Shady Al Hafez
Biography
Shady Al Hafez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration specializing in Indigenous Politics and Governance and is an Associate with the Yellowhead Institute (external link) at Toronto Metropolitan University. Shady is Anishinabe (Algonquin) and Syrian, and is a registered member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. He is currently a PhD Candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto, a SSHRC Doctoral Award holder, and holds a MA in Indigenous Governance from the University of Victoria. Prior to joining academia, Shady spent over 15 years supporting and working directly with Indigenous organizations and governments, most recently serving as the Policy and Research Manager to the National Association of Friendship Centres (external link) . Shady has sat as representative on the Indigenous Peoples Section of the American Sociological Association, the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Indigenous Research and Teaching at the University of Toronto and currently sits as a member on the Horizon Ottawa (external link) Board of Directors and the Kidjimaninan Advisory Committee (external link) in Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg.
Forthcoming
From the Sacred to the Mundane: Seeing and Realizing Algonquin Presence in All Aspects of Life Along the Occupied Kichi Sibi. In Sacred Sites of the Anishinabe and the Ruins of Ottawa, edited by Daniel Rück and Mike Steinhauer. Forthcoming 2026.
Peer Reviewed Articles
How to Buy a Coffee in a Settler State: Language and Refusal in Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. South Atlantic Quarterly 1 October 2019; 118 (4): 898–910.
Other Selected Articles
“Algonquin Anishinabeg vs. The Algonquins of Ontario: Development, Recognition & Ongoing Colonialization.” Yellowhead Institute, 18 February 2021.
“I’m learning to honour both my Muslim and Anishinabe sides.” Broadview Magazine, 2 Mar. 2020.
“12 Easy Steps For Canadians To Follow If They’re Serious About Reconciliation.” BuzzFeed, 15 July 2025.
Academic Conferences
“Merging of Others: Indigenous Muslims and the Confluence of Identities” at the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association Annual Conference. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma State University, 2025.
Panelist on “From Palestine to Turtle Island: Food as a Weapon of Colonialism and a Tool of Liberation” at the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences Congress. Toronto: FHSSC, 2025.
“Making Algonquins: The Construction of Algonquin Identity in the Ottawa Valley” at the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association Annual Conference. Toronto: University of Toronto, 2023.
“Language and Refusal in Kitigan Zibi: Speaking English While Being Anishinabe in Quebec” at the Canadian Indigenous/Native Studies Association Conference. Peterborough: Trent University, 2020.
Government Presentations
“Urban Indigenous Issues and Indigenous/Migrant Relations” presentation to the Department of Refugees, Immigration and Citizenship Canada. Ottawa: 2023.
“Supporting Urban First Nations through Culture and Community” presentation to the Assembly of First Nations, Income Assistance Forum. Edmonton: 2023.
Panelist on “Indigenous Entrepreneurship & Reconciliation” at the Sustainable Finance Forum on the Hill. Ottawa: 2023.
“Diverse Muslim Identities” presentation to Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs. Ottawa: 2022.
“Muslim Diversity in Canada” to the Muslim Federal Employees Network (MFEN). Ottawa: 2022.
Other Presentations and Guest Speaking
“Being in Good Relation: Actioning Solidarity in the BIPOC Non-Profit Sector” presented to FoodShare Toronto. Toronto: 2025.
“Starting with Respect: Recognizing and Honoring Indigenous Rights” at the OCASI Leaders Forum. Toronto: 2025.
Panelist on “Building Community Wealth” at The People’s Social Impact Conference. Ottawa: 2025.
Panelist on “Truth and Land Back” presented at Yellowhead Fire Talks. Toronto: Yellowhead Institute, 2024.
Panelist on “Indigenous Social Economy and Reconciliation” at the Sustainable Finance Forum. Ottawa: 2023.
“Experiences in Indigenous Community Based Education” presented at Yellowhead Fire Talks. Toronto: Yellowhead Institute, 2023.
“Decolonization and Advocacy” presented to the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Ottawa: 2023.
Panelist on “Indigenous Economies: from Fiscal Warfare to Cash Back” at the Broadbent Institute Progress Summit. Ottawa: Broadbent Institute, 2023.
“Beyond Solidarity” presented to the Social Economy Through Social Inclusion (SETSI). Toronto: 2023.
“Anti-Colonial Environmental Organizing” presented to Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Ottawa: 2022.
Panelist on “Land Defense Across Borders” at Scholar Strike Canada. Toronto: 2022.
“The Historic and Contemporary Impacts of Colonialism on the Algonquin Nation” presented to the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies – Sustainable Futures: Environmental Challenges and Solutions). Ottawa: Carleton University, 2022.
“The Historic and Contemporary Impacts of Colonialism on the Algonquin Nation” presented to the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Ottawa: 2022.
Panelist on “Diversity, Equality & Inclusion (DEI) in Today’s Society” at Co-operative and Mutuals Canada - National Virtual Congress. Ottawa: 2021.
Panelist on “Yellowhead Institute: Land Back” to the Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Toronto: 2021.
Panelist on “Connecting Abolitionist Struggles: Settler Colonialism, Mass Incarceration, and the ‘War on Terror’” at the Noor Cultural Centre. Toronto: 2021.
Panelist on “Creating Community Partnerships: A Conversation with Members of the Yellowhead Institute” to Stanford University. California: Stanford University, 2020.
Panelist on “Unceded Ottawa: The Algonquin and the Outaouais” at Arboretum Festival Talks. Ottawa: Arboretum Festival, 2015
Shady’s research interests include Indigenous and migrant relations, the impact of globalization on Indigenous communities, Indigenous religiosity and its impact on Indigenous politics, governance and resistance and lastly the historical and contemporary processes of colonialism, land dispossession and Indigenous resistance in Canada and the United States.
Shady currently teaches in the following courses:
PAI105 Indigenous Rights, Equity/the State
PPA404 Issues in Public Administration
PAI107 Colonialism and Indigenous Governance
Previous courses taught at TMU include:
CHST680 Treaties, Land and Indigenous Governance
PPA124 Indigenous Politics and Governance