Nibi Louttit

Research Interests: “Decolonizing” the War on Drugs, Global Indigenous Land-extractivism, Re-imagining Decoloniality in Action, Intersectionality, Language as Discourse, 2SLGBTQQIA+ Rights, Overcriminalization of Indigenous Bodies, Omushkego Dreams, Global Indigenous Solidarity.

Nibi (he/him) is First Nations Omushkego Inninowuk, trans, two-spirit, and disabled, with family lineage from Treaty No.9, Kattawapiskat First Nation. He is an MA student in Carleton’s Human Rights and Social Justice cohort and is grateful to be in the program. Nibi has over a decade of intersecting grassroots, national and international field experience, in Indigenous policy, 2S & LGBTQQAI+ rights, HIV/AIDS advocacy, drug policy, and education. He delivered an intervention at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), listing recommendations for including youth in drug-policy decision-making and the political HIV targets. He has been part of a global Trans Advisory for supporting recommendations on intersectional Trans health inequities internationally. As a guest lecturer at colleges, universities, and non-profits, Nibi has delivered keynotes and workshops on specialized topics to help better awareness of social, political and legal justice.

Nibi’s experience of providing Indigenous harm reduction support to First Nation, Inuit, and Mètis communities in Northern Ontario holds a special place in his spirit. He dedicates his research thesis project to community members who have passed away and who have shaped who he is today. Nibi’s research looks at Canada’s Settler-colonial powers that shapes the War on Drugs in Canadian society. Nibi recognizes the socioeconomic, political and legal power over First Nations people who use drugs (FNPWUD) livelihoods. He is aiming to de-centralize the geographic hegemony that current literature imposes in this area of research. Additionally, re-creating the academic space of “researching drug use” from a First Nations, Omushkego perspective as someone with intersectional living experience and years of field work in drug policy. His thesis supervisor is Dr. Paul Mkandawire, Director and Professor in the HRSJ program. The program drew Nibi’s interest, as the faculty have specialized knowledge, living experience, and support students in finding out who they are as researchers and changemakers.