A University of Winnipeg alumna has been named a 2026 Trudeau Foundation Scholar, earning one of 18 scholarships awarded nationwide to doctoral students whose research addresses pressing societal challenges.
Taylor Wilson, an Ojibwe, Cree and Filipino PhD student at the University of British Columbia, received the prestigious scholarship for research focused on Indigenous food sovereignty, ecological justice and community well-being.
Wilson, who earned both a Bachelor of Arts in 2016 and a master’s degree in Development Practice in 2020 from the University of Winnipeg, said her academic journey was shaped by her own experiences after being diagnosed with prediabetes while in university.
Raised in Fisher River Cree Nation, about 180 kilometres north of Winnipeg, Wilson said she struggled to reconcile mainstream nutrition advice with the realities of life in many First Nations communities.
“I was struggling with my health and trying to figure out how to eat healthy,” she said in a University of Winnipeg release. “At one point I went home to my community and realized that being vegan is very difficult to do in First Nations communities.”
During her master’s studies, Wilson examined how well Canada’s Food Guide reflects the needs of Indigenous communities. Her research found that conventional health recommendations often conflict with Indigenous cultural values and overlook barriers such as limited access to fresh food, unsafe drinking water and the high cost of groceries in remote communities.
Now pursuing her doctorate, Wilson is expanding that work by studying the revitalization of Cree agricultural knowledge as a way to strengthen Indigenous food sovereignty and community health.
Her research explores how colonial agricultural policies disrupted Indigenous food systems and how communities are reclaiming traditional knowledge through land-based practices.
“I am fortunate that I come from a progressive community that is big on creating opportunities for our members and building sustainable economic health and education practices,” Wilson said. “I am thinking about what the possibilities are in my home community for building up a sustainable agricultural system.”
Wilson is working with Elders, Chief and Council, and local organizations in Fisher River Cree Nation to develop culturally relevant food resources.
In 2020, she collaborated with community members and her research advisor to publish a Fisher River Cree Nation cookbook. They are now preparing to launch a community-specific food guide later this summer featuring traditional food knowledge, seasonal harvesting calendars, recipes, nutrition information and guidance on movement as medicine.
Wilson said she learned she had been selected as a Trudeau Scholar while writing exams and initially struggled to appreciate the significance of the recognition.
In addition to financial support, the scholarship provides mentorship and opportunities to connect with scholars and leaders from across Canada.
By Steven Sukkau, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Jul 15, 2026 at 10:00
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