SFU Indigenous Studies

What happens when a language has no word for “kickflip”?

For a group of Anishinaabe speakers, the answer wasn’t to borrow English words. It was to create new ones.

Led by Simon Fraser University researcher Bimose Nick Reo, that effort produced approximately 300 new Ojibwe words for skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing lingo.

The words were created for the inaugural issue of Asab Magazine, believed to be North America's first magazine published entirely in a single Indigenous language, dedicated to board-sport culture and the stories that surround it.

Learn more about it: https://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2026/08/how-do-you-say--ollie--in-ojibwe--anishinaabe-language-magazine-.html

How Do You Say “Ollie” in Ojibwe? | SFU Researcher Helps Create 300 New Words From kickflips to quarter pipes, Anishinaabe speakers created hundr...

The Undercurrents exhibit is now open! Visit www.freshwaterfishfutures.ca/undercurrents-exhibit to view.

The Institute for Freshwater Fish Futures, founded by Zoe Todd, an Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Indigenous Governance and Freshwater Fish Futures at Simon Fraser University, is launching an online art exhibit, Undercurrents, curated by Rapichan (Ta) Phurisamban and Courtney Chetwynd, on July 29, 2026.

Undercurrents explores artistic responses to water, fish, and aquatic ecologies, where materiality, memory, myth, and metaphor converge. This multimedia exhibit includes artworks ranging from photography, painting, writing, collage, embroidery, installation (images), sound works (audio), and videos.

Through the artworks and statements of nine artists, Undercurrents brings together the stal̕əw̓ (Fraser River, BC, Canada), the səl̓ilw̓ət (Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm, BC, Canada), the Gabekanaang-ziibi (Humber River, ON, Canada), the Chocolate River (Epetkutogoyek or Petitcodiac River, NB, Canada), Río Manatuabón (The Great Manatí River, Puerto Rico), Seekonk River (Providence, RI, USA), Ramallah’s remaining springs (Palestine), the coastal ecologies of the Bay of Fundy (Eastern Canada) and Cape Cod (Northeastern United States), and the imagined water-worlds rooted in African diasporic traditions.

The exhibit was made possible by the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council through the Connection Grants program.

Starting on July 29, 2026, visit www.freshwaterfishfutures.ca/undercurrents-exhibit to view the Undercurrents exhibit.

Congratulations to SFU INDG's Zoe Todd on being awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Development Grant to support research titled "The Implications of Canada's National Sovereign AI Compute Strategy for Freshwater Fish Futures and Indigenous Governance."

Seven FASS researchers launch new projects with SSHRC Insight Development Grants The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) is pleased to share that the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has awarded Insight Development Grants to seven FASS researchers. 

students: looking for fall courses? Space is available for INDG 111 - Introduction to Indigenous Research Methods.

Methods examined will include Indigenous research methods and Indigenized qualitative methods to explore strengths, weaknesses and applicability to Indigenous community-based research.

View course outlines at our website: https://www.sfu.ca/indg/programs/courses/upcoming.html

students: Space is available for INDG 433 - Indigenous Environmental Justice and Activism this fall.

This course examines contemporary writings regarding Indigenous environmental logic and environmental concerns of contemporary times.

View course outlines at our website: https://www.sfu.ca/indg/programs/courses/upcoming.html

The Institute for Freshwater Fish Futures, founded by Zoe Todd, an Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Indigenous Governance and Freshwater Fish Futures at Simon Fraser University, is launching an online art exhibit, Undercurrents, curated by Rapichan (Ta) Phurisamban and Courtney Chetwynd, on July 29, 2026.

Undercurrents explores artistic responses to water, fish, and aquatic ecologies, where materiality, memory, myth, and metaphor converge. This multimedia exhibit includes artworks ranging from photography, painting, writing, collage, embroidery, installation (images), sound works (audio), and videos.

Through the artworks and statements of nine artists, Undercurrents brings together the stal̕əw̓ (Fraser River, BC, Canada), the səl̓ilw̓ət (Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm, BC, Canada), the Gabekanaang-ziibi (Humber River, ON, Canada), the Chocolate River (Epetkutogoyek or Petitcodiac River, NB, Canada), Río Manatuabón (The Great Manatí River, Puerto Rico), Seekonk River (Providence, RI, USA), Ramallah’s remaining springs (Palestine), the coastal ecologies of the Bay of Fundy (Eastern Canada) and Cape Cod (Northeastern United States), and the imagined water-worlds rooted in African diasporic traditions.

The exhibit was made possible by the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council through the Connection Grants program.

Starting on July 29, 2026, visit www.freshwaterfishfutures.ca/undercurrents-exhibit to view the Undercurrents exhibit.

students: space is available for INDG 232: Indigenous Science.

This fall, explore the ongoing, time-tested, and hard-earned scientific realities of Indigenous peoples globally.

Browse upcoming course outlines at our website: https://www.sfu.ca/indg/programs/courses/upcoming.html

students: looking for fall courses? Space is available for INDG 360 - Popular Writing by Indigenous Authors.

This course examines works of popular fiction by Indigenous authors and their use of specific genres.

View course outlines at our website: https://www.sfu.ca/indg/programs/courses/upcoming.html

students: Space is available for INDG 353 - Indigenous Heritage Stewardship this fall.

This course explores topics in Indigenous cultural heritage preservation and stewardship in an age where digital and new media technologies are ubiquitous.

View course outlines at our website: https://www.sfu.ca/indg/programs/courses/upcoming.html

students: looking for a course this fall? SFU Indigenous Studies is offering INDG 250: Introduction to Indigenous Policy.

This course introduces students to federal and provincial policies impacting the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples both historically and contemporarily.

Browse our upcoming course outlines: https://www.sfu.ca/indg/programs/courses/upcoming.html