Richard Aisaican

Richard Aisaican is a citizen of Cowessess First Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan.

He is a former council member of Cowessess First Nation. No stranger to leadership, Richard is also a former student leader with years of experience working to enhance Indigenous rights. Advocating for Indigenous students at all levels of learning was a valuable learning role in Richard’s college and university undergraduate experiences.

Richard now advocates for self-determination in the context of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples when it comes to land, air and water.

Richard spends an enormous amount of time on the land in his home community. Never far from wildlife, Richard navigates his environment to learn and experience the ebb and flow of the seasons and the lay of the land.

Richard is a dedicated researcher focusing on social constructionism, intergenerational trauma, as well as cognitive development. Richard spends a great deal of time and energy sharing his research to help educate Indigenous Nations, organizations and individuals on the relevance of traditional psychology as it relates to Indigenous worldviews.

Richard holds a Master of Science Degree from San Diego State University (SDSU) as well as a graduate certificate in administration from the SDSU research foundation. Richard’s undergraduate degree is in First Nations Studies, with a major in business, from Vancouver Island University. Richard also holds a Diploma in Business Administration from Yukon College specializing in First Nations management.

In his spare time, Richard is a traditional drum maker and teacher for children and adults of all ages. He plays the flute, also referred to as the Native American flute. Richard writes poetry as well as writing stories of fiction and non-fiction.