Picture of Dr. Jebunnessa Chapola

Dr. Jebunnessa Chapola PhD Postdoctoral Fellow, U of R

Dr. Chapola is a postdoctoral fellow working under the guidance of Dr. Margot Hurlbert, Canada Research Chair in Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability Policy, and a Professor in the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

Areas of Interest

  • Women-led Climate Change Policy
  • Environmental Justice as Responsibility
  • Anti-racist Theory and Practice in Policy
  • Decolonization, Intersectionality, Indigeneity
  • Settler of Colour, Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Empowerment

About

Dr. Jebunnessa Chapola is a settler of colour woman who is trained as an anti-racist, decolonial feminist educator and practitioner. In addition to her academic success, she is also engaged in decolonial social justice community activism and community-building activities. As a community-engaged activist scholar, she has worked in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for the last 10 years and is currently living in Calgary. She was involved with the community garden, community radio and transnational cultural activities. Her community-building work has been recognized by various federal, provincial, and local organizations.

In 2015, she received the provincial Betty Szuchewycz Award from the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, Anti-racist Beyond Trailblazer Honor (2015), CBC Future 40 Award (2015), and the University of Saskatchewan Graduate Students’ Association's Excellence in Community Services Award (2016). She was featured by CBC, CTV, Global TV, The Star Phoenix, Saskatoon Express, CFCR, The Sheaf, the YWCA in Saskatoon, Flow magazine, and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.

Currently, she is teaching as a sessional lecturer at the general education department at Mount Royal University (MRU), Calgary, where she also serves on the MRU Joint Taskforce on Systemic Racism, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee, Member Engagement Committee and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion training project.

Designations

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Women’s, Gender and Sexualities Studies University of Saskatchewan
  • Master of Philosophy in Gender and Development, University of Bergen, Norway
  • International Master of Science in Social Work, University of Göteborg, Sweden
  • Bachelor of Arts (Honors in Sociology), University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Current Research

Women-led Climate Change Solutions (WCCS): Developing A Policy Guide from Indigenous and Immigrants’ Perspectives

Dr. Chapola's postdoctoral research aims to create a Women-lead Community Climate Solutions Space (WCCS) on principles of equity, utilizing practices, fostering community resiliency on climate change (CC); to address climate change risk and women’s vulnerability, particularly focusing on Indigenous, transnational immigrant, and refugee women; and to provide concrete recommendations to policymakers for creating socially inclusive climate adaptation policies and practices at local, provincial, and federal levels.

Recent Grants

  • The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) postdoctoral Fellowship 2022-2024. Women-led Climate Change Solutions (WCCS): Developing A Policy Guide from Indigenous and Immigrants’ Perspectives.

Awards and Honours

  • Excellence in Community Services, GSA, Uof S, 2016
  • BBC Bangla listed as 100 Inspirational Women, 2016
  • Saskatoon, YWCA Women of Distinction, Community Building (Nominated), 2016
  • CBC Future 40 Winner, Saskatchewan, Canada 2015
  • Beyond Trailblazer, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCOS), 2015
  • Anti-racist Champion (Betty Szuchewycz, Provincial Award), Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCOS), Saskatchewan, 2015

Research Funding (Submitted)

  • The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Grant (IG) ($3250000) 2023. Collaborator. Project Title: Building Energy Resiliency within and from Indigenous Community-led Policy Guidelines.
  • Spencer Large Research Grant (USD 499K/ CAD 650K). Co-applicant. Project Title: Towards Inclusive Education: Improving Access to and Quality of Education among the Girl Children of Marginalized Communities in South Asia.
  • New Frontiers Explore Grant 2022 ($200,000). Collaborator. Project: Anti-Racist Climate Change Solutions: Developing Practice and Policy Guidelines for Visible Minority and Indigenous Communities

Select Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications

  1. Chapola, J. (2020). Reconciliation through transnational lenses: An immigrant woman’s learning journey. In R, Datta (Ed). Reconciliation in practice: A cross-cultural perspective. (92-110) Winnipeg, Canada: Fernwood Publishing.
  2. Chapola, J. (2020). Building bridges among Indigenous and immigrant communities: A visible minority immigrant woman’s journey. In R., Datta (Ed.). Indigenous decolonization and reconciliation: Responsibility for social and environmental justice. London: Routledge.
  3. Datta, R & Chapola, J. (2020). Community gardens: An immigrant story of food sovereignty Saskatoon City, Saskatchewan, Canada. In J. Gruber, (Ed.). Building Community – Twelve Principles for a Healthy Future, (47-52) BC: New Society Publishers.
  4. Chapola, J. & Datta, R. (Accepted). Feminist autoethnography. In Janet O. Walker, K., and Dougall, G. (Ed). History of methodology/ method/ construct. NY: Springer.
  5. Datta, R & Chapola, J. (Accepted). Decolonization of Autoethnography. In Janet O. Walker, K., and Dougall, G. (Ed). History of methodology/ method/ construct. NY: Springer
  6. Chapola, J. (Accepted) Learning Importance of Indigenous Meaning of Land Acknowledgment: A Racialized Colour Settler Woman’s Decolonial Reflection. In R. Datta (Ed). Decolonization in Practice: Community Reflections. ON: Canada Scholar Press
  7. Datta, R., Chapola, J., Datta, P., & Datta, P. (2020). The COVID-19 Pandemic: An Immigrant Family Story on Reconnection, Resistance, and Resiliency. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 51(3-4), 429-444.https://doi.org/10.3138/jcfs.51.3-4.016.
  8. Datta, R., Chapola, J., Datta, P., & Datta, P. (2020). The COVID-19 Pandemic: An Immigrant Family Story on Reconnection, Resistance, and Resiliency. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 51(3-4), 429-444.https://doi.org/10.3138/jcfs.51.3-4.016.
  9. R. & Chapola, J. (2018). Indigenous and western environmental resource management: A learning experience with Laitu Khyeng Indigenous community, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. Journal of Native American and Indigenous Studies, 4(2), 52-80. DOI: 10.5749/natiindistudj.4.2.0052
  10. R., Khyang. U. N., Khyang. H. K. P., Kheyang. H. A. P., Khyang. M. C., & Chapola, J., (2015). Understanding indigenous sustainability: A community-based participatory experience. Revista Brasileira de Pesquisa em Educação em Ciências, 14(2), 99-108.
  11. R., Khyang. U. N., Khyang. H. K. P., Kheyang. H. A. P., Khyang. M. C., & Chapola, J., (2015). Participatory action research and researcher’s responsibilities: An experience with Indigenous community. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 10.1080/13645579.2014.927492.
  12. Chapola J. & Datta R. (2007). Indigenous women and labour migration: a case study on Khyang Indigenous in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh. International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nation, 5(1):55-60.

Non Peer-Reviewed Articles and Conference Papers

  1. Chapola, J. (2019). Letter to my unpaid Ma. The F-word. Issue: Spring 5. Page 14-15. https://www.criaw-icref.ca/en/page/editions

Media Recognition and Coverage