Million, Tara
Assistant Professor
- Phone
- (403) 332-4665
- tara.million@uleth.ca
About Me
Dr. Million is accepting graduate students and currently co-supervises two MA students:
Erica Gonzalez (co-supervised with Dr. Andrea Cuellar, anthropology) - An Examination of the Impact of Colonialism on Blackfoot Food Security and Sovereignty: A Landscape and Policy Approach
Blair Many Fingers (co-supervised with Apooyak’ii/Dr. Tiffany Hind Bull-Prete, sociology) - Applying Aapaitsitapiiysinni/White Weasel Robe People’s Research Paradigm to Heritage Resource Management in Blackfoot Territory
Biography
Since 1999, Dr. Million has presented regularly at regional, national, and international conferences, including Chacmool, Congress, American Anthropological Association conference, the World Archaeological Congress, the International Indigenous Librarians Forum, Indigenous Literary Studies Association conferences, and the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association conferences, on a variety of archaeological, library science, and Indigenous Studies topics.
Some of her most recent presentations include:
- Responding to wetiko crime: Understanding Harold Johnson's Backtrack through the Indigenous Literary Analysis Model (ILAM) - (presenter) Indigenous Literary Studies Association, Toronto, Canada, 2025
- Indigenization and Intercultural Collaboration in Municipal and Postsecondary Contexts - (panelist) Critical Indigenous Studies Network conference, Oxford, England, 2024
- nakayâskamohtahitowin (the act of introducing yourself to someone else) and academic positionality - (presenter) Maskwacis Cultural College Virtual Microlearning Series: Indigenous Knowledge Services Without Borders, Maskwacis, Canada, 2022
- Storytelling: the way of wahkohtowin - (presenter) achimo: Engaging Through Stories, St. Thomas More College, Saskatoon, Canada, 2022
Dr. Million previously worked for 12 years as a public library manager in a variety of locations: Lakeland Library Region and Saskatoon Public Library in Saskatchewan and at the Hinton Municipal Library in Alberta, where she also managed the Coal Branch Archives. During this time, she worked concurrently for 7 years as a sessional instructor at the North West Regional College and for the Dumont Technical Institute delivering a variety of university, college, and adult education courses to rural students in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. From 2021-2022, she was a Lecturer, with term, at the University of Saskatchewan in the Department of Indigenous Studies.
Current Research
Dr. Million was appointed as an EDI Scholar for the 2024/2025 academic year. This project is titled "Indigenizing Organizational Conflict Resolution Policies and Procedures at the University of Lethbridge". This project is funded by an EDI Scholars Grant and has employed 4 RAs to date.
In Canada, there are many laws. For example, Canadian common and civil law are used by the Canadian State to create Aboriginal laws, which are then applied to Indigenous Peoples. However, Indigenous People also have their own laws. Indigenous laws were and are made by Indigenous Nations in the context of their own legal orders and traditions, which predate the creation of the Canadian State. Sometimes different types of laws come together. For example, the Numbered Treaties in Canada bring together a range of Indigenous and European legal orders and are one of the bases for how Canadian legal traditions were developed. Engaging with Indigenous laws is part of recognizing and affirming the existing Aboriginal and Treaty Rights that are protected under Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. This research project is about Indigenizing existing organizational policies and procedures at the University of Lethbridge that deal with workplace conflicts. This research project draws on the premise that Canada is a multi-juridical country where Indigenous laws exist alongside Canadian common and civil law. The objective of this research project is to examine how a university in Alberta could function within provincial and federal laws, as well as under the umbrella of Indigenous legal orders.
Upcoming events for this research project include the release of a survey and an engagement event in the fall of 2025. Following these, a report of findings will be released. If you would like more information on this project or any of these events, please contact Dr. Million.
Indigenous Archaeologies (2024-ongoing)
Dr. Million is currently engaged in revising her MA thesis into a book for Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. The MA thesis was titled "Using circular paradigms within an archaeological framework: Receiving gifts from White Buffalo Calf Woman". This project is funded by an ECR Grant and has employed 1 RA to date.
