Dr. Sandra Isaacs

Biography

Siyo, Boozhoo, Skano, Tansi, hello. My name is Sandra Muse Isaacs, I’m Eastern Cherokee (Ani-tsisqua, Bird Clan) with Gaelic heritage (Clan MacRae). I am an Associate Professor specializing in Indigenous Literature. I hold a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in English, a Master of Arts in English Creative Writing from the University of Windsor, and a PhD in English Cultural Studies from McMaster University. As a recipient of the Harvey Longboat Graduate Scholarship, I work to support Indigenous students, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis scholars. I have taught Indigenous Literature at Saint Mary’s University, McMaster University, and the University of Western Ontario. My research and teaching focus on Indigenous Oral Tradition, storytelling, and critical theory, particularly its intersections with Nineteenth-century Detective Fiction. I published a book titled 'Eastern Cherokee Stories: Living Oral Tradition Cultural Continuance' in July 2019, which explores the Eastern Cherokee Oral Tradition and its relevance to contemporary issues such as cultural survivance and language revitalization. My interest lies in the parallels between Indigenous oral traditions and ancient Gaelic culture, reflecting the broader impacts of climate change on these cultural practices.

Research Interests