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Theresa A. Ferguson
Anthropology & Indigenous Studies
Theresa (left) and her sister Dr. Brenda Caloyannis
Hello, AUSU members!
When Bruce Morrison, a former Anthropology coordinator, asked me in 1983 to conduct a seminar on Contemporary
Aboriginal Issues at the Alexander reserve, I had no idea that this would be a "20 years and counting" part-time career.
Alexander First Nations had just recently assumed control of their education system and were organizing university level courses for
their teaching assistants. These women were impressive: studying, working, and deeply involved with family and community.
I soon found this level of motivation is characteristic of AU students in general. Such student enthusiasm has helped to keep
me energized and focused over the years. I now tutor in six different courses in Anthropology and Indigenous Studies.
I also taught part-time at University of Alberta for 19 years in Anthropology and Native Studies. The two teaching
environments are quite different, but AU is by no means at a disadvantage in any comparison. The work put into the course
packages; the one-on-one tutoring; the continuity in the tutoring staff and faculty are just some of the pluses for the learning
process, both for me as the tutor and, I think, for the student – but distance education is definitely geared to the independent
worker, again whether tutor or student. If you aren’t one coming in, you will be one going out!
Along with the pleasure of working on the academic side with students and faculty, my involvement with the part-time
tutors’ union, first CUEW and now CUPE 3911, has been exceptionally rewarding. While union work for part-time
employees is definitely an uphill business in Alberta, this small group has persisted in its efforts to make more of a reality out of the
ideal of equality in and through education. I can’t stress enough the significance in our society of informed activism and would
encourage you to participate in the student association.
My life history also includes being parent to two persons who are now scanning their own copies of the AU calendar.
One is interested ultimately in architecture; and the other is trying to decide between poetry and engineering. My gentle hints
about the insights of anthropology for any profession have only met with rude laughter, I’m afraid.
Aside from university teaching, I also am involved in ethnohistoric research. My interest in the Treaty Eight area stems from
1976 and my MA thesis on traditional environmental management practices but has expanded to include aspects of the fur trade and
treaty negotiations. My most recent Treaty 8 publications can be found in Volume 1 of Lobstick, entitled "Treaty Eight Revisited:
Selected Papers of the 1999 Centennial Conference."
I also undertake research on a contract basis for governments and Aboriginal organizations, specializing over the last decade
in claims in treaty land entitlement. Indeed, 2002 marked my 30th year in contract research. This may sound to you like gold watch
time, but no-o-o, I feel as if I’m just getting started.
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