The Lung Association Welcomes a New Board Member “ Dr. Jo-Ann Episkenew from the First Nations University
The Lung Association of Saskatchewan is delighted to announce that Dr. Jo-Ann Episkenew, Associate Professor or English at the First Nations University of Canada, has been elected to join our volunteer Board of Directors. "Dr. Episkenew's unique qualifications make her an asset to our organization as we address the respiratory health needs of our diverse Saskatchewan population," says the Lung Association's President & CEO, Brian Graham.
"Lung diseases, such as tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), continue to cause First Nations and Metis people much suffering," states Dr. Episkenew. "I am grateful for this opportunity to better understand diseases of the lungs, their effects within the Aboriginal community, and how to best meet these challenges."
Dr. Episkenew was born in Manitoba but is a long time resident of Saskatchewan. She currently serves as an Associate Professor of English at the First Nations University of Canada and served as Department Head of English from 1996-98, as Academic Dean at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (now the First Nations University of Canada) from 1998-2003, and as Associate Director (Programs & Administration) of the Indigenous Peoples' Health Research Centre from 2005-06.
Dr. Episkenew is interested in the applications of Indigenous literature and drama as part of the healing of Indigenous communities from the intergenerational effects of historical trauma. To that end, she is part of a research collective working with Indigenous youth using theatre techniques to explore healthy decision-making. Along with Renate Eigenbrod, Jo-Ann Episkenew is editor of a collective of literary criticism called Creating Community: A Roundtable on Canadian Aboriginal Literatures (2002). Some of her other literary works that have appeared in Inroads include: A Journal of Opinion (2001); Native North America: Critical and Cultural Perspectives (1999); and In Search of April Raintree: Critical Edition (1999).
Dr. Episkenew represents the Canadian Prairie Region on the national executive of the Canadian Association of Commonwealth Literatures and Language Studies and is also Vice-President of the Association for Bibliotherapy and Applied Literatures. Dr. Episkenew lives with her husband Clayton in Regina. They have a blended family of 13 children, 28 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Dr. Episkenew will be attending her first annual general meeting with the Lung Association on Friday, April 13 in Regina. Please join the Lung Association family as we welcome Dr.Episkenew to our board and to thank her for sharing her knowledge and expertise regarding Saskatchewan's Aboriginal culture with our organization.
The Lung Association is Canada's oldest health charity, helping Canadians to breathe easier since 1900. Our predecessor, the Saskatchewan Anti-Tuberculosis League, was founded in 1911 to fight the raging TB epidemic of the time. We are a non-profit, non-governmental organization that relies on the generous support of the public through donations to campaigns such as Christmas Seals to fund our many programs and activities. You will find the Lung Association active in your community conducting programs on asthma, COPD and sleep apnea, providing training for health professionals, delivering health education in schools, facilitating patient support groups, and lobbying for clean air. The Lung Association is the premier source for respiratory health information in Saskatchewan
