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I acknowledge the traditional Kanien' kehà ka caretakers of the land, the Ancestors and Mother Earth

Lisa Graves

Dr Catherine Kineweskwêw Richardson, PhD

Pronouns: She/Her

  • Full Professor , School of Community and Public Affairs
  • Concordia University Research Chair in Indigenous Healing Knowledges
  • Co-Director of the Centre for Oral History and Storytelling
  • Co-Founder of the Centre for Response-Based Practice
  • Former Director First Peoples Studies, School of Community and Public Affairs
  • Visiting Professor Curtin University Australia 2022-2023
  • Founder Auralinea A Montreal-based international organization supporting care and healing for Indigenous peoples, minorities, across cultures.

Status: Active agent

Research areas: Indigenous well-being; response-based practice; recovery from violence; women’s leadership and ethics in AI; sensory art and storytelling; Indigenous and minority knowledge systems; intercultural and global collaboration; decolonial education; land, spirit, and relational accountability.

Contact information

Email:

catherine.richardson@concordia.ca

Availability:

By appointment and through chance encounters in community.

Websites:

Centre for Response-Based Practice
cathyrichardsonauthor.com
Indigenous Healing Knowledges Project

ORCID:

0000 00017846 0558

CV:

View Catherine Richardson's CV

Biography

About


Dr. Catherine Kineweskwêw Richardson Métis Nation. Full Professor, School of Community and Public Affairs, Concordia University. Concordia University Research Chair in Indigenous Healing Knowledges, Teaches in First Peoples Studies and Creative Arts Therapies.  

Catherine works at the junction of community practice, public affairs, and communication: the public naming of violence, the restoration of dignity in services and institutions, and the terms on which Indigenous and minority knowledge enters the record. She is Co-Founder of the Centre for Response-Based Practice, an international approach to violence that treats the act, not the person, as the problem.  She is a former Co-Director of the Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling. She was Visiting Professor at Curtin University, Australia, 2022–2023, and former Director of First Peoples Studies.

The second practice is studio and Indigenous creation.  Her creative practice is centered around beading, working with wool, community facilitation/performance and creative writing.  She works with arts-based methods, participatory action research and research creation as a means of interacting with community and co-creating knowledge.  Here, resistance, relationality, and ceremony come together. 

She is a member of AuralinAI, a Montreal-based AI and emerging-technology research organization with partnerships in South America and Scandinavia. Her brief there is women’s leadership and the ethics of AI: who designs the system, whose knowledge it protects, and whether it expands a life or diminishes one. Her interest is applying Indigenous knowledges into Earth-Care and community thrivance.

Current projects include Reassembling the Human and Weaving Meaning. She is convening the 2027 symposium North to South in Public: The Lives This Age Expands and the Lives It Diminishes. The chair, Indigenous Healing Knowledges, is built from interviews and shared making in Greenland, Aotearoa, Venezuela, and Turtle Island. On Catherine’s Writings she publishes on response-based practice, dignity in higher education, and women’s resistance misread as syndrome, including a reframing of the Norrmalmstorg case as well as contesting victim-blaming in general. A podcast is in development.

Books include Life Course, Missive and Methodology (2025, with Erin Gurr), Facing the Mountain: Indigenous Healing in the Shadow of Colonialism (2021) and Stitching Our Findings Together: Indigenous Graduate Student Research, with Jeannine Carrière (University of Regina Press, 2025).

Courses: FPST 301 The Indian Act (and resistance to it!); FPST 398 Indigenous Approaches to Helping and Healing; FPST 298 Métis People and Culture; FPST 303 First Peoples and Health.

catherine.richardson@concordia.ca. ORCID 0000-0001-7846-0558.

Her writings can be seen on substack https://catherinerichardson.substack.com



Teaching activities

FPST 301 The Indian Act (and resistance to it!)

In this class, we will study pertinent aspects of oppressive colonial government policy through the Indian Act and through the agenda of the British upper class and ruling empire on northern Turtle Island.  We will look at how Indigenous People, Status First Nations (as well as Métis and Inuit) resisted the cruel and savage oppression as delivered through The Indian Act (and through its related policy of European racial superiority and domination).  Guest speakers will include Christopher Reid, Marie Cornellier (approaches to decolonization in the settler society).  The professor will aim to create an atmosphere of cultural safety, respect towards Indigenous people, of ethical dialogue and open-hearted sharing.  All our relations!

