Hunelhyad? Sid Dr. Johanna Sam sets’edinh. Sid Tŝilhqot’in xaghiyah. Sid Musqueam nen ŝidah as. Dr. Johanna Sam is a citizen of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation and currently resides on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Musqueam People. She is a Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar and an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia, jointly appointed in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, as well as the NITEP – Indigenous Teacher Education Program.
Dr. Sam’s research is grounded in Indigenous knowledges and community-led methodologies to advance holistic wellness among diverse children and adolescents. With training in developmental and educational psychology, her work integrates a public health approach to examine upstream and downstream determinants of wellness. She investigates the intersections of mental health, education, and digital technologies, centering protective factors and strengths-based, culturally resurgent supports. Her research contributes to the development of evidence-informed policies and practices that promote wellness in communities, particularly in a rapidly evolving digital world.