Immigration Precarity & Mental Health
Through her writing and public advocacy, Dr. Hemani has contributed to conversations on the mental health impacts of immigration precarity and systemic uncertainty. Her memoir, Writing in the Wound, brings attention to the psychological toll experienced by post-graduate work permit holders navigating prolonged immigration limbo in Canada—an experience rarely addressed in public discourse.
In addition to her personal essays on mental health advocacy, Dr. Hemani has contributed short stories and personal essays exploring voice, memory, and systems of care.
Community Voices
“Dr. Shumaila Hemani has made significant contributions to the community, yet remains in a state of immigration precarity due to systemic exclusion. Her memoir was featured in ActionDignity’s Echoes of Equity storytelling initiative, a platform that centres the voices of racialized workers and their lived experiences in the workplace.”
— ActionDignity, Echoes of Equity (September 2025)
“This fascinating memoir covers Hemani’s journey through three continents, her studies as an ethnomusicologist (way more interesting than you might think!), her growth and multiple awards as a Sufi poet and musician, and 17 years of being denied permanent residency by the Canadian government.”
— Barb Howard, author of Happy Sands (University of Calgary Press)
Climate & Energy Justice
Shumaila Hemani’s climate and energy justice work bridges sound, storytelling, and community action. Through keynote talks, participatory deep listening circles, and artist-research collaborations, she centers the voices of communities most affected by climate disasters and energy precarity. Her projects move fluidly between public scholarship, artistic intervention, and grassroots engagement, using sound as a tool for awareness, resilience, and systemic change.
“Shumaila is an excellent facilitator. She guides participants to tap into new ways of experiencing their surroundings through sound and listening, helping them come away with new perspectives.”
— Stefanie Drozda, Alberta Ecotrust
Community Voices
“I was amazed at the series of workshops by Shumaila Hemani. In my 22 years of experience in the climate field, I have never had the opportunity to combine my background in film/photography/art with climate change. The work Shumaila is doing is incredibly innovative, and I think it touched a deep yearning among the participants to seek equity and justice in this world in which we are immersed.”
— Helen Corbett, CEO, All One Sky International
“Shumaila is an excellent facilitator. She guides participants to tap into new ways of experiencing their surroundings through sound and listening, helping them come away with new perspectives.”
— Stefanie Drozda, Alberta Ecotrust
Mental Health Advocacy
Dr. Hemani’s mental health advocacy extends through her writing and public conversations on recovery, resilience, and care. Her work has appeared in OC87 Recovery Diaries, Dr. David Susman’s Hope and Resiliency Blog, To Write Love on Her Arms, and the Wise Brain Bulletin. She has also shared her experiences through podcast conversations, including appearances on OC87 Recovery Diaries and Mental Health Today.
Dr. Hemani is also a Certified Positive Neuroplasticity Teacher, supporting practices that foster emotional resilience, healing, and well-being.
Cultural Heritage & Climate Justice
Climate change is not only an environmental crisis—it is also a cultural and social crisis. Its effects often fall disproportionately on women, especially in communities where women are key custodians of cultural knowledge, traditions, and livelihoods.