FPST 398 Indigenous Approaches to Helping and Healing


In this class, we will explore Indigenous worldview, values and beliefs that  underly views on well-being, recovery and healing from illness or adversity.  This course will involve a number of approaches and pedagogies, including talking, reading, experiencing and building an atmosphere of safety and trust in the classroom.  Guest speakers will include Vicky Boldo and Moe Clark.

FPST298 Metis People and Culture

In this class, we explore the ethno-genesis of the Métis nation in Rupertsland and the prairies, including the Red River community.  Students will learn about Métis stories, music, culture and land-based practices.  This course is experiential and involves co-creating a Métis cultural gathering and celebration.

FPST 303 First Peoples and Health

FPST303 First Peoples and Health
In this class, students explore various Indigenous approaches to well-being, encompassing the physical, spiritual, emotional and mental aspects.  This includes exploring identities and Indigenous resistance to colonial and systemic violence and the importance of land and ceremonies.

Publications

Richardson, C. (2025) Moving from two-eyed to three-eyed seeing: My perspective as a Métis therapist. Moving Beyond Binaries Part II,

Richardson, C. (2025) Moving from two-eyed to three-eyed seeing:  My perspective as a Métis therapist.  Moving Beyond Binaries Part II, Murmurations:  Journal of Systemic Therapy.  Issue 8.2. 


Richardson, C. & Renaud, N. (2023). Decolonizing pedagogy & supporting students. Murmurations, Journal of Transformative Systemic Practice, 6(2). Doi.org/10.28963/6.2.2

          Richardson, C. & Renaud, N.  (2023).  Decolonizing pedagogy & supporting students.  Murmurations, Journal of Transformative Systemic Practice, 6(2).  Doi.org/10.28963/6.2.2

Interview with Cathy Richardson and Elizabeth Fast on CBC Radio One-Let’s Go! Thursday

look under: Feb 13, 2020: Concordia's First Peoples Studies

CBC Noon with Shawn Appel

In this program, Catherine Richardson is a guest panelist discussing the Pope's Apology to Residential School survivors in Canada

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-102-radio-noon-quebec/clip/15927574-feeling-popes-visit

Carriere, J. & Richardson, C. (2025). Stitching our findings together: Indigenous graduate student research. Regina: University of Regina Press.

      Carriere, J. & Richardson, C.  (2025).  Stitching our findings together:  Indigenous graduate student research.  Regina:  University of Regina Press.

Richardson, C. (2023). Burning bright, not out! Therapist well-being in the face of what we face. Murmurations, Journal of Transformative Systemic Practice, 6(1).

         Richardson, C.  (2023).  Burning bright, not out!  Therapist well-being in the face of what we face.  Murmurations, Journal of Transformative Systemic Practice, 6(1). 

Reparations to Indigenous People Are Critical After Pope's Apology

This article was published in The Conversation

Reparations to Indigenous People Are Critical After Pope's Apology
https://theconversation.com/reparations-to-indigenous-peoples-are-critical-after-popes-apology-for-residential-schools-187823?fbclid=IwAR0J4YmEqDcKiJJO-JBJluDoBMFQKge8_2-HBA8rm0qMLR1EyoC3zPZgOoc

En français
 https://theconversation.com/apres-les-excuses-du-pape-voici-le-temps-des-reparations-188336


Healing and Rebalancing in the Aftermath of Colonial Violence

          Richardson, C., Aviles-Betel, K., Ismail-Allouche, Z., Picard, V. (2021). Healing and Rebalancing in the Aftermath of Colonial Violence: An Indigenous-Informed, Response-Based Approach.   Genealogy 5(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy5030069

          https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/5/3/69

Miskâsowin – Returning to the body, remembering what keeps us alive.

         Clark, M., Allouche-Ismail, Z., Richardson, C.  (2021). Miskâsowin – Returning to the body, remembering what keeps us alive.  Genealogy, 5(2), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy5020034

Ellen Maria Ekström and the Stories that Connect Us

          Richardson, C. & Lowenborg, C.  (2019).  Ellen Maria Ekström and the stories that connect us.  Genealogy, 3(2), 1-5.  https://doi.org/10.3390/geneaology3020025

  

          https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333344326_Ellen-Maria_Ekstrom_and_the_Stories_That_Connect_Us

Victim-blaming and the Crisis in Representation in the Violence Prevention Field.

