Dr. Jennifer Leason
Anishinaabe Artist &
Academic in Action
My name is Jennifer Leason and my Anishinaabe name is Kessis Sagay-Yas Egett Kwé: First Shining Rays of Sunlight Woman.
"GWAYOOSHGAWIN" (BALANCE)
Dr. Jennifer Leason is the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Maternal Child Wellness. Although the overall health outcomes of First Nations and Inuit Peoples in Canada have improved in recent years, there are still gaps between the health of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. For example, infant mortality rates are two to three times higher for Indigenous Peoples versus other Canadians.
Dr. Jennifer Leason, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Maternal Child Wellness, aims to address maternal-child health disparities and associated inequities for Indigenous Canadians. She and her research team are focusing on reproductive health, pregnancy, birth, the postpartum stage and the early childhood years with the aim of shedding light on healthy life trajectories for individuals, families, communities, nations, provinces and the world.
About Jen
My name is Dr. Jennifer Leason and my Anishinaabe name is Kessis Sagay-Yas Egett Kwé: First Shining Rays of Sunlight Woman. I am of a member of the Pine Creek Indian Band and my maternal Indigenous roots are from Duck Bay, Pine Creek and Camperville, Manitoba; and my paternal Ukrainian-Norwegian roots are from Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan.
