Dr. Tracy Underwood

Biography

Tracy Underwood is an Assistant Teaching Professor in Indigenous Studies at the University of Victoria, where she engages in critical discussions around land-based learning, history, storytelling, and ethics concerning the care of children, families, and communities. As a W̱SÁNEĆ Matriarch, Tracy is devoted to protecting and preserving the children, land, language, and culture of her people. Her work focuses on the ongoing issues of land occupancy and the doctrine of discovery that negatively affect Indigenous communities, including her own family. Tracy's presentation titled "JÁEȽNOṈET" embodies a respectful framework for relationships with living Indigenous lands, an important response to the University of Victoria's Land/Territory Acknowledgment. Through her academic journey and her connection to her heritage, she aims to foster understanding and respect for Indigenous relationships with land, culture, and community. Tracy’s hope is to inspire attendees at her workshops to reflect on their understanding of Indigenous land and to contribute to the processes of reconciliation.

Research Interests