The greatest learning in my career happens when I am with my colleagues at conferences, chatting between sessions in hallway corridors and connecting online about the value of anthropology in our respective industries.

After volunteering with the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology and learning from colleagues at the Society for Applied Anthropology, the Washington Association of Professional Anthropologists, and Ethnobreakfast, I decided it was time to build an equivalent community in Canada for anthropologists working outside an academic setting. This idea was brought to life over lunch with Caura Wood in 2024. We captured the essence of our idea on a restaurant receipt (see image), an artifact of our origin story.

It was not long before a small group of us pitched a new network idea to the Canadian Anthropology Society (CASCA). We joined forces with members from an existing network, Professional, Practicing and Applied Anthropologists Network (PPAN), that had been working for several years towards generating professional standards. In May 2025 at the CASCA Annual Meeting, together we launched Anthropology in Praxis as the official practicing, professional, and applied anthropology network of CASCA.

Natalie Muyres

The Society of Anthropology in Praxis Canada is a registered non-profit organization in Canada and operates as Anthropology in Praxis (AP). AP is organized by volunteers, Natalie Muyres, Craig Candler, Cai ap Gwilym, Caura Wood, and Gemma Tarling.

Leading up to that meeting, a survey of CASCA members showed a clear desire for learning, networking, and mentoring opportunities. That feedback has guided AP’s priorities, particularly as new members have joined the network.

AP Activities

Since May 2025, AP has hosted virtual meetups every two months focused on learning from one another and building connections. Topics have included:

  • Applying Reconciliation: Work at the Intersection of Indigenous Rights & Anthropology
  • Applying Anthropology in an AI World
  • Applying Anthropology: UX & Design
  • Publishing Outside Academia

The conversations have been insightful, thoughtful, practical, and generous. We are collectively learning about our unique impacts—the difference anthropology can make in a wide diversity of industries. Experiences shared have ranged from change management and organizational culture design, to mixed-methods research for technology firms, to the use of AI, and to offering services to First Nations engaging with infrastructure projects. Members consistently report how grateful they are to learn about each other’s work and to connect with anthropologists functioning outside academia.

When we decided to embark on this new venture, we had no idea how many Canadian anthropologists would join. We collectively drew on our personal experiences and conversations with colleagues to build our case for the new network. During the CASCA 2024 annual conference in Kelowna, BC, the 50th anniversary, the CASCA board hosted sessions dedicated to imagining its future. Many voices, including my own, shared the need for more representation for anthropologists working outside of academia. This conversation continued at the Montreal annual conference in May 2025 when we officially launched AP. In Montreal, session participants shared their excitement for the new network. This experience confirmed we had started something needed and valuable.

Since May 2025, AP network membership has grown organically through word of mouth and the initial launch promotions. Our website and LinkedIn are our primary promotional avenues.

Promoting the network to anthropologists working in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in Canada has been one of our greatest challenges. Because more than half of AP members are not CASCA members, outreach and promotion through CASCA is limited. Many anthropologists working outside academia have no connection with the national association. Many CASCA members are associated with universities and therefore emphasize research and scholarship while anthropologists working outside academia are engaged in an array of job functions and industries. With the introduction of AP, we hope to encourage more anthropologists to share their work at CASCA events.

We are now working on a campaign to introduce AP to anthropology departments and alumni from Canadian universities. This introduction also benefits one of our new partners, the Anthropology Career Readiness Network, which supports anthropology students, instructors, and practitioners in their careers.

What is next?

On May 21st AP is hosting two virtual events during the 2026 CASCA Annual Meeting in Halifax, NS. The first one, Celebrating Renewal: Reflections on the First Year of Anthropology in Praxis, will include a discussion of accomplishments to date and ideas for the future. The second one, Fundamental Ethics of Practice Beyond the University, will build on prior efforts to initiate ethical guidelines for anthropologists working in Canada. This workshop asks participants to review several existing sets of guidelines produced by Indigenous nations, anthropology professional associations, and other communities and identify key elements for consideration in the new ethical guidelines.

We are excited about the possibilities for the future. We thank everyone who has supported this work so far. For more information about AP and to see previous session recordings, you can visit our website: www.anthropologyinpraxis.ca.

The post What do you do when the community you desire does not exist? appeared first on The Anthropology Career Readiness Network.