The UBC School of Music is elated to announce the appointment of Dr. Dylan Robinson as Associate Professor, beginning July 1, 2022.
Dr. Robinson is a xwélmexw (Stó:lō/Skwah) artist, curator and writer. From 2015-2022, he served as the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Arts at Queen’s University. His book, Hungry Listening (University Minnesota Press, 2020), examines Indigenous and settler colonial practices of listening, and was awarded best first book by the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, Canadian Association for Theatre Research, and the Labriola Centre American Indian National Book Award.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to work with faculty and students in the school of music. Folks are often familiar with my writing on Indigenous music and decolonization, but I also have a collaborative art practice, bringing together musicians with artists working across different art forms. I’m looking forward to teaching a course in Fall 2022 focused on collaborating across the arts. It will offer musicians and singers new forms for presenting music performance, and should be a lot of fun!” said Dr. Robinson.
In addition to his art practice, Dr. Robinson is co-chair of the recently formed Indigenous Advisory Council for the Canadian Music Centre, leading a process for the reparation and redress of music that appropriates Indigenous song and misrepresents Indigenous culture. His curatorial work includes the international touring exhibition Soundings (2019-2025) co-curated with Candice Hopkins that was recently at UBC’s Belkin Gallery.
“I am honoured to welcome Dr. Dylan Robinson as a colleague in the School of Music. His work in the area of Indigenous sonic knowledge will help us to build beyond our current strengths and engage directly with Indigenous artists and Indigenous knowledge. His cross-disciplinary approach will also facilitate the forging of new connections for students, faculty and the broader community,” said T. Patrick Carrabré Director, School of Music and Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.
Dr. Robinson’s current research project xoxelhmetset te syewa:l, Caring for Our Ancestors, involves working with Indigenous artists to reconnect kinship with Indigenous life incarcerated in museums. He is an avid learner of Halq’eméylem, the language spoken by the Stó:lō people. Visit dylanrobinson.ca to learn more about Dr. Robinson’s work.
