Zeina Ismail-Allouche & Catherine Kineweskwêw Richardson
The CSLP is pleased to share that Zeina Ismail-Allouche, Research Associate and CSLP Research Coordinator at Concordia University, was recently interviewed by Dr. Catherine Kineweskwêw Richardson, Concordia University Research Chair in Indigenous Healing Knowledge. The conversation, now available on Dr. Richardson’s Substack, explores the global dimensions of forced child displacement, with a focus on intersections between the Lebanese war-era adoption crisis and Canada’s Sixties Scoop.
A decolonial scholar and oral historian, Ismail-Allouche draws connections between historical and ongoing colonial systems that target children through violence, erasure, and family separation. Her reflections emphasize the importance of memory, justice, and cultural survival, echoing her long-standing commitment to advocating for children’s rights globally — from Turtle Island to Lebanon, Palestine, and beyond.
This exchange is part of Dr. Richardson’s Indigenous Healing Knowledges project, which brings together voices of healers and scholars working toward social justice and intergenerational healing.
About Dr. Catherine Kineweskwêw Richardson
Dr. Richardson is a Métis scholar and professor at Concordia University, where she holds the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Healing Knowledges. She is a therapist, researcher, and founding member of the Centre for Response-Based Practice. Her work focuses on decolonizing therapeutic practices, supporting Indigenous-led healing initiatives, and addressing violence through dignity-affirming, justice-oriented approaches. Dr. Richardson is committed to centring Indigenous voices and knowledge systems in research, education, and community care.