Carrie Bourassa
Carrie Bourassa is a Canadian academic in community health and epidemiology who worked at the University of Saskatchewan and served as scientific director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health.
Carrie Bourassa is a Canadian academic in community health and epidemiology. Her career became controversial after a CBC investigation found no evidence of her claimed Indigenous ancestry.
What it is
Carrie Bourassa was a professor at the University of Saskatchewan and scientific director of the CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health. She led Morning Star Lodge, an Indigenous community-based health research lab, and focused on Indigenous health, cultural safety, and health inequities.
Why it matters
In 2021, a CBC investigation reported no evidence supporting Bourassa’s claims of Métis, Anishinaabe, and Tlingit ancestry. The case drew national attention to Indigenous identity claims in academia and the leadership of federally funded Indigenous health research. She was suspended and later resigned in 2022.
Key details
Bourassa earned her degrees from the University of Regina. She had previously taught at First Nations University of Canada. The CBC report concluded her relatives were of European ancestry. After the report, she was suspended, investigated, and resigned from the University of Saskatchewan.
In short
- She was a professor and directed Morning Star Lodge.
- She served as CIHR scientific director for Indigenous health.
- CBC found no evidence of her claimed Indigenous ancestry.
- She resigned from the University of Saskatchewan in 2022.
Bourassa’s case drew national attention in Canada because it involved Indigenous identity claims, university governance, and the leadership of federally funded Indigenous health research.
Quick questions
Who is Carrie Bourassa?
What was the controversy?
Did Carrie Bourassa resign?
Sources
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_BourassaSupports: University position, controversy summary, suspension, resignation, and role at CIHR.
- CBC News — https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/carrie-bourassa-indigenousSupports: Claims of Indigenous ancestry, role at University of Saskatchewan and CIHR, and CBC investigation findings.
- CBC News — https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/carrie-bourassa-resigns-1.6473964Supports: Resignation from the University of Saskatchewan, suspension, and earlier CBC investigation.
- Forum for Research and Innovation in Indigenous Health / Age-Well NCE — https://forum.agewell-nce.ca/index.php/PL:Carrie.BourassaSupports: Education, career background, and research interests.
- MyConference Suite — https://events.myconferencesuite.com/Palliative_Care_Culture_and_the_Clinic_Symposium/virtual/bio/377Supports: Role as scientific director of CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health and professor at University of Saskatchewan.