Jessica Groat, a mixed settler of Red River Métis, Cree, and European heritage, is paternally affiliated with the Mountain Métis of Jasper House in Treaty 6/8 territory, Alberta. Currently residing as an uninvited guest on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories in colonially named Vancouver, she navigates this space as a second-year Master of Public Health student. In the realm of public health, Jessica's passions lie in the intersectionalities of health equity, food sovereignty, land protection, climate justice, and community well-being within Indigenous communities. Driven by her acknowledgment of the intersection between IRSI's mission and Indigenous wellbeing, she joined IRSI this academic year as a practicum student with the goal of actively contributing to the ongoing narrative of reconciliation, research excellence, and community partnerships within Indigenous contexts.
Drawing from her personal journey of self-decolonization, Jessica actively participates in decolonization initiatives within her discipline, envisioning broader cultural shifts in academic institutions. With humility, she emphasizes the importance of walking gently on others' land, weaving respect for the Host Nations into every facet of her academic and community engagement journey.