Dr. Leigh Joseph

Biography

Leigh Joseph is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at Simon Fraser University. As an ethnobotanist and researcher, she emphasizes cultural knowledge renewal and supports the reconnection of Indigenous Peoples with plant-based knowledge and land. Joseph's research focuses on ethnobotany, exploring the cultural interrelationships among people, plants, and place, and aims to empower Indigenous communities in defining their own health and wellness practices. Her scholarly work has addressed the impacts of colonization on Indigenous land-based cultural plant knowledge and has included extensive collaboration with various Indigenous communities across Canada. Joseph has published multiple articles on revitalizing Indigenous food systems and the significance of culturally important plants in health and wellness. Aside from her academic contributions, she also engages in entrepreneurial activities and seeks to amplify Indigenous voices in the discourse of place-based knowledge renewal. Her future works will include publications on Indigenous plants and their roles in wellness.

Research Interests