Biography
Cora Voyageur is a First Nations woman from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation from Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, Canada. She is an associate professor of Sociology at the University of Calgary. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (1990), a Master of Education (1993) and a PhD in Sociology (1997) from the University of Alberta. She is currently the undergraduate director for the Sociology department. She is also the faculty leader for the Indigenous Women and Leadership Program at the Banff Centre. Her research areas include: women’s issues, leadership, community and economic development.

Statement
As Indigenous scholars we are relatively new to the academy and we are scattered across a variety of disciplines. Our workplaces vary greatly. The post secondary institutions that employ us can be mainstream or Indigenous, large or small, urban or rural, research or teaching institutes.

Many of us who work in mainstream academic institutions can work in professional and social isolation and do not have Indigenous colleagues in institutions or our disciplines. NAISA can serve many purposes. It can assist Indigenous scholars from all disciplines by providing a venue to test ideas, profile work, explore best practices, network, form research alliances, mentor newer scholars and share expertise. NAISA conferences can serve as a meeting place for Indigenous scholars from around the world. NAISA can also serve as a venue for Indigenous studies students to meet and interact with scholars in their discipline.

We must continue to raise our profile and our presence in the academy through sound and rigorous research, teaching and publication. I believe that NAISA can aid in these objectives. I am happy to bring my expertise to this association and I look forward to working with and learning from others.