Siomonn Pulla is a Senior Research Associate with the Centre for the North at The Conference Board of Canada. As an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner, he focuses his primary academic and professional efforts on developing a deeper and broader understanding of the historical, practical and theoretical models of participatory and collaborative research, including consensus-building and consultation processes. He is trained as a cultural anthropologist, with an excellent grasp of sociological research methods and a broad understanding of Indigenous and northern issues human rights, sustainable prosperity and economic development in Canada.
Dr. Pulla is also an Adjunct Research Professor affiliated with Carleton University's School of Canadian Studies. He teaches classes and supervises graduate students in the broad and interdisciplinary areas of Indigenous rights and governance, northern issues, corporate-Aboriginal relations, historical anthropology and applied and participatory research methods. He actively maintains a diverse publication record. This includes peer-reviewed academic journal articles relating to Aboriginal issues, applied research methodologies, and disciplinary history. He also authors professional publications addressing broad policy and interdisciplinary issues relating to Aboriginal and northern issues, Canadian history, economic development, and multiculturalism. His most recent contribution includes a chapter in a University of Alberta Press publication, The Métis in Canada, which is scheduled for publication in May 2013.
Siomonn has spent a considerable amount of time in remote areas of Canada, and has a strong understanding of the different cultural, social and economic values of Aboriginal peoples, particularly in light of sustainable resource development and consultation processes.