Dr. Stewart Hill shares a powerful and personal story of resilience, identity, and transformation. Growing up in a Cree community, he struggled with the colonial education system that instilled disconnection from his culture. Despite this challenge, he pursued both traditional and formal education, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s in Natural Resource Management. After a period of hardship, he began a PhD focused on Indigenous water issues, supported by mentors and community. Throughout his academic journey, he faced personal losses but found strength in cultural practices, and community supports. Completing his PhD in 2021, he emphasizes that education—both institutional and traditional—is a lifelong tool for empowerment. Dr. Hill concludes by affirming Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination as inherent rights granted by the Creator, not by colonial systems.
