My name is Shannon John, and I am a photographer, educator, and human rights advocate. I was born and raised in Newfoundland, and I am of Mi’kmaq descent, a member of the Miawpukek Mi’kamawey Mawi’omi First Nation. My wife and I now reside in British Columbia, and we have called Kamloops home for over two decades. My identity, my roots, and my lived experiences continue to shape the way I approach research, community engagement, and the pursuit of social justice.
My path into this work began long before graduate school. After finishing high school in 1999, I left the Island to work in the oil and gas industry of northern British Columbia and Alberta, However, In 2003 I changed course and embarked on a life‑altering adventure: traveling overland from Canada through Mexico, Central America, and South America. The journey lasted a year and carried me through a dozen countries. Along the way, I became bilingual, learned to navigate unfamiliar cultural landscapes, and most importantly, I was exposed to life outside the Canadian bubble. I didn’t know it at the time, but this experience would set the stage for my future career in the humanities.
It was during this period that I took my first steps toward becoming a humanitarian photographer. Beyond the typical travel images, I found myself drawn to documenting people and the stories held in their everyday lives. One early photograph that remains significant to me is of a young boy who helped me navigate the chaotic border crossing between Honduras and Nicaragua. It was a weekday afternoon, and instead of being in school, he was out earning money. I asked him to pose with his trolley, framing him so that a school bus sat in the background – a visual contrast that captured the inequities shaping his life. The photo itself, taken with a cheap 90s point‑and‑shoot film camera, is far from technically perfect, but it is one of my most important images because it was the first time I intentionally used photography to tell a humanitarian story.
I returned to Central America again in 2006, this time with more experience and a better camera, which allowed me to deepen both my photographic practice and my immersion in Latin American culture.
My academic and professional journey has continued to build on these early experiences. I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology along with a certificate in Indigenous studies. This helped me develop a strong foundation in social research methods, data analysis, and the study of vulnerable and marginalized populations. Field schools in Eastern Europe, Spain, and Nepal further expanded my global understanding and strengthened my commitment to ethical, community‑engaged research.
Professionally, I have worked as a Research Associate with the Resilient Community Futures Research Network, collaborating with scholars, analysts, and community knowledge keepers on projects focused on inclusive, community‑centered research and resilience-building. As a Research Assistant with the Human Rights and Social Justice Research Group, I helped develop operational guidelines for a graduate-level research collective. I have also contributed to teaching and learning as a Teaching Assistant and as an English language instructor supporting newcomers to Canada through Kamloops Immigrant Services.
Experiential learning has been central to my development. My MA practicum in Nepal allowed me to engage directly with humanitarian NGOs, observe their operations, and build meaningful international connections. This experience deepened my understanding of global human rights issues and strengthened my commitment to relational, accountable, and culturally grounded research. My work has also extended into publication and public engagement, including co-authoring a chapter on colonial histories in Nepal and Canada, presenting at TRU’s Community Partner Appreciation Function, and facilitating arts‑informed workshops exploring belonging and identity with immigrant participants.
Across all of these experiences, I am guided by a desire to contribute to research, education, and community work that is thoughtful, accountable, and grounded in justice. I bring curiosity, cultural humility, and a strong interdisciplinary background to every project I take on, and I remain motivated by the belief that meaningful social change begins with relationships, critical inquiry, and a willingness to listen and learn.
*Below is a link to my personal photo gallery
globalindigenousvoice.org 