Alison Tedford Seaweed

Communication master's student in the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I am a Kwakiutl First Nation member, of 'Nakwaxda'xw and European ancestry. I am an author, storyteller, and mother. I worked for the federal government for over a decade before leaving to work as a consultant and writer. School was where I thrived growing up and I've always wanted to go back and get a degree. This program was the perfect opportunity.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

I was inspired by the Communications Research for Social Change program and the opportunity to learn with Indigenous faculty like Dr. Karrmen Crey.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

I've always been fascinated by the parallels in colonization experienced by both orcas and First Nations people. Building on the observations of Dr. Zoe Todd, David Neiwert, traditional Kwakiutl scholarship and legends, I look to see how we might reimagine the relationships between people and orcas and how we talk about them to move from a conservation perspective to seeing them through a kinship lens that is more traditional in my culture.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

animal-human relationships, Indigenous, colonization

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

I have had the opportunity to learn communication theory, participate in field trips and engaging classroom discussions, TA alongside brilliant professors and learn from peers who are working as advocates in the field from all around the world.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

I have been the recipient of the SSHRC-CGSM Award and the Indigenous Scholars Award & Supplement, as well as an entrance scholarship when I was first accepted to the program.

What have been the most valuable lessons you've learned along your graduate student journey (or in becoming a graduate student)?

I have learned so much that has helped me grow as a communicator, an educator and as a person. More than academic lessons, faculty modelled compassion and cultivated belonging. It's one thing to show up with a brilliant PowerPoint. It's another thing to show up on a human level and be there for students on their most challenging days. That's educational leadership and that's what SFU's School of Communication embodies. Academic excellence and human connection.

How do you approach networking and building connections in and outside of your academic community?

Awkwardly but with good intentions. I talk about the things that excite me and hope to find people who are also excited. I ask lots of questions about things I don't understand and attend everything I can. I celebrate the successes of my peers and engage in their special interests. One time I emailed Dr. Zoe Todd to tell her about my favourite fish as a way to introduce myself.

What are some tips for balancing your academic and personal life?

Ask for extensions if you need them. Make friends with your classmates because you are going to spend a lot of time together, they will help keep you sane and can be really helpful. Ask for what you need.

If you could dedicate your research to anyone (past, present and/or future), who would that be and why?

My great great grandpa Willie Seaweed. Dressed in full regalia during the potlatch ban, he chanted at the water until four orcas surfaced. That story has been handed down for generations and it found its way to me through artist and lawyer Shain Jackson who I interviewed for a story for a client. It's the connecting piece that anchors my family to this abstract idea I've been thinking about for years.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I'm so grateful SFU welcomed me as a non-traditional student based on my professional experience to come in as a graduate student without an undergraduate degree. I tell clients if you want to do something different, you have to be willing to do something different and SFU was willing and I'm grateful. The first year of my program has been personally challenging but academically nurturing and this has been the safest place to grow.

Additional Links

• LinkedIn
• My Personal Website
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