanka

1994 – 1997                Crisis Worker

                                    Salvation Army Crisis Services, Selkirk & Winnipeg, Manitoba

                                                Duties: 24 Hr Mental Health Residential Facility Worker, Crisis Phone Services, Stress & Emotional Activity Worker

1993 – 1994                International Exchange Student

Rotary International Exchange Program, District 9270 - South Africa

            Duties: International Ambassadorial Activities, Resource and International Observer for first all-race National Election

Current Research Interests

• Surveying Anishnaabe Literature and examining current Anishnaabe literary trends including oral incorporation into written text and cultural/political sovereignty.
• An examination of current Canadian and American Native literatures and a formulation of methodology describing four stages of Aboriginal literary development: pre-contact, contact, colonial, and post-colonial.  Also, a weighing within the field as to the relevance of determining Aboriginal literature as separatism or ideological inclusion.
• Connecting resistance to ideology in global indigenous literatures including other minority literatures (African, Chicano, etc.) throughout post-contact times to examine political connections, areas for coalitions, and aspects of cultural survival.   

Volunteer & Community Involvement

• Graduate Student Representative, Dept. of English, U of Oklahoma, 2004-present
• Artistic Director and Coach, OU Improv!, 2004-present
• Editorial Committee, Western Canada Protocol Curriculum Agreement, 2003-2004
• Treasurer & Community Office Co-ordinator, Aboriginal Circle of Educators, 2000-2004
• National Selection Committee, Mathieu De Costa Awards, Canadian Teacher’s Federation, 2003-2004
• Co-Chair, Manitoba Improv Educators, 2002-2004
• Chairperson, National Aboriginal Day, École Kelvin High School, 2000-2004
• Undergraduate Tutor, Peguis First Nation Educational Authority, 2000-2004
• Aboriginal Voice & Action Committee, Manitoba Teacher’s Society, 2001-2003
• Vice-President External, University of Winnipeg Education Students Assoc. 1996-1997

References

Dr. Craig Womack, Thesis Advisor, Department of English, The University of Oklahoma

(405) 325-4661, or email: womack@ou.edu

Dr. Deborah Schnitzer, Honours Chair, Department of English, The University of Winnipeg

(204) 786-9351, or email: schnitzr@uwinnipeg.ca

Dr. Mavis Reimer, Department of English, The University of Winnipeg

(204) 786-9185, or email: m.reimer@uwinnipeg.ca

Dr. Murray Evans, Department of English, The University of Winnipeg

(204) 786-9198, or email: m.evans@uwinnipeg.ca

Dr. Gordon Johnston, Department of English, Trent University

(705) 748-1011, or email: gjohnston@trentu.ca

If required, further names regarding my other experience can be submitted upon request