Prof. Serena Dykstra

Role & Responsibilities

Serena Dykstra is a Professor and Program Coordinator for Indigenous Community Advocacy - Naadaamaagewin, where she leads and teaches a hands-on, community-focused program that prepares students to become effective advocates for Indigenous rights, self-determination, and community well-being.

Serena supports students in developing the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to navigate complex legal, political, and social issues and translate their learning into meaningful community-based action and positive change.

Professional Background

Serena is an Indigenous legal professional, educator, and equity practitioner with more than 10 years of experience in postsecondary education, Indigenous advocacy, human rights, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. They hold a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School, an MBA from Lakehead University, and an Honours BA in Psychology, with professional experience in human rights investigations, policy development, decolonization, mediation, organizational change, curriculum development, and legal research.

At Confederation College, Serena previously served as an Equity and Human Rights Advisor and, since 2021, as a Professor and Program Coordinator in Indigenous Community Advocacy - Naadaamaagewin. They teach and develop curriculum in Aboriginal and Indigenous law, human rights, governance, mediation, negotiation, research, and Canadian history.

Serena's earlier legal experience included Aboriginal law, land claims, Impact Benefit Agreements, civil litigation, criminal law, family law, and human rights work.

Teaching

Serena has extensive post-secondary teaching and curriculum development experience focused on Aboriginal and Indigenous law, advocacy, governance, community development, human rights, and Indigenous-Canadian relations. She teaches across the program's core areas, including Aboriginal Law, Advocacy, Community Development, Comparative Governance, Mediation & Negotiation, Community Project, and Placement.

Serena's approach integrates academic learning with practical, community-based application, while emphasizing critical thinking, research, communication, relationship-building, and advocacy skills. She also mentors students and provides academic and career support throughout their studies.

Creative Work, Research, or Industry Experience

Serena's professional practice includes legal research and advocacy related to Aboriginal and Indigenous law, land claims, Impact Benefit Agreements, and Indigenous economic development, as well as human rights and equity work in postsecondary education.

They have conducted research on the historical and legal context of Aboriginal land claims in Canada and the implications of land claims agreements, and have applied this knowledge through legal practice, institutional policy development, workplace investigations, decolonization initiatives, and community and student advocacy. Their current work also incorporates applied, community-based learning through student projects and placements in the Indigenous Community Advocacy - Naadaamaagewin program.

Community Involvement

Serena's community and institutional involvement includes serving as Board Chair of Crossroads Centre, a live-in recovery home, from 2019 to 2024, where they participated in strategic planning, financial oversight, governance, employment decisions, and advocacy for continued provincial funding.

At Confederation College, they have contributed to institutional committees and initiatives related to decolonization, Indigenous education, human rights, equity, diversity, and inclusion, including co-leading the Decolonization Committee and collaborating with the Negahneewin Research Centre.

Serena has also supported students through mentoring and advocacy roles at Confederation College and Lakehead University, including as a lecturer and mentor with Humanities 101, a free, non-credit program designed to provide a university-level learning experience to community members facing social or financial barriers.