Ty Bryant

Anthropology master's student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

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

I am a citizen of We Wai Kai First Nation who remains inspired by and engaged with lessons from my community, even from a distance. For two decades, I despised the education system, even to the point where I simply gave up on my high school diploma. I have ironically found intellectual success later in life and am actually enjoying reading, writing, and developing my scholarship. Part of this is reclaiming and validating my Indigeneity through the course of my undergraduate and graduate studies. Who would have thought?

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

The Sociology & Anthropology department at SFU has always felt like home. Having completed my undergrad here, I felt like it was the right step forward to remain "at home" to continue on my journey through academia.

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

I am looking at how members of the Taiwanese diaspora in Vancouver are reckoning with settler colonialism and, by extension, their roles and responsibilities to local Indigenous nations and lands. An anthropological inquiry into Taiwanese-Indigenous relations will enable me to share research findings with a public audience beyond academic circles, to re-right and re-write historical and contemporary narratives of settler colonialism.

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

Diaspora; Indigenous-Asian relationalities; settlerhood

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

I believe working with kids for many years prior to academia has enabled me to take all manners of inquiry and lines of questioning seriously. I also believe it is this "Yes, and...?" attitude that has given me the energy and groundedness to become an anthropologist and combine that with my creative leanings and writing style. I am also indebted to Dr. Michael Hathaway for not only supervising my ongoing work but also for whom I collaborate as an RA on the Transnationally Indigenous project.

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 am grateful to be supported by the SFU Indigenous Graduate Student Entrance Award, We Wai Kai First Nation, New Relationship Trust, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. This combination of funding has allowed me to double down in my commitment to high-quality coursework, research, and dissemination. 

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

For all my cousins: your Indigeneity is never an inconvenience.

Contact Ty:tba47@sfu.ca

Additional Links

• Ty's website