Janelle Kasperski

Educational Consultant, Strategic Projects
She/Her

I belong to the Nisga’a Nation located in northern, so-called, “British Columbia.”  I also carry Polish/Ukrainian heritage on my father’s side. Terrace, Prince Rupert, Kitimat and my home community of Lax̱g̱alts’ap are places that have informed my growth and knowledge over the years. I come from a long line of strong Matriarchal teachings. These were the beginnings of my understanding of positionality within a community. I also spent time living in the Kanien’kehà:ka Mohawk territory of Kahnawà:ke where my growth and knowledge expanded in beautiful ways. The urban Indigenous & BIPOC communities in Tiohtià:ke, Tkoronto, and “Vancouver”, have also been largely impactful in my learning through the sharing of histories, perspectives, knowledge & meals around the table. 

Ask Me About

• Indigenous Strategic Plan 
• Storytelling & Kinship 
• Indigenous joy, queer joy, strengths-based approaches to Indigenous education 

Learn More

Prior to accepting a role at UBC, I was spending time in Tiohtià:ke and Kahnawà:ke working at McGill University as an Indigenous Education Advisor within the Office of the Provost. I completed my Bachelor of Arts with a major in criminology and double minor of First Nations Studies and Sociology at Simon Fraser University. My initial plans were to attend law school and become a criminal law lawyer. However, growth in knowledge around the criminal justice system (CJS), over-representation of Indigenous peoples incarcerated and over-representation within the CJS in general, shifted my interest and curiosities. My career journey took me through several different fields in which I somehow found ways to utilize my roles to encourage capacity building with respect to Indigenous histories, pedagogy, and knowledges. From law offices to finance to First Nations Housing. I found my way to post-secondary education in a role that was focused on capacity building within university spaces – staff, faculty, leadership and graduate students. My experience of working within these systems continuously bring me back to the topic the valuing of different forms of Indigenous knowledges. Honoring and uplifting the value of these knowledges, without veils of credentialism, has been a grounding goal that I strive to work for with my role in education.   

I Love

• Beading and creative activities 
• Coffee 
• Writing poetry and singing