Cassandra 'Cassie' Hill
Braiding the Fire
Indigenous researcher, educator, and curriculum and research specialist working at the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, trauma-informed practice, and digital learning environments.
About
I am a Haudenosaunee (Mohawk) woman from Six Nations of the Grand River, and my
work is grounded in relationship, responsibility, and community.
I work across research, education, and digital design, supporting institutions,
organizations, and communities in developing approaches that are not only effective,
but also ethical, culturally grounded, and accountable. My approach is shaped by the
understanding that knowledge is not separate from the people it serves, and that meaningful work must be responsive to lived experience, not just theory.
Over time, my work has grown to focus on spaces where there are clear gaps in care, particularly within education systems and digital environments. I am especially interested in how we can create structures that better support Indigenous learners and communities, while also challenging the limitations of existing institutional approaches.
What I Do
My work focuses on the development and application of Indigenous research methodologies, trauma-informed education, and culturally grounded program and curriculum design. I work with both academic institutions and community-based organizations to support projects that require thoughtful, ethical, and relational approaches.
A significant part of my work involves supporting the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems into curriculum and research design. This includes working with faculty, leadership, and community partners to ensure that initiatives are not only inclusive in name, but grounded in meaningful practice.
I also engage in work related to digital learning environments and safety, particularly in the context of Indigenous women and gender-based violence. This includes exploring how digital systems, including emerging technologies, can be designed in ways that are more responsive, supportive, and accountable to the people using them.
Across all of these areas, my focus remains consistent: to develop work that is practical, responsible, and rooted in relationships.
Experience
I bring experience across post-secondary institutions, community organizations, and national initiatives, where I have worked in roles that bridge research, education, and policy.
As a Professor of Indigenous Curricula and Programs at Mohawk College, I support institution-wide efforts to integrate Indigenous knowledge systems into curriculum and program design. This includes working collaboratively with faculty, administrators, and Indigenous partners to ensure that curriculum development aligns with both institutional goals and Indigenous governance and accountability practices. My work often involves reviewing existing courses and programs, co-developing new learning pathways, and supporting teams as they move beyond superficial inclusion toward deeper, relational approaches to Indigenous education.
In my role as Co-Founder and Research Lead of Echoes of Us, I lead the development of an Indigenous-led digital initiative that integrates artificial intelligence, storytelling, and community-based methodologies. This work focuses on creating digital spaces that support Indigenous safety, wellness, and self-determination, particularly for those navigating trauma. Through this project, I work alongside community partners, technologists, and knowledge keepers to explore how emerging technologies can be shaped by Indigenous values, rather than simply applied to Indigenous contexts, and how digital tools can hold space for care, sovereignty, and resistance.
Previously, as a Gender-Based Violence Framework Coordinator, I led the development of a national Indigenous research and policy framework. This work involved coordinating across multiple regions, engaging with community partners, and ensuring that the framework was grounded in Indigenous methodologies and responsive to community needs. It also required navigating complex institutional landscapes, facilitating dialogue between community and policy environments, and advocating for approaches that recognize the ongoing impacts of colonial violence while centring Indigenous leadership, safety, and collective futures.
I also serve as a member of the Board of Advisors at Excel Career College, where I provide guidance on Indigenous curriculum development and ethical engagement in environmental and aquaculture programming. In this role, I support the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems into program design, help shape approaches to community partnership, and contribute to conversations about how education can be more accountable to land, water, and local governance.
In addition, I continue to teach courses in Early Indigenous Childhood Education, Indigenous Studies and Social Justice at Brock University, supporting students in understanding Indigenous knowledge systems and their relevance to contemporary issues. My teaching focuses on helping learners think critically about power, history, and responsibility, while also creating space for reflection, dialogue, and the development of practical skills they can carry into their own communities and professional work.
Skills & Areas of Expertise
My work is supported by a strong foundation in Indigenous community-based research, with particular expertise in research ethics, governance, and consent processes. I have extensive experience developing research frameworks that align with Indigenous data sovereignty principles, including OCAP® and CARE, and that prioritize community ownership and control of knowledge.
I also specialize in trauma-informed research and program design, ensuring that projects are developed in ways that recognize and respond to the impacts of trauma, particularly within Indigenous communities. This includes designing processes that are flexible, relational, and attentive to the needs of participants.
In addition to research and design, I bring experience in curriculum development, institutional change, and policy development. My work often involves translating complex research into practical tools, resources, and strategies that can be used within both academic and community settings.
I also have extensive experience in stakeholder and community engagement, multi-institutional project coordination, and grant-funded research administration, supporting projects from early development through to implementation and reporting.
Education
I am currently a Doctorate of Distance Education student at Athabasca University, where my research is titled The Fire Inside the Screen: Technological Infrastructures, Trauma, and Indigenous Women’s Safety in Online Higher Education. This work explores how digital learning systems can be redesigned to better support Indigenous women, particularly those navigating trauma in online environments.
I hold a Master of Professional Education with a focus on Indigenous Education from Western University in partnership with Six Nations Polytechnic. My graduate work focused on developing culturally relevant approaches to suicide prevention and life promotion for Indigenous youth.
I also hold a Bachelor of Arts in First Nations Studies and History from Western University, where I developed a strong foundation in Indigenous knowledge systems, history, and critical analysis.
How I Work
My work is grounded in relational accountability, which means that I approach each project with a strong sense of responsibility to the people, communities, and knowledge systems involved.
I prioritize approaches that are community-informed, ethically grounded, trauma-aware, and responsive to lived experience. This involves taking the time to build relationships, listening carefully, and ensuring that processes are respectful and meaningful.
Rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions, I work collaboratively to develop approaches that are specific to the context, recognizing that each community, institution, and project has its own needs, priorities, and ways of working. My focus is on creating wise practices that emerge from relationship and lived experience, rather than fixed best practices, so that the work can remain responsive, grounded, and accountable over time.
Working Together
I am open to collaborations that align with community, care, and meaningful impact. My work spans academic, community, and applied research contexts, and I am particularly interested in projects that seek to create change in thoughtful and responsible ways.
I currently work with post-secondary institutions, community organizations, research teams, and policy and program development initiatives. This includes supporting curriculum and program development, designing Indigenous research frameworks, contributing to research collaborations, and delivering guest lectures and speaking engagements.
I also work on projects focused on trauma-informed and culturally grounded program design, as well as initiatives related to digital education and safety.
Connect
If you are interested in working together, collaborating, or learning more about my work, I would be happy to connect.