Congratulations to Lydia & Sharla!

The Department of Elementary Education is excited to congratulate two of their colleagues for receiving tenure, Drs. Lydia Menna and Sharla Mskokii Peltier.

"Dr. Menna and Dr. Peltier are extremely deserving of the awarding of tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. They are both amazing teachers and scholars. ” says Jerine Pegg, Chair of Elementary Education."

“Dr. Peltier’s scholarship has been described as impactful and timely in its contribution to Indigenous Education and Truth and Reconciliation Studies. She has also made significant contributions to the Elementary Education graduate and undergraduate programs through her development of new courses that deepen students’ understanding of Indigenous pedagogies and knowledge traditions and immerse students in experiential learning with Land/Place."

"Dr. Menna’s research on literacy teacher education has been recognized internationally, including the receipt of best paper awards for two of her publications. Students consistently describe her teaching as outstanding and she has contributed greatly to the Department through her work as the course coordinator for EDEL 305: Language Arts in the Elementary School.”

Lydia Menna’s research interests are in the areas of teacher education, multi-literacies, critical literacy and teacher identity construction, recognizing linguistic diversity and a variety of modes of communication, including material culture. Her work as a teacher has been varied; it has included teaching in elementary school classrooms, museums, not-for-profit organizations, and university contexts. Prior to joining the University of Alberta, she worked at the Royal Ontario Museum in educational programming and exhibits, then pursued teacher education at the University of Toronto.

Sharla Mskokii Peltier is a member of the Loon Clan at Mnjikaning (Rama) First Nation in Ontario and works to stimulate and support grass-roots development of culture and language reclamation initiatives. Sharla has 25 years of extensive experience within the education and health sectors in First Nations and urban contexts. She demonstrates professional and personal commitment to community-based Aboriginal research in education that honors the voices of children, youth, families, Elders, and educators. She is very community-minded and her relationships within the Aboriginal community and professional milieu are well-developed and maintained in the Great Lakes region of Ontario and her network is steadily growing in Alberta. Sharla’s research and teaching experience is rich with community land-based learning approaches and applications for school and post secondary learning. Sharla is dedicated to reconciliation and believes that education about Aboriginal perspectives, histories, cultures and languages is key to building respectful relationships and for healing our relationship with Aki (Land) and each other.

The promotions are effective July 1, 2022. Congratulations to Lydia and Sharla! We are so proud of you.