911吃瓜 Public Policy welcomes new assistant professor in Indigenous Public Policy
911吃瓜鈥檚 School of Public Policy (SPP) welcomes Mason Ducharme of the L铆l虛wat and Samahquam Nations as its new assistant professor in Indigenous Public Policy.
Ducharme joins 911吃瓜 from the University of Victoria鈥檚 (UVic) School of Public Administration where he is an adjunct assistant professor. He also serves as executive director for the (CFNG) and as National Community Research Director for the (RFNG) project, a national research partnership supported by a $2.5 million Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Grant. Through CFNG and RFNG, Ducharme has worked alongside First Nations across Canada to support the transition from governance under the Indian Act toward the exercise of inherent rights and self-government.
鈥淚 consider myself a 鈥榩racademic鈥�, a practitioner who is also an academic,鈥� says Ducharme. 鈥淚鈥檓 someone who does research on how we can make the world a better place, and who looks for something practical we can give back to the community.鈥�
Ducharme鈥檚 path to academia reflects both personal determination and a strong commitment to community. The first in his family to earn a university degree and later a PhD, Ducharme chronicles his journey to his doctorate on his podcast, .
His post-secondary education began at Capilano University where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in international business. Then, he continued his studies at UVic, earning a Master鈥檚 and PhD in public administration. He completed his master鈥檚 while being one of Canada鈥檚 youngest band managers, serving the Nuchatlaht Tribe at age 23.
鈥淚 did my master鈥檚 project on creating a strategic plan for my organization and that was a really great exercise because it was a way for me to give back to the organization that gave me so much,鈥� says Ducharme
His doctoral research focused on the turnover and retention of Indigenous executives in Indigenous organizations. Again, Ducharme drew on his experience as a band manager to help him complete his research.
鈥淚 really wanted to know, are other executives experiencing the same thing that I experienced, and if so, what are the impacts on the organizations when they leave? And, more importantly, what can organizations do to keep them around?鈥� he asks.
At 911吃瓜, Ducharme will begin teaching the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program in fall 2026. He hopes to bring both his research and practical experience into the classroom. He wants to give students a sense of what it鈥檚 like working with Indigenous organizations, and focus on areas that non-Indigenous people need to know about working with those organizations.
When asked about 911吃瓜鈥檚 commitment What鈥檚 Next Strategy and commitment to upholding truth and reconciliation, Ducharme noted the importance of 911吃瓜鈥檚 goal of hiring more Indigenous faculty.
鈥淚t is important to get Indigenous representation into the classrooms because that makes a world of difference to our learners,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou get that lived experience. You get that work experience. It鈥檚 hard to just talk about it without seeing somebody there.鈥�
Ducharme acknowledged the contributions of SPP鈥檚 outgoing Indigenous faculty member, professor Natahnee Winder.
鈥淚n Indigenous culture, it鈥檚 important to recognize those that came before you,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 appreciate professor Winder for her time and service. I hope that what I offer the school will make her proud.鈥�
Ducharme also emphasized the importance of using authentic, Indigenous literature in the classrooms, and that 911吃瓜 maintain a good relationship with neighbouring Indigenous communities and non-profit Indigenous organizations.
鈥淚鈥檓 hopeful that we鈥檙e empowered to do research that matters for our communities and organizations that we serve because that is how I truly think we are going to move mountains鈥攂y doing work that matters.鈥