Stephen Penner
Title: Assistant Professor
Building: Richardson College
Biography:
Stephen Penner is a newly appointed Assistant Professor in the department of Indigenous Studies. A Wêmistikôsiw (Eeyou Cree for Settler), Stephen understands the responsibility of walking and acting like a Skaabe, or helper, in Annishinaabemowin. He has learned from Elders, Indigenous scholars, and knowledge keepers that the role of a teacher is to share knowledge of having worked and conducted research, in “a good way”, in Indigenous spaces.
Professor Penner is settler born in traditional St. Lawrence Iroquoians, Mohawk, Huron-Wendat, and Haudenosaunee Territory; within the Rotinonhsdn:ni Five Nations Confederacy. His career is the sum of many parts, with the latest role, instructing the Introduction to Indigenous Politics and Governance in the Department of Indigenous Studies at the University of Winnipeg. In addition he has taught the business development course in the Master’s of Development Practice (MDP): Indigenous Development program here at the U of W. Stephen has lectured and presented on the mîciwim miyo pimatisiwin (good life of food) at conferences and institutions across Turtle Island. He has worked for several Indigenous governments, including being part of team that wrote two Cree Nation Government reports: one on creating a Cree led economy and the other one, entitled “The Cree Story” sought to incorporate Cree Arts and Crafts into the Cree socio economy. Professor Penner holds a Master’s of Development Practice (MDP): Indigenous Development from the University of Winnipeg and a Bachelor of Arts, from Mount Allison University (Sackville, New Brunswick). He is also a certified Indigenous Economic Developer (CANDO).
Much of his work is based in an Indigenous led understanding of what a healthy food system looks like—assisting communities with capacity development. Stephen has served in the Canadian Red Cross as a volunteer responder, assigned to support the Indigenous People’s team. This role has seen him deployed in emergencies from Ontario across to British Columbia.
Areas of understanding: Indigenous Enterprise, Role of Indigenous Arts and Culture, Tradition in Indigenous Futurism, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Food Systems, Strength Based Understanding of the Place of Indigenous Law in Societal Transformation, and Two Eyed Seeing and Weaving of Knowledge in Research.
Publications:
Penner, S. and Yellowbird. M. (2022). Seeding Seven Generations: The Key to our Sustainable and Healthy Food Future. In Food Shortage Crisis: Origins and Global Impact. D. Drake (ed.) ABC-Clio, Santa Barbara
Penner, S., Neeposh, I., and Baribeau, A. edited by Longboat, S. (2020) Chapter 4: “Indigenous Peoples” The State of Rural Canada Report - Bridging Rural Data Gaps. Rural Policy Learning Commons
Penner, S., Kevany, K., and Longboat, S. (2019 )“Indigenous Food Sovereignty in Canada: Policy Paper 2019” Rural Policy Learning Commons content/uploads/2019/02/PennerKevany-Longboat-2019-Indigenous-Food-Sovereignty-in-Canada-Policy-Brief.pdf
O’Gorman, M. and Penner, S. (2018) "Water Infrastructure and Well-being among First Nations, Métis and Inuit Individuals in Canada: What Does the Data Tell Us?" Environ Sci Pollut Res
Penner, S (lead author) Cree Social Economy-Proceedings from The Cree Story Conference, Cree Nation Government Department of Commerce and Industry
O’Gorman, M. and Penner, S. (2017) “State of Indigenous Access to Safe Water Infrastructure in Canada’s Sub Arctic” proceedings from Water and Healthy Infrastructure
Articles and Video’s
“U of G Experts to Address Federal Committees on Agri-Food, Fisheries”
“The Three Pillars: Working, Learning and Teaching in Community - A Summer’s Journey”
“The Story of the Old Crow Co-op”
“A Sharing of Cultures Video” Master’s in Development Practice (MDP): Indigenous Development
/mdp/a-sharing-of-cultures-video.html
“MDP Students travel to Northern Co-ops”