The 2026 Duncanson Lecture: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities and SASAH are deeply excited to announce that Leanne Betasamosake Simpson will be the 2026 Duncanson Lecturer.

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson is a renowned Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg musician, writer and academic. She is the author of eight books, including A Short History of the Blockade and the novel Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies which was short listed for the Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction and the Dublin Literary Prize. Her collaboration with Robyn Maynard, Rehearsals for Living, is a National Best Seller and was short listed for the Governor General’s Literary Award for non-fiction. Leanne’s new work, Theory of Water is a national best seller and was shortlisted for the Writers Trust prize for non-fiction. Leanne has lectured and taught extensively at universities across Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe and has over twenty years experience with Indigenous land based education. Leanne is also a musician. Her latest release Live Like the Sky is out now from You’ve Changed Records. Leanne holds a PhD from the University of Manitoba and is a member of Alderville First Nation.

Please stay tuned for more details and forthcoming registration information!


The 2026 Robert and Patricia Duncanson Lecture

Thanks to a gift from Tim K. Duncanson in 2018, this series supports an annual lecture in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities offered through the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH). This public lecture is open to the University community, and it is also a key component of the SASAH Speakers’ Series, which is an important part of the program’s curriculum. This lecture is named in honour of Robert Duncanson and Marjorie Patricia Duncanson.

Each year, the Faculty of Arts & Humanities invites a scholar or artist to speak on a topic related to the SASAH program’s dedication to Learning with Humanity. The Duncanson Lecture stimulates thought and discussion with regard to the importance of humanities scholarship and related engagement.

Learn more here.