Dr. Sarah Abbott

Biography

Sarah Abbott's research, community projects, films, and artist works have focused on the experiences of human and nonhuman knowing rights, ethics, and the environment for twenty years. Her film work, which includes documentary, narrative, experimental, and dance genres, has received national and international attention through film festivals, television broadcasts, awards, and funding. Sarah received the 2012 Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor’s Arts Award for Arts Learning and the 2009 Regina Mayor's Arts Business Award for Innovation in recognition of her filmmaking endeavours, innovative teaching, and her commitment to empowering people through the passion of communicating pressing issues. Her work has largely centered on Indigenous issues in culture, with significant projects like 'Tide Marks' (2004). At the University of Regina, Sarah developed a teaching model where film production students work alongside film industry experts on a professionally-run set. She has produced several dramatic films in her classes, including 'Cold' (30:00, 2008) and 'Time Winter' (25:00, 2010), tackling themes such as freezing deaths of Indigenous men and violence in young interracial relationships. From 2005 to 2010, she led the founding of mispon – Celebration Indigenous Filmmaking film festival and collective. In 2013, she developed a media literacy course for Indigenous youth at a community center in Regina. Sarah also taught a multidisciplinary course on climate change at the Faculty of MAP in 2020 and is currently completing her doctorate (ABD) in interdisciplinary social sciences at Royal Roads University, focusing on Indigenous Research Methodologies through an ethnographic lens.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards