When Dr. Kim Fraser-Saddleback (EdD), Dr. Valerie Harper (EdD), Dr. Anita Johnstone (EdD) and Dr. Shawn Sanderson (EdD) applied to the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Doctorate of Education (EdD) program through the Department of Educational Administration, they couldn't foresee the deep impact it was going to have on their home community.
Fraser-Saddleback was nervous heading into the first virtual cohort meeting until she saw familiar faces on the screen.
From left: Shawn Sanderson, Kim Fraser-Saddleback, Anita Johnstone, Valerie Harper were honoured at a graduation celebration hosted by Mistawasis, November 23, 2024. (Photo: Submitted)
"It was like this huge exhale because there were people I knew," she said. "Valerie and I are cousins - our moms are sisters - and Shawn is my niece."
Johnstone, though not directly related, said she quickly felt a strong connection.
"At first I was shocked because I wasn't expecting anyone else from Mistawasis," she said. "I quickly realized how amazing it was to gain three sisters. We could lean on each other for support."
For Harper, the journey from high school dropout to earning a doctorate alongside her daughter made the experience especially meaningful.
"It meant a lot to me to have Shawn in the cohort with me. I was beaming with pride when we started together," she said.
Sanderson always admired her mother's impact in the education and leadership fields. The opportunity to work alongside her in a professional setting was remarkable.
"She's an outstanding leader in education," said Sanderson. "She has dedicated her life to nurturing young minds and inspiring those around her with a passion for learning and teaching. She has not only shaped my values, but also left a profound impact on a countless number of learners."
Fraser-Saddleback credits her mother, Louise Fraser, for instilling the importance of education and resiliency in colonial spaces.
"Valerie and I are just one step away from the residential school experience because our moms went to residential school," she said. "They showed us how to survive and be resilient within a colonial educational sphere."
Sanderson knows their impact will positively influence Mistawasis and other First Nations communities. She envisions a future in which traditional knowledge and contemporary practices co-exist.
"I want to see us enriching one another in the process," she said. "This aspiration for change stems from a deep commitment to preserving our cultural heritage while equipping learners and leaders with the skills they need to succeed."
Dr. Paul Newton (PhD), head of the Department of Educational Administration, knows the success of Mistawasis educators is not a case of luck. He recognizes how much effort the community has put into promoting education at all levels.
"Mistawasis has done a lot of great work around education in their community," he said. "You can see evidence of that in the number of high-level scholars and leaders that have come out of that community."
The EdD program includes online sessions and in-person summer residencies. Through the rigorous workload, the four learned more about each other and developed a closer bond.
Harper said it was an interesting but wholesome experience as she wrote about her daughter, and classmate, throughout her dissertation.
"My intention was to tell my story," she said. "It was a very enlightening moment for me when I was introduced to the autoethnography methodology because I could use my truth and lived experiences."
Johnstone appreciated how the multi-faceted journey grew her confidence.
"I most definitely learned how to be patient and to be inquisitive," she said. "More importantly, I learned that I am smart, talented and deserving of this degree."
Fraser-Saddleback reflected on the process and struggles of the added layer of operating as an Indigenous scholar in a colonial space.
"As an Indigenous person, I didn't really see myself in the academy or faculty throughout my undergraduate or master's program," she said. "I was questioning whether this was the place for me."
"Our moms inspired us. Now we can do that with others."
Dr. Kim Fraser-Saddleback (EdD)Last Updated: June 2, 2025
Now with their EdD degrees, they can be the ones to lead and inspire the next Mistawasis generation.
Fraser-Saddleback will use her degree as an instructor and researcher, build on her current role with the Saskatchewan First Nations Family and Community Institute, and continue to work with Indigenous communities.
"We get to be role models and mentors for anyone who is wondering if they can do it," she said. "Our moms inspired us. Now we can do that with others."
Sanderson wants to continue discussions on Wâhkôhtowin teachings, specifically the relationship and purpose of everything on Earth. Researching Wâhkôhtowin for her dissertation has given her language and resources to educate others.
"By utilizing Wâhkôhtowin, educational leaders extend beyond administrative rules," she said. "Students have talents and they have a voice that can share and cultivate a sense of pride and identity."
"My goal is to leverage the knowledge gained from my EdD," Sanderson added. "I'd like to see educational programs integrate Indigenous knowledge, practices and ways of being into the curriculum."
For Harper, the EdD is more proof that the colonial system has not and will not stop her from reaching her goals.
"When I came into the EdD, my only goal was to be able to tell my story and earn a doctorate as the ultimate educational experience and accreditation," she said. "As a dropout, that was pretty powerful in my mind."
Johnstone has since started writing two books The Empowered School Administrator and If I Were a Man and plans to work with her grandson on a third.
"We're breaking down stereotypes of First Nations people, which ties into my research," said Johnstone.
The trailblazing Fraser-Saddleback, Harper, Johnstone and Sanderson have broken down barriers for the Mistawasis community and Indigenous people. Fraser-Saddleback notes that positive change will continue for the next generations.
"We're challenging perceptions that Indigenous people can't do certain things or can't be leaders in education," she said. "That's one of the powerful parts and the meaningful parts for our community and for our family."
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