Dr. Natalie Knight's dissertation, Dispossessed Indigeneity: Literary Excavations of Internalized Colonialism, moves between the separate fields of Marxism, feminism, settler colonialism, and critical Indigenous studies in a compelling and novel way. 

Dr. Knight’s research focuses on Indigenous writers who authoritatively proclaim enduring national, linguistic, and land-based connections, while the voice and structure of her writing also allows her to bridge the cultural divides between these Indigenous writers and specific urban Indigenous writers who exhibit multiple forms of cultural dispossession. In other words, her writing demonstrates how individuals like Dr. Knight herself, who identifies most strongly with urban Indigenous populations, can dialogue with writers with notably different relationships to Indigenous traditions and spaces. 

In addition to completing her doctoral studies, Knight also presented her work at conferences, worked intensively on a SSHRC funded research project, and was also teaching as well. Additionally, Knight also holds two editorial positions, one with the prestigious poetry journal Capilano Review; the other is with The Volcano, a social justice publication that Natalie contributes to and has helped run for several years.

Dr. Knight's supervisor, Deanna Reder, calls Knight "a dedicated and respectful teacher" in the Aboriginal Transitions program, and praises Knight's community activism and institutional service, “showing initiative and a cooperative spirit in working with others.”

Dr. Reder believes Knight to be "one of the most accomplished and promising scholars I have ever taught; one who will make an enormous contribution to public debates and urgent social issues in academia and well beyond." 

Knight shares, “It is an honour to receive the Dean’s Convocation Medal. I am grateful to the diverse communities of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, activists, and writers who have gifted me with their insights and knowledge. In my work, I hope to inspire other urban Indigenous people to write their stories and share their tremendous wisdom.”

Dr. Natalie Knight is the Indigenous Curriculum Consultant in the Teaching and Curriculum Development Centre at Langara College.