Tansi, and welcome to my website!

My name is Robin Gray.  I was born and raised in Coast Salish territory, in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and I am from the Tsimshian and Mikisew Cree First Nations.  I am a doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where I study socio-cultural anthropology and Native American and Indigenous studies.  My research interests include:

• interrogating the intersection between pedagogy and power
• exposing the legacy of the Indian Residential School System
• examining the intergenerational effects of colonialism
• privileging the experiences and voices of Native youth
• supporting Indigenous communities to decolonize, to reclaim, to heal, and to thrive

I am committed to utilizing and sharing the tools and perspectives gleaned from my community work and from my studies to meaningfully support Indigenous Peoples to realize our self-determination initiatives.  This, of course, could never be an individual endeavour and so this website will represent community-based concerns and accomplishments, including my own.

Furthermore, I encourage Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples alike to engage in acts of introspective collaboration which requires an emphasis on community building and a commitment to constant, meaningful reflexivity so as not to (re)produce colonized minds and oppressive acts.  That is, I see this website as a safe space for celebration of community efforts and I welcome any feedback, questions, comments, constructive criticism and critical interrogation as it relates to historical issues, current events and my own research.  I know that my journey is but a symbolic representation of all the trailblazers that have come before me and those that I live with, and learn from, on the path toward liberation. Thank you, in advance, for any and all contributions to my personal and professional growth.

All My Relations,

Robin R. R. Gray