BIOSKETCH

I am a linguist-anthropologist interested in Quichua language and culture, Sociolinguistics, Language contact, Minority languages, Spanish and French, with an additional interest in medical and pharmaceutical anthropology. I am a founding member of Runajambi (Institute for the Study of Quichua Culture and Health).

I was born in Montreal, and since my most tender age, I remember my father telling me stories about his late grandmother, a member of the Huron nation.  As I grew up, despite I unfortunately never got to know her, she occupied an important place in my life.  She made me feel I belong to this continent.

My professional training includes a B.Sc. in Anthropology and Linguistics from  the Université de Montréal, Canada, and a Master's degree and Ph.D. in Linguistics (from  the Université du Québec à Montréal. I conducted research in Ecuador and California.  In Ecuador, I studied the Quichua cultural beliefs on Quichua language acquisition, as well as the social and linguistic aspects of Quichua-Spanish contact. In California, I co-directed an investigation on Tongva (Amerindians of California) knowledge of medicinal plants.  I also published more than sixty articles on medical and pharmaceutical anthropology in L'Omnipraticien, and L'Actualité pharmaceutique, two continuing medical education magazines targeting French speaking GPs and pharmacists in Québec.

I am currently working in developing studies in medical linguistics.  I am also  preparing a multilingual medical lexicon (Quichua-Spanish-French-English).

Lise Bouchard, Ph.D.

Director of Research
Runajambi - Institute for the Study of Quichua Culture and Health