         Richardson, C., Fast, E. (2019).  Victim-blaming and the crisis in representation in the violence prevention field. In C. Richardson & E. Fast (Eds).  Life Matters :  Acknowledging victim resistance and the power of social responses.  International Journal of the Child, Youth and Family Studies,  10(1), 1-2.  DOI: 10.18357/ijcyfs101201918803


https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331139661_VICTIM-BLAMING_AND_THE_CRISIS_OF_REPRESENTATION_IN_THE_VIOLENCE_PREVENTION_FIELD

Beauty and the Beast: Misrepresentation and Social Responses in Fairytale Romance and Redemption.

Coates, L., Bonnah, S. & Richardson, C. (2018). Beauty and the Beast: Misrepresentation and Social Responses in Fairytale Romance and Redemption.  In C. Richardson & E. Fast (Eds).  Life Matters :  Acknowledging victim resistance and the power of social responses. International Journal of the Child, Youth and Family Studies, 10(1), 1-2.  DOI: 10.18357/ijcyfs101201918803

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331136844_BEAUTY_AND_THE_BEAST_MISREPRESENTATION_AND_SOCIAL_RESPONSES_IN_FAIRY-TALE_ROMANCE_AND_REDEMPTION

Relating to illness in therapy: A pilgrimate through uncertain terrain.

      Richardson, C.  (2018).  Relating to illness in therapy:  A pilgrimage         through uncertain terrain.  Murmurations.  Journal of Transformative Relational Practice. 1(2), 14-26. DOI: http://doi.org/10.28963/1.2

    https://murmurations.cloud/ojs/index.php/murmurations/article/view/34

Healing the Healer: Restoring a Métis Debrouillard heart with the tools of an Indigenous-oriented ethnopsychology.

       Gurr, E., Richardson, C.  (2021).  Healing the healer:  Restoring a Métis debrouillard heart with the tools of an Indigenous-oriented ethnopsychology.  In C. Richardson & J. Carriere [Eds.]. Speaking the Wisdom of Our Time.  pp. 87-110.  Vernon, BC:  JCharlton Publishing. 


https://www.cavershambooksellers.com/search/1926476352

Facing the Mountain: Indigenous Healing in the Shadow of Colonialism

       Richardson, C. (2021).  Facing the mountain:  Indigenous healing in the shadow of colonialism.  Vernon, B.C.: JCharlton Publishing.

Interviews

Unveiling Equity - Concordia's Centre for Studies of Performance and Learning and the Centre for the Prevention of Extremist Violence

“Narrating one’s life is not simply a form of personal sharing, but a dialogue with society — a way to transform understanding, reclaim voice, navigate vulnerability, and bear witness to shared histories of violence and resilience.”
— zeina ismail-allouche (Ph.D.), Director of Partnerships and Program Development
Did you miss today’s Unveiling Equity session on the safety and ethics of vulnerability, featuring zeina ismail-allouche as host, along with speakers Catherine Richardson, Rawda Harb, and kimura byol lemoine?

https://www.concordia.ca/research/learning-performance/tools/unveiling-equity.html

Rooted Care: Panel Discussion at SHIFT

Description:  What does healthcare look like when we center those most marginalized by the system and its practitioners? Join us as we examine how tailored forms of care and resourcing are driving social transformation in Montreal. We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Catherine  Richardson Kineweskwêw, Centre Kapwa, and the Amal Centre for Women for a conversation about community-based mutual aid and resourcing models that prioritize culturally rooted practice and challenge what counts as service.

2020-02-14 Cathy Richardson on CBC Radio One-Noon with Shawn Apel

look under: Feb 14, 2020: Wet’suwet’en protests spread across Canada

2020-02-13 Cathy Richardson and Elizabeth Fast on CBC Radio One Let’s Go!

look under: Feb 13, 2020: Concordia's First People Studies
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-383-lets-go

Allyship: From Tokenismn to Activism

The allyship workshops were proposed as a way to complement/challenge the approach that focuses on racial profiling.

These workshops aim to create an inviting and safe space for sharing and learning, enabling participants to unpack their privileges and enhance their ability to act as ethical allies. The workshops will be facilitated by Zeina Ismail Allouche and Safia Boufalaas.



https://www.concordia.ca/cuevents/offices/provost/fourth-space/2024/03/18/tokenism-to-activism.html

What is Response-Based Practice?

