Dr. Sam Walker

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Samantha Walker is an anthropological archaeologist whose research focuses on social production of place and landscape in Northeastern North America. She holds a BA from the University of Toronto and completed her MA at Trent University on the emergence of Late Archaic and Middle Woodland cemeteries in the Great Lakes region, utilizing paleoenvironmental modeling and multivariate spatial analysis. Her PhD from McGill University, obtained in 2024, examined Tuniit (Paleo-Inuit) communities and their dynamic relationships with persistent settlement places in the Arctic maritime region of Amittuq, NU. Her ongoing research, including the Amittuq Archaeological Project and the Talluruti Archaeological Project, explores the reciprocal relationships between land and people, focusing on Tuniit/Paleo-Inuit and Ancestral Inuit. Walker engages with local communities through educational youth programs in Nunavut and Ontario. Her work employs RPA technologies and geospatial analyses, contributing to inclusive narratives about past landscapes. Current projects address the impacts of climate change and the importance of Inuit oral histories in interpreting Tuniit lifeways, integrating community-led efforts to document and preserve social and environmental histories. Walker advocates for improved representation in anthropology and the challenges faced by students from remote communities, providing hands-on programming and mentorship.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of British Columbia

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.3
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:6.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:22
Writing
Required:21
Speaking
Required:21
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Philosophy or related field 3 credits in formal logic 6 credits at the upper level in history of philosophy 3 credits at the upper level in ethics or value theory 6 credits at the upper level in metaphysics, epistemology, or philosophy of science
Application Checklist
  • Online application form
  • Application fee
  • Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Writing sample (15-20 pages)
  • Statement of intent
  • Evidence of English language proficiency
Specialization Notes

Offers course-only and thesis routes. Focus areas include philosophy of science, mind, ethics, and Asian philosophy.