51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú

51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú’s Department of English welcomes Troy Sebastian | nupqu Ê”ak·ǂamÌ“ as its new assistant professor in Indigenous literatures and cultures.

Sebastian most recently taught at the University of Victoria and is a writer from the Ktunaxa community of Ê”aqÌ“am. His story â€” a long time ago—was longlisted for the 2018 CBC Short Story Prize and the 2019 Writers’ Trust Journey Prize. In 2020, he was selected as a Writer’s Trust Rising Star and was longlisted for the CBC Poetry Prize. His story  won the 2022 National Magazine Award Gold Prize for Fiction. His first short story collection, Fine Particulate Matter, will be published by McClelland & Stewart in Canada and Pantheon in the United States. 

When asked about his new assistant professorship at SFU, Sebastian spoke candidly about the appointment.

1. Why did you decide to teach at 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Úand move to Vancouver?

The Indigenous literatures and cultures professorship in the Department of English presents an incredible opportunity and responsibility for myself and my family. While Indigenous literatures have been published more widely than ever before, Indigenous peoples and our stories are the oldest stories and the deepest traditions in these territories. As a Ktunaxa scholar, I am incredibly honoured to have the responsibility of teaching students Indigenous literatures while also having dedicated time to compose and publish my own works.

2. What do you enjoy about teaching? What do you find most rewarding?

I enjoy public speaking, and I love sharing my passion for writing with students. While there is space for instructing technique, the best path for instruction that I have found is to help students create space for themselves to demonstrate the unique potency of their voice. There are many rewarding aspects of teaching writing from witnessing students' craft emerge throughout a semester to lively class discussions. However, and if I am permitted to admit to a certain selfishness, I find that through teaching about writing I learn so much about my own craft.

3. Tell us about the first course(s) you will be teaching for the department in January 2026.

I will be teaching a course about Indigenous voice and location that focuses on publications by Indigenous writers predominantly from British Columbia, the majority of whom are Indigenous women. This course centres on Indigenous matriarchs and draws on memoir, theatre, fiction, and poetry.

4. As part of its What's Next Strategy, 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Úis committed to . How can we accomplish this through our curriculum and classroom teaching/activities?

I am an intergenerational survivor of the St Eugene Mission residential school located in my home reserve of ʔaq̓am. I often ask myself: what is the value of truth and reconciliation in Canadian society, when our basic rights to our land and our nation are compromised by Canadian federalism? As an instructor, I know that my commitment to ensuring students are respected and in a safe learning environment is deeply rooted in the wake of residential schools.