Dr. Talena Atfield

Biography

Talena Atfield is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at the University of Waterloo, with a focus on community-based knowledge sharing and the creation of Indigenous narratives. She is a citizen of the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation and holds a Canada Research Chair entitled Tentewatenikonhra'khánion, which emphasizes the importance of Indigenous perspectives in academia. Her research interrogates the ways in which Indigenous knowledge is held within museums and archives, aiming to recenter community-led knowledge regeneration and increase access to Hodinohso:ni intellectual property. Dr. Atfield collaborates with community members and knowledge keepers to reintegrate Indigenous histories and cultures into practice. Her work includes historical translation efforts and cultural workshops, enhancing skills in traditional crafts. In addition to her teaching duties, she actively participates in various conferences and presentations dedicated to Indigenous research methodologies and the significance of community impacts in academia.

Research Interests