The MA research focused on developing a theoretical Aboriginal archaeology and undertaking archaeological fieldwork that involved three general components:
The current research project involves rewriting the thesis and using the audio-visual materials from the original fieldwork to produce a documentary-style film for gifting to Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. If you would like more information on this project, please contact Dr. Million.
Indigenous Writers Series (2023-ongoing)
Dr. Million is part of an inter-disciplinary team for this research project. The project has been funded by the Dean's Office (A&S, University of Lethbridge), a Modern Languages Association (MLA) Step Grant, and a SSHRC Exchange Grant.
This research project involves hosting Indigenous writers at the University of Lethbridge for a range of events, including: Welcoming Ceremonies, author readings, classroom talks, panel discussions, and faculty pedagogical development events. As well, this project takes a broad view of Indigenous literatures and includes written, film, and other forms of media communications.
Recent conference presentation include: Modern Languages Association Conference, New Orleans, USA (2025)
Publications
Million, T. (2024). Using wetiko laws to address lateral violence in the workplace: Application of the Indigenous Literary-Legal Policy Analysis Framework. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, SK. https://hdl.handle.net/10388/16053
Million, T. (2010). Developing an Aboriginal archaeology: receiving gifts from White Buffalo Calf Woman. In M. Bruchac, S. Hart, & H. M. Wobst (Eds.), Indigenous archaeologies: A reader on decolonization (pp. 189-192). Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press.
Million, T. (2005). Comment on "Dwelling at the margins, action at the intersection? Feminist and indigenous archaeologies, 2005". Archaeologies - Journal of The World Archaeological Congress, 1(1), 67-70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-005-0006-6
Million, T. (2005). Developing an Aboriginal archaeology: receiving gifts from White Buffalo Calf Woman. In C. Smith & H. M. Wobst (Eds.), Indigenous archaeology: Decolonizing theory and practice (pp. 43-55). London and New York: Routledge.
Million, T. J. (2004). Using circular paradigms within an archaeological framework: Receiving gifts from White Buffalo Calf Woman. Unpublished master's thesis. University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/97943473-2ae6-4fc3-a0a4-d95354a25425/view/3e65a672-7a8f-4b44-aa91-442cf1d8d9da/MQ81317.pdf
Million, T. (2004). On being an Aboriginal graduate student. In R. B. Morrison & C. R. Wilson (Eds.), Native peoples: The Canadian experience, 3rd Edition (pp. 9). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.
Million, T. (2004). Exploring the history of archaeological theory and method utilizing cyclical time paradigms. In J. Oakes, R. Riewe, Y. Belanger, S. Blady, K. Legge & P. Wiebe (Eds.), Aboriginal cultural landscapes (pp. 66-75). University of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Aboriginal Issues Press.
Million, T. (2003). The Ghost Dance of archaeology. In T. Peck, E. Siegfried, & G. Oetelaar (Eds), Indigenous people & archaeology: Proceedings of the 32nd annual Chacmool Conference (pp. 52-68). Calgary AB: Archaeological Association of the University of Calgary.
Cardinal, T. (1996). The moon and the wolves. In B. Brant & S. Laronde (Eds.), Sweetgrass grows all around her (pp. 63). Toronto, ON: Native Women in the Arts.
Degrees
MLIS San Jose State University (2016)
MA University of Alberta (2002)
BA with Distinction University of Alberta (1998)
Audio-Visual Communications Grant MacEwan Community College (1989)
Research Interests
Her overarching research program is focused on the process and implementation of Indigenization based on paradigm shifting to a Cree circular epistemology. This involves inter-disciplinary research areas and projects on a wide variety of topics such as Indigenous research methodologies, organizational Indigenization, organizational and workplace culture, Indigenizing conflict resolution and HR practices, and Indigenous pedagogical theory and practices.
Dr. Million's research supports a range of teaching areas including:
- Introduction to Indigenous Studies
- Core Concepts and Theories in Indigenous Studies
- Indigenous Philosophies (Introduction and Advanced)
- Indigenous Literatures (Introduction and Advanced)
- Indigenous Archaeologies
- Indigenous Legal Traditions
Dr. Million teaches at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Some of her classes are formatted as land-based learning. She has supervised Applied Studies, Co-op Work Experiences, Independent Studies, and Undergraduate Honours Thesis.