Dr. Cynthia Stirbys

Cynthia Stirbys, PhD
Assistant Professor

Office: 212, 167 Ferry Street
Windsor, ON N9A OC5

Phone: (519) 253-3000 ext. 3083
Email: cstirbys@uwindsor.ca

Scholarly Interests/Areas of Expertise

Mental Health
Social Determinants of Health
Participatory action research
Qualitative research
Grounded Theory
Transpersonal Counseling
Gender Studies
Indian Residential Schools: Trauma and Resilience

Educational Background

Ph.D., University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
M.A., Saint Paul University, Ottawa, ON
B.A. (Hon), Carleton University, Ottawa, ON

Biography

Dr. Cynthia Stirbys has over 15 years experience in individual, group and community work in the following areas: Mental Health and Addictions; Social Determinants of Health; Indian Residential School; Governance; Gender-based Analysis; Research Ethics; Trauma and Transpersonal Counseling. Over her career, Dr. Stirbys has provided context and advice to identify policy gaps in services, and in developing interventions that meet the needs of Indigenous Peoples. She is passionate about supporting students learning and understanding of the complex social issues impacting wellness of all peoples and cultures including Indigenous Peoples.

Research Publications

Refereed

Dell, C.A., Stirbys, C., Wilson, J., Pooyak, S., Taylor, S., Duncan, R.C., Mykota, D., Laliberte, L., and Young, P. (2017). Branching Out Community Engaged Scholarship: Gaining Insight from Cross-Cultural Participatory Action Researchers. Engaged Scholar Journal. Saskatoon, SK: University of Saskatchewan.

Stirbys, C., and Finestone, E. (2018). Indigenous Birth in Canada: An Emerging Dialogue on Reconciliation and Reproductive Justice in the Settler State. Demeter Press: Feminist Publishing on Mothering, Reproduction, Sexuality and Famiily. Bradford, ON.

Stirbys, Cynthia (2013). “Mimesis, Residential Schools and Reconciliation.” In Vern Neufled Redekop and Thomas Ryba (Eds.) René Girard and Creative Reconciliation (pp. 307-320). Maryland: Lanham Lexington Books.

Stirbys, Cynthia (2015). Gendered-Based Analysis and Indigenous Worldviews. In Brenda Cranney and Sheila Molloy (Eds.) Canadian Woman Studies: An Introductory Reader, 3rd Ed., (pp. 26-39). North York, Ontario: Inanna Publications and Education Inc., York University.

Stirbys, Cynthia (2013). Gendered-Based Analysis and Indigenous Worldviews. In A. Miles (Ed.) Women in a Globalizing World: Equality, Development, Peace and Diversity, (pp. 449-462). North York, Ontario: Inanna Publications and Education Inc., York University.

Stirbys, Cynthia (2008). Gender-based Analysis and Differing Worldviews. In Canadian Women’s Studies Indigenous Women in Canada The Voices of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Women. Volume 26, Numbers 3, 4. (pp.138-145). North York, Ontario: A York University Publication.

Non-refereed & Other Publications

Stirbys, Cynthia (2016). Potentializing Wellness through the Stories of Female Survivors and Descendants of Indian Residential School Survivors: A Grounded Theory Study. Ph.D. Unpublished Thesis. Ottawa, ON: University of Ottawa.

CIHR - Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health (2015). Pathways to Health Equity for Aboriginal Peoples Annual Gathering Summary Report. Burnaby, BC: Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada.

Secretariat for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2011). Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS-2)

Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada On-line Tutorial. Ottawa, ON: Secretariat for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

Native Women’s Association of Canada (2011). On My Way: Aboriginal Women Caring for community as a Personal Support Worker. Ottawa: Native Women’s Association of Canada.
Download "On My Way" in PDF format.

Assembly of First Nations (2007). First Generation, Second Generation, A Newly Enhanced Tobacco Control Strategy for First Nations. Ottawa, ON: Assembly of First Nations.

Stirbys, Cynthia (2006). Without Great Pains and Controversy: The Resurgence of Aboriginal Midwifery Practices in Canada. Master of Arts Unpublished Research Paper. Ottawa, ON: Saint Paul University.

Assembly of First Nations (2006). Assembly of First Nations Gender-Balanced Analysis Policy Paper. Ottawa, ON: Assembly of First Nations.

