Academic Partner

Christopher Mushquash, Ph.D., C.Psych., is Anishinawbe (Ojibway), and a member of Pawgwasheeng (Pays Plat First Nation). He is also a researcher and clinician, who integrates traditional knowledge into his work, exploring sustainable ways of healing that also addresses systemic problems that Indigenous Peoples, particularly Indigenous youth, continue to face in Canada.

Dr. Mushquash’s research and practice has contributed to improved outcomes in Indigenous communities and enhanced understanding of the nature of developmental and intergenerational trauma in First Nations people, improving clinical care for those with substance use difficulties. His research has upended conventional understandings of mental health in Indigenous families and established best practices for engaging Indigenous people in research. Furthermore, his research has directly influenced federal funding policy in First Nations communities, and assisted leaders of those communities to advocate for culturally and contextually informed services for their people.

His many publications serve as a strong foundation on which new policy is being built; he has delivered presentations to governments and served on major national and provincial health policy committees. He has supervised many undergraduate, graduate, and post graduate students, with seven having successfully earned their Ph.D. credentials under his supervision. In this way, Dr. Mushquash is able to teach others to be similarly compassionate and knowledgeable helpers, who can flourish in their careers while placing Indigenous wellness at the centre of all they do.