Kanako Uzawa

Dr. Kanako Uzawa is an Ainu scholar, artist, museum curator, and advocate dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices worldwide. As the founder of AinuToday and CEO of K. Uzawa Consult, she bridges academic and public platforms to celebrate Indigenous identity. She is also an Assistant Professor at the Global Station for Indigenous Studies and Cultural Diversity at Hokkaido University and an affiliated researcher at the Historical Museum of the University of Oslo, Norway.

Dr. Uzawa holds an MA in Indigenous Studies and a PhD in Community Planning and Cultural Understanding from UiT Arctic University of Norway. Her work spans academia and art, focusing on Indigenous knowledge in museums and theatres.

As an artist, Dr. Uzawa has performed internationally, including at the Cultural Festival Bodø 2024 in Norway. She has also been a Visiting Artist in Residence at La Trobe Art Institute in Australia, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Canada, and the Swedish National Theatre. She is also a guest curator for the University of Michigan Museum of Art in the United States and the National Museum of Lithuania. Dr. Uzawa’s work celebrates the Ainu spirit while envisioning a future that honors the wisdom and diversity of all Indigenous cultures.