Canadian International Development Agency (2002). Traditional Knowledge Sensitivity Guide. Gatineau: Canadian International Development Agency.

Conference and Invited Presentations

January 21, 2017 - University of New Brunswick

Invited guest lecture for ENGL3713 Indigenous Literatures Course. Revised presentation: Impacts of Residential Schools on Female Survivors and/or Female Descendants of Survivors: Confronting the Legacy. A quiz was presented at the beginning of the presentation in addition to an interactive component so students could experience some of the basic social process that was presented.

March 8, 2016 - University of Victoria, BC

Invited to present on International Women’s Day at Ceremonial Hall, First Peoples’ House, Presented PhD Thesis findings: Impacts of Residential Schools on Female Survivors and/or Female Descendants of Survivors: Confronting the Legacy. This presentation was promoted through IdeaCity and as a result, 125 students, faculty, and guests arrived to hear the presentation.

June 22-23, 2016 - Canadian Indigenous/Native Studies Association (CINSA), Regina, SK

Presentation: CIHR’s Pathways to Health Equity for Aboriginal Peoples Signature Initiative.

November 15-19, 2015 - Healing Our Spirit Worldwide (HOSW, 2015) Conference, New Zealand

Two presentations were submitted and accepted:

1) Pathways to Health Equity for Aboriginal Peoples Signature Initiative

2) Potentializing Wellness – Breaking the Chrysalis of Trauma: A Grounded Theory Study. Both presentations were adjudicated by the HOSW selection committee and both were included as part of the 200 abstracts chosen for presentation out of 500 received abstracts.

March 14, 2013 - CIAW Forum, Ottawa City Hall, Ottawa, ON

Presentation: Why Aboriginal Women’s Issues Should Matter to All Canadians. I was asked to present given the “Idle no More” Movement had begun month’s earlier. Therefore, this presentation was well received.

February 8, 2011 - Human Resources and Community Health Management for First Nations, Métis, Aboriginal, and Remote Communities Conference, Ottawa, ON.

The presentation title, Buying Into the System at the Expense of Losing Ourselves: Examining the Politics and Power of Consumerism provided a historical review of ‘colonial frontier logic’ and illustrated how this logic impacts the overall well-being of First Nations people in contemporary times.

January 22, 2011 - 12th Annual Symposium in Indigenous Research: ‘The Power of the Good Mind’ Issues in Indigenous Mental Health, Queens University, Kingston, ON

The presentation entitled, Mimesis, Residential Schools and Reconciliation was co-authored with former Director of Research at the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, Gail Guthrie Valaskakis

March 31, 2009 - Aditawazi Nisoditadiwin: Empowerment Through Knowledge Conference, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON

Co-presented the paper: Drawing Empowerment from a Midwifery Socioecological Model based on MA.

November 2007 - Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse - Issues of Substance Conference, Edmonton, AB

Co-presented a historical overview of colonial violence and the impacts on Aboriginal peoples as a backgrounder to the CIHR research project led by Colleen Anne Dell: Aboriginal Women Drug Users in Conflict with the Law.

September 2006 - 7th World Indigenous Women and Wellness Conference, Warriors Against Violence, Vancouver, BC

Made two presentations: “Developing a culturally-affirming Gender-balanced Analysis” and, “Approaches to Conflict and Social Justice: ‘Decolonizing Our Minds’, Reversing Colonization from a Gendered Perspective”.

August 2006 - Healing Our Spirit Worldwide (HOSW) International Indigenous conference Edmonton, AB

The National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy. Co-presented with Health Canada.

June 2006 - Colloquium on Violence and Religion as a keynote speaker, Ottawa, ON

Invited to present a paper co-authored with Gail Valaskakis Guthrie of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, entitled, Mimesis, Residential Schools and Reconciliation. Paper was eventually published as part of the colloquium collection of presentations through Saint Paul University.

April 2006 - Saint Paul University, Ottawa, ON

Delivered a presentation on Indian Residential Schools and the ethical issues surrounding approaches to restorative justice and the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process to a class, with guests invited to attend.

May 2003 - IDRC’s Environment and Natural Resource Management Forum, Montreal, QC

Invited to present the Discussion of an Eco-System Approach to Human Health from an Indigenous perspective.