Megan Graham / Writing and Research
Published Elsewhere
This page collects selected academic work, essays, reviews, and future newspaper or public-facing publications by Megan Graham. Entries are listed newest first and will be added to as new work appears.
Featured academic work
April 2025 / Athabasca University
Academic Work
The Politics of Recognition: The Limitations of UNDRIP Implementation in Canada
Interdisciplinary Studies Final Project Paper (MAIS 700) / Athabasca University / April 2025
An academic paper on the implementation of UNDRIP in Canada and the politics of recognition.
Publications archive
Chronological archive
May 12, 2025
Academic Work
Indigenous Governance and the Crisis of Neoliberal Development
Athabasca University
This academic essay examines the tensions between neoliberal economic policies and Indigenous governance systems in Canada. Drawing on the experiences of the Wet’suwet’en and Pictou Landing First Nation, it explores how market-driven development perpetuates colonial inequalities, undermines Indigenous sovereignty, and prioritizes economic growth over collective well-being. The essay considers how Indigenous approaches to governance, grounded in reciprocity, relational accountability, and environmental stewardship, challenge conventional understandings of development and progress.
May 2025
Academic Work
Unequal Shelter: Urban Housing Policy, Racialized Homelessness, and the Legacies of Colonialism in Canada
Athabasca University
This academic paper examines how Canada’s housing policies perpetuate racialized homelessness and structural inequality. Through a critical analysis of the National Housing Strategy, it explores the intersections of colonialism, systemic racism, economic inequality, and fragmented government responsibilities. The paper challenges market-driven approaches to housing and considers how Indigenous-led initiatives, community-based solutions, and stronger government accountability could contribute to a more equitable housing system.
May 2025
Academic Work
Relational Accountability in Grassroots Indigenous Research
Athabasca University
This academic research paper uses constructivist grounded theory to examine the role of relational accountability in grassroots Indigenous research. Drawing on Indigenous scholarship, community-developed ethical frameworks, and principles of Indigenous data sovereignty, it explores how reciprocity, consent, cultural protocols, and relationships with land shape ethical research practices. The paper challenges conventional institutional approaches to research ethics and considers how community-led methodologies can advance Indigenous self-determination and more accountable approaches to knowledge production.
April 2025
Academic Work
The Politics of Recognition: The Limitations of UNDRIP Implementation in Canada
Interdisciplinary Studies Final Project Paper (MAIS 700) / Athabasca University
Thisresearch paper critically examines Canada’s implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and its implications for Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. Drawing on Indigenous legal scholarship, political theory, and case studies, it explores the tensions between Canada’s commitments to reconciliation and the continued authority of colonial legal and economic structures. The paper argues that meaningful implementation requires moving beyond symbolic recognition toward substantive changes in Indigenous governance, land rights, and decision-making authority.
April 2024
Academic Work
Transforming Conservation: Posthumanism and Collaborative Rewilding in Northwest British Columbia
Case Study / Athabasca University
This academic case study explores how Indigenous knowledge, posthumanist philosophy, and collaborative conservation practices challenge conventional approaches to environmental management. Focusing on Northwest British Columbia, it examines Tsimshian stewardship traditions alongside initiatives such as the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary and Gitga’at marine conservation programs. The paper considers how Indigenous-led conservation and ecological restoration can support biodiversity, cultural continuity, and more sustainable relationships between people and the natural environment.
July 2023
Academic Work
Sovereignty in Education: Indigenous Self-Determination and the Right to Control Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Athabasca University
This academic paper examines the relationship between Indigenous educational sovereignty, self-determination, and the preservation of Indigenous knowledge systems in Canada. Drawing on the historical impacts of colonial education policies and contemporary examples of Indigenous-led educational initiatives, it explores the importance of reclaiming authority over curricula, language, and cultural teachings. The paper considers how educational sovereignty can advance reconciliation, strengthen cultural identity, and challenge the continued dominance of Eurocentric approaches to education.
