SCARP Speaker Series: Kamala Todd

More about Kamala Todd

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Kamala Todd is a Métis-Cree mother, Indigenous planner, filmmaker, and educator born and raised in the beautiful lands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples (aka Vancouver). Her maternal family roots are in Red River, St. Paul des Métis, Lac la Biche, Edmonton, and other homelands. Her father descends from German immigrants. 

Kamala has a Masters degree in Geography from UBC, and works at the intersection of film and urban planning to support decolonizing and re-Indigenizing the city and narratives. She was the City of Vancouver's first Indigenous Arts and Culture Planner and Aboriginal Social Planner. Recently, she was honoured to be part of the Vancouver UNDRIP Strategy work with the City and Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, as consultant and writer. 

Kamala has taught at UBC SCARP and SFU Urban Studies as Adjunct Professor. She is Associate Professor of Professional Practice at SFU Urban Studies. Kamala is Director of Indigenous City Media, and her projects weave stories for truth, transformation, redress, and healing. Her film credits include Cedar and Bamboo, Indigenous Plant Diva, and RELAW: Living Indigenous Laws. She has written and directed for Coyote Science and Tansi! Nehiyawetan on APTN. Her writing credits include Truth-Telling: Indigenous Perspectives on Working with Municipal Governments (2017) and City Transforming (2023). Kamala lives with her family in Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast.