Mercedes’ research focuses on the impacts of assimilation policy on Indigenous lives and
identities, particularly the lives and identities of Indigenous women, and how colonization as a tool of
oppression becomes internalized by Indigenous people over time. Mercedes Peters is a Mi’kmaq master’s student in History at Dalhousie University from Wolastoqiyik
territory and Glooscap First Nation. Understanding first-hand the impacts of the intergenerational trauma
caused by colonization in Canada, she spends most of her time working to fight it.
Since she was seventeen, Mercedes has been involved with various projects designed to educate
others on Indigenous histories and present realities, ranging from producing a radio documentary on
the legacies of Indian Residential Schools to working with youth teams on reconciliation initiatives in her
community.
Currently, Mercedes’ research focuses on the impacts of assimilation policy on Indigenous lives and
identities, particularly the lives and identities of Indigenous women, and how colonization as a tool of
oppression becomes internalized by Indigenous people over time.
Mercedes will be starting a PhD at the University of British Columbia in the fall. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx