About the workshop

"We Are the Best Survivors:" Indigenous Horror
 
Although it may be surprising that Indigenous horror is having a moment right now, Indigenous writers and filmmakers use horror to draw people in to highlight the on-going effects of colonialism. By using Indigenous ways of knowing including the Métis rougarou, a werewolf-like creature or setting an alien invasion film in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, horror is being Indigenized. We will explore some common horror tropes (the Final Girl, the Indian Burial Ground) to appreciate how Indigenous artists are making the genre their own.

June's talk is part of Indigenous Research Methods in Action, a series that showcases SFU researchers who engage in Indigenous Research Methods. 

 About the speaker

Dr. June Scudeler (Métis) is Assistant Professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies, cross-appointed with the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University. She received her PhD in English at UBC in 2016. Her research encompasses queer Indigenous studies, literature, film, and art. She is currently delving into Indigenous horror.

Land acknowledgement

Elder Marie Hooper, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem First Nation)

Marie Hooper is an elder from Kwikwetlem First Nation. Recently she has moved onto the nations reserve, so she can connect better with her Indigenous culture. This has, and will keep her connected with her culture. She keeps her knowledge of the history of the nation and its families. This is passed down from her ancestors, grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins and mother who is 96 years old and all of whom have lived on the reserve lands and territories.

Marie who was born in the UK, immigrated to Vancouver, B.C. in 1967. Her background is Coast Salish, English, Scottish and Portuguese.

Marie has studied at B.C. Institute of Technology and Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her qualifications include Indigenous Environmental Archeology, Ecologic Engineering, and Guardian of the Indigenous lands and territories.  

Marie is a mother of four and grandmother of nine. Her passion is to bring residential awareness into the school system, or wherever she can bring up the subject asking individuals, ‘What do you know about residential schools?’. Only learning about residential schools five years ago, and bringing awareness, help Marie process the trauma her family and others have endured.