Jesse Thistle is an assistant professor in the department of humanities at York University in Toronto and a celebrated author. He wrote the internationally best-selling memoir, From the Ashes, which chronicles his journey from addiction and homelessness to becoming a respected academic and author. His work focuses on theories of intergenerational, historic trauma, and survivance of road allowance Métis people, drawing on his own life experiences.

Thistle is currently a PhD candidate in the history program at York University. His academic achievements include winning a Governor General’s Academic Medal in 2016, and he has been recognized as a Pierre Elliot Trudeau Scholar and a Vanier Scholar. Hailing from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, he is dedicated to teaching Métis Studies and making a significant impact in both the scholarly realm and the public sphere.