Biography

I am of Nehiyaw (Cree) and Saulteaux ancestry from northern Manitoba, which is connected to Red River Métis ancestry and mixed-European ancestry on my mother side, and Doukhobor ancestry on my late father’s side. I am grateful to work and live on the unceded, ancestral, traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh, who have been in relationship with this land for millennia.

I am honoured to have worked with Indigenous communities in British Columbia and internationally on water laws and protection, and language and cultural reclamation. I began my professional career as a registered nurse following a BScN from the University of Alberta (1981) and worked for 17 years as a cardiac nurse. I received my Master of Arts in the School of Youth and Care at the University of Victoria (1999), and then completed a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies from Simon Fraser University (2008), listening to and learning from Indigenous Elders’ teachings on water.

Dedicated to uplifting Indigenous peoples’ health and education through research, I work with Indigenous communities to support Indigenous self-determination in research design and delivery. My work connects health, education, and law through Indigenous-led research involving water and climate change. I am currently working with the Tl’etinqox and Secwépemc peoples on topics ranging from water issues, development of sovereign Indigenous research centres, COVID-19 response, and community responses to climate change impacts. I continue to work in partnership with Secwépemc people supporting their Water Guardians programme. I have supported indigenization of nursing curriculum development and implementation of on-the-land experiences for nursing students.

Some international activities include working with the Indigenous Environmental Network on the proactive assertion of Indigenous water laws through the creation of Indigenous Nation-led water declarations in Indigenous languages. We have been active at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and the World Water Fora. This work is rooted in the understanding that Indigenous peoples’ world views and ways are central to nurturing healthy futures for of all life.

Selected Publications

Sanderson, D., Mirza, N., Polacca, M., Kennedy, A., & Bourque-Bearskin, R. L. (2020). Nursing, Indigenous Health, Water, and Climate Change. Witness: The Canadian Journal of Critical Nursing Discourse, 2(1), 66–83. https://doi.org/10.25071/2291-5796.55

Sanderson D., Mirza N., Correale H. (2020).Indigenous Land-Based Experiential Learning in Nursing Education. Journal of Nursing Education. Dec 1;59(12):721. doi: 10.3928/01484834-20201118-12. PMID: 33253404.

Mirza, N., Cinel, J., Noyes, H., McKenzie, W., Burgess, K., Blackstock, S., & Sanderson, D. (2020). Simulated patient scenario development: A methodological review of validity and reliability reporting. Nurse Education Today, 85, Article 104222.

Polacca, M., Sanderson, D. Indigenous Water Ethics: Protecting our waters for future generations. Water Resources IMPACT American Water Resources Association 20(2), 24-25.

Otte, A. Jimenez-Cisneros, B. Polacca, M., Sanderson, D., Tignino, M. (2017). Indigenous peoples and local communities’ water rights, international law and water security. XVI World Water, International water resources association (IWRA). Cancun, Quintana Roo. 31 May 2017.

Sanderson, D., Picketts, I. M., Déry, S. J., Fell, B., Baker, S., Lee-Johnson, E. and Auger, M. (2015). Climate change and water at Stellat'en First Nation, British Columbia, Canada: Insights from western science and traditional knowledge. The Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe Canadien.

Sanderson, D. (2014). An Indigenous Message on Water: Poetry Anthology. (Book Editor & Co-Author).

Sanderson, D. (2012). Nipiy Wasekimew Clear Water: from the Words of the Elders, and the Interconnections of Health, Education, Law and the Environment (Chapter). In E. Simmons (Ed.), Indigenous Earth: Praxis and Transformation. Penticton, BC: Theytus Publishing.

Sanderson, D., Mirza, N., Polacca, M., Kennedy, A., & Bourque-Bearskin, R. L. (2020). Nursing, Indigenous Health, Water, and Climate Change. Witness: The Canadian Journal of Critical Nursing Discourse, 2(1), 66–83. https://doi.org/10.25071/2291-5796.55

Sanderson D., Mirza N., Correale H. (2020).Indigenous Land-Based Experiential Learning in Nursing Education. Journal of Nursing Education. Dec 1;59(12):721. doi: 10.3928/01484834-20201118-12. PMID: 33253404.

Mirza, N., Cinel, J., Noyes, H., McKenzie, W., Burgess, K., Blackstock, S., & Sanderson, D. (2020). Simulated patient scenario development: A methodological review of validity and reliability reporting. Nurse Education Today, 85, Article 104222.

Polacca, M., Sanderson, D. Indigenous Water Ethics: Protecting our waters for future generations. Water Resources IMPACT American Water Resources Association 20(2), 24-25.

Otte, A. Jimenez-Cisneros, B. Polacca, M., Sanderson, D., Tignino, M. (2017). Indigenous peoples and local communities’ water rights, international law and water security. XVI World Water, International water resources association (IWRA). Cancun, Quintana Roo. 31 May 2017.

Sanderson, D., Picketts, I. M., Déry, S. J., Fell, B., Baker, S., Lee-Johnson, E. and Auger, M. (2015). Climate change and water at Stellat'en First Nation, British Columbia, Canada: Insights from western science and traditional knowledge. The Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe Canadien.

Sanderson, D. (2014). An Indigenous Message on Water: Poetry Anthology. (Book Editor & Co-Author).

Sanderson, D. (2012). Nipiy Wasekimew Clear Water: from the Words of the Elders, and the Interconnections of Health, Education, Law and the Environment (Chapter). In E. Simmons (Ed.), Indigenous Earth: Praxis and Transformation. Penticton, BC: Theytus Publishing.

Presentations

Sanderson, D. (2023) Indigenous Environmental Network Presentation at ‘Mni Ki Wakan’ ‘Elder’s Vision for Indigenous World Forum on Water and Peace and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and the World Water Fora, Indigenous Nation-based and International Indigenous Water Declarations’. Rapid City, South Dakota.

Sanderson, D. (2023) United Nations Conference on Water, New School New York City, ‘Traditional Teachings about Water: Original Instructions - Indigenous Nation-based and International Indigenous Water declarations’ - Co-coordinated with Indigenous Environmental Network and the Water-Culture Institute, a full day side event at the New School.

Sanderson, D., Archie, T., Morrison, L., Sam, J., Grinder, B., Grinder, P., Grinder, P. Stump, A. (2023). Keynote for Research Week, UNBC, facilitated panel of community-based researchers. “Using Strengths-based Indigenous Research Methodologies: Addressing Climate Change during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Tl’etinqox and Qwelminte Secwépemc Researchers.” https://www2.unbc.ca/office-research-and-innovation/keynote-bios-researc....

Morrison, L. & Sanderson, D. (November, 2022). Commission for Environmental Cooperation. Online Knowledge Dialogue, Applying Indigenous Knowledge in Water Management: Best Practice Models. "Standing up Culture and Language in Water Protection: learning from Elders for future generations in Secwépemc territories”. Invited presenter and mentored Secwépemc student Lynne Morrison.

Morrison, L. & Sanderson, D. (November, 2022). Canadian Conference on Global Health: Panel discussion on ‘Equity: why you can’t do without it in an emergency.’ Invited panellist and mentored Secwépemc student Lynne Morrison.