Convocation Profile: Asia Winter-Sinnott

Photo by Alistair Maitland

Why did you choose to study Native Studies?

I grew up hearing first-hand accounts of my First Nation’s journey to land claims and self-government from my grandma and relatives who participated in the negotiations so I have always been interested in my First Nations governance and the relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canada. 

Why did you choose to study at the University of Alberta?

I chose to go to the University of Alberta because my family would travel to Edmonton each winter to sell my mom’s jewellery, Winterchild Jewellery, at the Christmas craft shows. It was scary to move from a small, rural northern community to a big city for university so I wanted to go somewhere I was a bit familiar with. My decision was cemented when I saw that U of A had a faculty of Native Studies and I have loved my experience in the faculty.

What was one of the most memorable experiences during your degree?

My most memorable experience during my degree was a course I signed up for because I needed a 400-level course called “Disrupting Sex and Nature” with Dr. Kim Tallbear. I had no clue what it was going to be about from the title, but ended up loving the course and the professor and learning to think about the world and how we relate with it and other beings, both human and non human, in a different way that de-centered settler-colonial standpoints in favour of Indigenous ones. It changed the way I see the world!

What advice do you have for future Native Studies students?

My advice to future Native Studies students is to talk to people in your classes and go to the tea and bannock / stew events. There are tons of awesome, interesting people in Native Studies and you will meet new people, make connections and some great friends! 

What does the future hold for you?

Right now I am busy applying for teaching positions for this upcoming fall and trying to figure out where I want to live now that I am finished my degree.

Asia Winter-Sinnott is from Mayo, Yukon, the traditional territory of her First Nation, Na-Cho Nyak Dun. She convocates with a BA in Native Studies/BEd in Secondary Education majoring in Art and Native Studies on June 25, 2021.