Please join us for a discussion of Response-Based Practice, with Dr. Shelly Dean and Dr. Catherine Richardson of the Centre for Response-Based Practice, as well as Rénee-Claude Carrier, Innu Anti-Violence Activist.How does response-based practice can be used to help in addressing colonial and systemic violence? The recent unearthings of child graves below colonial institutions invites us to focus on the links between healing, resistance, justice and the need for truth-telling.This event commemorates the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation by emphasizing Truth-Telling, Honouring Resistance, and Uplifting Anti-Violence, Dignity and Justice. SpeakersCatherine Richardson KineweskwêwCathy is a Métis therapist, family therapist, researcher and academic working atConcordia University. Her maternal relatives come from Fort Chipewyan and have ties to Red River. She holds a research Chair in Indigenous Healing Knowledges. Cathy is also interested in the broader and multi-dimensional aspects of healing, such as the person as whole being, a spirit in a body with emotions, intelligence, physicality and in relation to all beings in the natural world. She has taught in various counselling and social work programs and is the former director of the First Peoples Studies program at Concordia University. She explores various approaches to well- being on her substack podcast, where she speaks with healers, activists and response-based therapists. She is a student of shamanic practice and the mother of three amazing adult children.Dr. Shelly DeanShelly Dean Ph.D. gratefully lives on the traditional unceded ancestral lands of the Secwépemc Nation, known as Kamloops, BC, Canada. Shelly is a wife, a mother andgrandmother. She grew up in Northern British Columbia, in the small community of Moberly Lake. Shelly is a family therapist, clinical supervisor and educator who works with organizations and communities to address issues of violence. She works closely with her colleagues through the Centre for Response-Based Practice, developingand practicing a specialized approach to violence and other forms of adversity, with a special interest in working for children who have experienced domestic and institutionalized violence. Her research has focused on children’s responses and resistance to violence--specifically understanding their behaviour in context, the nature of social interactions with young people, the connection between violence and mutualizing language, and the social responses that children and their families receive. We have found that when young people begin to acknowledge their own history of responses to, and resistance against violence, the conversation naturally shifts to their capacities and knowledge rather than focusing on deficiencies and leading to interventions. Shelly has also taught in the Master of Counselling programs through City University of Seattle and the Master of Education program at Thompson Rivers University.Renee Claude CarrierFeminist activist Renee-Claude Carrier has devoted her career to ending violence against women and advocating for equality for women and gender diverse individuals. Renee first began her activist career at L’Auberge Transition, a women’s shelter in Montreal. She is now the Manager of the Yukon Women’s Transition Home Society, also known as Kaushee’s Place. Renee developed and runs a response based social justice program in a High School called Youth for Dignity for the Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society. Over the years, she has collaborated with other shelter activists from around the world to examine the progression of the women’s movement and to redirect our global direction toward women’s equality.Now, Renee is seen by her community as an expert on understanding women’s resistance to violence and how language often conceals violence. She has raised awareness of these issues by educating diverse groups from elementary school children to federal court judges. Renee is empowered and energized by women’s resilience, responses, and resourcefulness, and she is always honored when women share their stories with her.Moe ClarkMétis/mixed-settler multidisciplinary artist Moe Clark is a 2Spirit singing thunderbird. Moe was born and raised in Treaty 7, and they are a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Currently she resides as a guest in Tio'tiá:ke/ Mooniyang/ Montréal (QC) where she works as an artist and educator. A dedicated nêhiyawêwin (Plains Cree language) and Michif language learner, Moe collaborates intimately with Elders and knowledge keepers to advance language resurgence through song-based practices. She works across disciplines of vocal improvisation, sound design, land-based oskapêw facilitation (ceremonial Elder apprenticeship), and performance creation, to create work that centres embodied knowledge, 2Spirit Indigenous resurgence, and creative kinship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMRaDzMtQhk

It's Violence, Not Pathology, That's the Problem

A 4th Space talk sponsored by Concordia's Centre for Studies of Performance and Learning and the Centre for the Prevention of Extremist Violence.

Ghayda Hassan joins Zeina Ismail-Allouche and Catherine Richardson to discuss dignity in violence prevention
https://www.concordia.ca/cunews/artsci/learning-performance/2024/10/30/ghayda-hassan-joins-zeina-ismail-allouche-and-catherine-richards.html

Artistic performances

Project/Cultural Advisor for Justement Enracinée

       Justement enracinée
       Justement (en)raciner     (video : Jad Orphée CHAMI, Ange GUO & kimura                byol lemoine | Moe Clark, Soleil Launière & Maya Cousineau Mollen, 

Took 97 milliseconds