PAST SUMMER STUDENTS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (THERESA BENEDICT)

Theresa Benedict is a Senior Researcher with the Akwesasne Rights and Research Office (ARRO). In her role, she works on ongoing Additions to Reserve files alongside Indigenous Services Representatives, completing the detailed research and documentation required to submit packages to the Minister for final approval. She also develops educational materials for the community, including newsletter articles on historical events and claims, informational pamphlets and booklets, and background materials to support Council on a variety of topics. Theresa enjoys uncovering meaningful pieces of local history, whether it’s discovering historical photographs of families, old territorial maps, or newspaper articles covering significant events, and sharing those findings with the community. 

Reading and writing skills, public speaking, and an openness to new perspectives are essential in her field. Theresa’s journey began as a 2012 MCA Summer Student with the Mohawk Government Support Office, where she had the opportunity to meet Chiefs, learn about their roles, and assist staff with various files. That experience helped her recognize a career path that matched her strengths and ultimately reshaped her educational goals. With a lifelong love of history and culture, inspired by books like Magic Treehouse and films like Indiana Jones, she pursued an Associate’s Degree in General Arts from Algonquin College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Indigenous Studies from Trent University. She joined ARRO in 2018 after graduating and recently completed her Master of Arts in Canadian Studies at Carleton University in 2024. During her university years, she also worked with Statistics Canada on the 2016 Census, where she gained insight into the importance of data sovereignty.