Sheryl Lightfoot Appointed to Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellowship
Professor Sheryl Lightfoot of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and the Department of Political Science has been appointed to the 2026 cohort of Fellows for the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
Trudeau Fellows are exceptional individuals who work on the issues most critical to modern society and progress. Each have demonstrated research excellence, cultivated their reputation and integrity nationally and internationally, and shown strong commitment to their subject matter through teaching and public engagement over time. The title of “Trudeau Fellow” is a lifetime designation.
Trudeau Fellowships recognize senior scholars whose work bridges academic research, public policy, and societal impact, with special emphasis on four themes: human rights and dignity; responsible citizenship; Canada in the world; people and their natural environment.
Lightfoot is a scholar of Indigenous rights and global politics and an Anishinaabe citizen of the Lake Superior Band of Ojibwe, enrolled at Keweenaw Bay. Her research focuses on Indigenous state relations and the implementation of Indigenous rights frameworks, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Her work on the adaptation of Indigenous movements and advocacy strategies to shifting global politics, giving particular attention to Canada's role, was key to her selection. She hopes to build on that research as a Trudeau Fellow.
Lightfoot currently serves as vice‑chair and North American member, and is a past chair of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, advising the UN Human Rights Council on the advancement of Indigenous rights worldwide.
“The Trudeau Foundation brings together scholars, practitioners, and public intellectuals who believe that rigorous research and civic engagement belong together,” Lightfoot commented in response to the appointment. “I share that belief entirely, and I am excited to contribute to, and learn from, that community over the years ahead.”
The Trudeau Foundation announced its 2026 cohort on April 30, naming new Scholars, Fellows and Mentors selected through a national review process.
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan Canadian charity that supports engaged research and leadership in the humanities and social sciences through its Scholarship, Fellowship and Mentorship programs.
