IS graduate Miri Abel embraces interdisciplinary learning

This summer, Miri Abel proudly crossed the stage to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree, with double majors in International Studies and Indigenous Studies.  

Prior to coming to the Coast Salish Territories (Vancouver) in 2019, Abel spent a transformative gap year in Senegal. Her mind was burning with complex questions about cultural differences between communities, colonial and Indigenous histories, and how language shapes us and the world around us. Abel discovered that the interdisciplinary program at the School for International Studies offered the perfect environment to explore these intricate topics.

“International Studies gave me a platform to conduct research in many disciplines, ranging from African history to Indigenous forms of development,” she explains.

Motivated by a sense of responsibility to learn about the peoples whose territories she occupied, Abel eagerly enrolled in Indigenous Studies courses. “I believe Indigenous Studies is one of the few majors that requires a self-reflective and intense look at one's beliefs, status, and positionality in the world.” 

It seemed Indigenous Studies was the perfect complement to her International Studies education. Every new International Studies theory, policy, or form of development she encountered was critically examined through an Indigenous Studies lens, allowing her to challenge Western-centric perspectives. 

Similarly, she applied what she learned in IS to her studies on Indigenous forms of governance and development. She wondered, "How would the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace be (mis)understood by global entities like the UN? What are the dangers and benefits of trying to advocate for Indigenous rights in global institutions like the World Bank?"

 She credits her teachers for making her undergraduate journey memorable and impactful. “Instructors like Amyn Sajoo, Christopher Gibson, Megan MacKenzie, Sumercan Bozkurt-Gungen, Michael Hathaway, and Jason Stearns celebrated my diverse and complex understandings of the world and encouraged me to continuously bring them into dialogue.” 

One standout moment in her academic career was taking IS 325 Social Movements in a Changing Africa with Jason Stearns. In that class, she delved into African histories, the impacts of colonialism, and the ways in which African societies mobilize for political change. 

Stearns' gift for teaching greatly benefited her, particularly during her final presentation on Y'en A Marre, a political movement in Senegal. “My time in Senegal allowed me to gain a particular interest in their work, and with Jason's help, I was able to reach out to the leaders and conduct an interview in Wolof, the Indigenous language I learned in Senegal.”

Abel notes the power of student agency in shaping the discipline of International Studies. Whether a high school graduate about to enroll at SFU or a seasoned fourth-year student, her advice is to ask the difficult questions that no one has a clear answer to. 

“Your experiences and ideas move IS forward into a more well-rounded discipline that prioritizes a complex understanding of the world,” Abel remarks, “not just what has been deemed correct over the last few decades.”

Looking ahead, Abel will be pursuing her Master of Arts in International Studies at SFU starting in Fall 2024. She is keen to explore how the discipline can evolve by incorporating Indigenous communities as sovereign nations rather than as colonial subjects.