Indigenous Perspectives on Meaningful Work: Lessons from Adam Murry and Alvan Yuan

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren sits down with Dr. Adam Murry and Alvan Yuan from the University of Calgary to explore Indigenous perspectives on meaningful work within settler institutions, particularly in post-secondary settings across Western Canada.

Key Takeaways:

• Indigenous employees derive meaning from work through three core elements:
  • A sense of belonging and contribution to a generational community
  • Holistic connectedness with both community and land
  • Culturally relevant job design that aligns with personal and community values
• Organizations often exploit Indigenous employees' community-driven motivations without providing proper support or recognition
• Meaningful work can serve as a potential avenue for reconciliation but is not a substitution for structural changes

About Our Guests:

• Dr. Adam Murry (Ukrainian, Irish, Apache) is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Calgary and director of the Indigenous Organizations and Communities Research Lab. With a PhD in industrial-organizational psychology, he focuses on applied mixed-method research contributing to Indigenous affairs in employment, education, health, and mental health.
• Alvan Yuan (Canadian, Taiwanese) is a PhD candidate in industrial-organizational psychology at the University of Calgary. Their research explores how individuals derive meaning and purpose from work, with a particular focus on understanding employment dynamics, sense-making, and learning through mixed-methods approaches.

Resources Mentioned:

• Indigenous Organizations and Communities Research Lab at the University of Calgary
• Tuck and Yang's "Decolonization is Not a Metaphor" (2012)