Biography and expertise
Biography
Shawn is Opaskwayak Cree from northern Manitoba, Canada and now lives on Bundjalung land in eastern Australia. He is Director of Research at Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples at Southern Cross University.
Shawn's work contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals
Research
Shawn’s doctoral thesis was in Indigenous knowledge, which followed study in psychology and zoology. His presentations communicate the theories underlying Indigenous research methodologies to diverse audiences. Through working with Indigenous people internationally, Shawn has applied Indigenist philosophy within the contexts of Indigenous education, health and counsellor education. In addition to further articulating Indigenous philosophies and research paradigms, his research focuses on the inter-related concepts of identity, health and healing, culture and wellbeing. This has led to the soon to be released Research and Reconciliation: Unsettling ways of knowing through Indigenous relationships His book, Research is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methods has been cited more than 2,200 times and is used as a text in many universities.
Supervision
Dr Wilson supervises a number of doctoral students. All are using Indigenist research methodologies for studies in the fields of health and wellbeing, mental health, social justice and culture. While Shawn is currently at maximum supervision capacity, he will be taking on new doctoral students in 2021.