New faculty member in Arts: Dr. Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt
Wed. May. 15, 2024
Congratulations to our new faculty members in the Faculty of Arts! We look forward to introducing each of them to you in the coming weeks.
Here we feature Dr. Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt, Instructor in the Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies.
Dr. Tracy Whalen, Acting Dean of Arts, states, “Dr. Duthie-Kannikkatt’s commitment to community, social empowerment, and justice makes her a fabulous fit with the department of Urban and Inner-City studies. This commitment clearly extends to students, too, who will benefit tremendously from her situated practice and teaching.”
Welcome Dr. Duthie-Kannikkatt and thank you for sharing about yourself with us!
Dr. Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt (Bio)
Dr. Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt joined Urban and Inner-City Studies as an Instructor in April 2024. She is returning to Treaty 1 territory after a few years away in Mi'kma'ki where she worked for various environmental justice and food sovereignty non-profits while instructing online with UWinnipeg's Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences. Kaitlyn is passionate about supporting students in confronting systems of power and building strong communities through engaged learning in and out of the classroom. She is so excited to join a department so focused on student-centred learning and decolonizing education.
Kaitlyn holds a PhD from the University of Manitoba in Natural Resource and Environmental Management (2023), a Master's of Development Practice in Indigenous Development from the University of Winnipeg (2015) and a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University (2012). Her doctoral research explored how small-scale agricultural communities in Bolivia use food sovereignty as a tool of resistance in a context of environmental and political change. She has also been active in climate organizing and migrant solidarity work.
We've invited our new faculty members to answer some questions of their choice. Here is Dr. Duthie-Kannikkatt had to say!
What course are you most looking forward to teaching at UWinnipeg – and why?
I am really excited about teaching the Inner-City Work Study course this summer. The course allows students to gain work experience with community-based organizations doing awesome work in Winnipeg's inner city while learning about the root causes of poverty and injustice in the classroom. They also get exposed to a ton of amazing community organizing that happens in Winnipeg to confront those challenges. It is a phenomenal program that brings together students from many different disciplines and backgrounds to learn from one another and collaboratively build a better world in a spirit of reconciliation and solidarity. It is a lot of work for them! But so far I am so inspired by our students' enthusiasm and commitment to learning.
What was one thing you learned as an undergraduate that was/has been really important to you – and why?
I think the most important thing you can do as an undergraduate is take advantage of the opportunities that exist on campus to take action on issues that matter to you. There are always fascinating lecture series, engaging workshops, and committed student clubs and associations you can check out, all of which will help you figure out what you're passionate about and how you can effect change in your communities. Grades are important, but the experiences and skills you gain from getting involved on campus will stick with you for the rest of your career and your life, so don't miss out!