Amanda Shawayahamish
Research Assistant
Amanda is an Anishinaabe woman from Animbiigoo Zaagi-igan Anishinaabek First Nation.
Having graduated from Concordia University’s First Peoples Studies Program in 2021, Amanda obtained her master’s degree from Concordia University’s Individualized Program, specializing in Anishinaabe storytelling and traditional beadwork in 2024. She was a project assistant at Concordia University’s Office of Community Engagement, where she co-created the Indigenous engagement guide “Dewemaagannag/My Relations” for researchers and academics. Amanda also has experience in working with persons with disabilities as she was a research assistant on the Nisidotam project and designed the logo. Amanda's interests compose of Indigenous health and wellbeing, and Indigenous research methodologies.
Michelle Kowalska
Undergraduate Student
Michelle is an undergraduate psychology student at McGill University. They are currently assisting Payton with their research project, and want to pursue graduate studies in psychology later. Being of mixed Polish and Kashmiri Muslim roots, Michelle is interested in community and culturally-sensitive psychology practices, and hopes to someday develop research and practices which better cater to the South Asian diaspora.
