Welcome to the IRN
Welcome to the IRN
The Indigenous Research Network (IRN) was launched as a University of Toronto Institutional Strategic Initiative in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s Calls to Action. This includes increasing the visibility of Indigenous scholars' research accomplishments by sustaining a cross-divisional, interdisciplinary network of Indigenous scholars and facilitating robust research engagement across the University of Toronto and internationally.Â
Team

Dale Turner
In July of 2022, Professor Dale Turner was appointed to a three-year term as the Academic Advisor of Indigenous Research to the Provost. Under the umbrella of Indigenous Research, he also serves as the Director of the Indigenous Research Network. Professor Turner will also work closely with Shannon Simpson, Director of Indigenous Initiatives, and the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.
Professor Turner is a citizen of the Temagami First Nation in northern Ontario. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Centre for Indigenous Studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science. His research interests include Indigenous politics, contemporary Indigenous intellectual culture, contemporary political theory, and the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Roxanne Sky
Roxanne joined the Indigenous Research Network in July 2023 as the Indigenous Communities Liaison. She is a member of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Having graduated from the Onkwehon:we Languages Diploma Program – Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) at Six Nations Polytechnic in collaboration with McMaster University, Roxanne continues to strive to learn and support Indigenous knowledge and language learning across the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

Indira Quintasi Orosco
Indira joined the Indigenous Research Network in Winter 2026 as Program Manager, where she leads the coordination and delivery of IRN programming, partnerships, and research initiatives.
Indira is a Ph.D. student in the Educational Leadership and Policy (ELP) program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. She holds a Master of Education from OISE and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
Originally from Peru, Indira has Quechua roots from Ayacucho and Cusco and was raised in the district of Villa María del Triunfo in Lima. Her work broadly bridges research, community engagement, and advocacy, with a focus on education, policy, and international and transnational collaboration.
Prior to joining IRN, Indira served as Lab Coordinator and Knowledge Mobilization Specialist at the Ziibiing Lab, a Global Indigenous Politics Research Collaboratory in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto, where she supported research development and community-centered programming. She has also contributed to educational reform programs for government institutions in Peru. Alongside her academic work, she is a co-founder and member of Kuskalla Abya Yala, an Indigenous-led nonprofit organization.

Anthony Grosbeck
Anthony joined the Indigenous Research Network in Spring 2026 as Communications Administrator. In this role, he supports IRN’s communications by coordinating social media content, managing the website, and assisting with coverage of IRN events.
He is a member of Beausoleil First Nation in central Ontario, with ties to Chippewas of the Thames. Anthony brings a background in graphic design and digital art, supporting cultural and Indigenous-led initiatives across Turtle Island.
Network Features

Theory of Water: Nishnaabe Maps to the Times Ahead

CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award Program

U of T grad navigates cancer while learning how to improve the health of Indigenous families



