Deondre Smiles

Deondre Smiles (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) is an Indigenous geographer whose ongoing research agenda is centered in the argument that tribal protection of remains, burial grounds, and more-than-human environments represents an effective form of ‘quotidian’ resistance against the settler-colonial state. This is in continuation of his dissertation work, which centered around Indigenous/settler contestations over Indigenous remains and burial grounds. He is also interested in tribal cultural resource conservation and protection, research ethics with Indigenous communities, and interdisciplinary work with fields such as rhetoric, linguistics, and history. Deondre is an incoming Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Victoria. Smiles holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography from St. Cloud State University, a master’s degree in Global Indigenous Studies from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and a Ph.D. in Geography from The Ohio State University.