Amanda LaVallee

Assistant Professor – School of Social Work

I am a Métis scholar rooted in the homelands of the Red River, with a lineage shaped by resistance, movement, and the determination of families who carried Métis culture through generations of colonial disruption. I hold close the teachings, stories, and responsibilities passed down through my relations, and I remain connected to the communities and kin who guide my work. My Red River ancestry includes the Vandal, Branconnier, Courchene, Poitras, Delorme, Pilon, Beauchamp, and Normand families, grounding my commitments to Métis research sovereignty, relational accountability, and the resurgence of Métis knowledge systems. My areas of expertise that may resonate with the Living Lab Network include Indigenous research sovereignty, Métis health and well‑being, digital storytelling, and Indigenous‑specific racism in academic institutions. I approach this work through community‑led, place‑based, and relational methods that align with the Living Lab ethos. Alongside my research, I contribute to Indigenous scholarly communities as an organizer, mentor, and collaborator, supporting conferences, networks, and initiatives that strengthen Métis and Indigenous presence and leadership across the academy.