James Kuptana '10

Advisor, Aboriginal Liaison at ConocoPhillips Canada

Mr. Kuptana was born and raised in Ottawa but maintains strong links to his family in Ikaahuk (Sachs Harbour), located in the Beaufort Sea on Banks Island, Northwest Territories. He believes that there is a great need to look at both traditional knowledge and scientific knowledge in Arctic science. It is a pressing issue that demands a combination of international, scientific, and local community attention.

Paula Madden '03

Ph.D. Candidate, York University

Ms. Madden is a PhD Candidate in Law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Her research examines the history and outcome of rights legislation in Canada and the United States. In particular, she is interested in whether or not rights discourse and legislation can lead to justice and equality sought by Indigenous Peoples and Africans in the diaspora or whether this legislation obstructs these aims. Ms. Madden has published the first book on African/Indigenous relations ever written in Canada.

Harvey McCue '66

Co-founder of Trent's Indigenous Studies Department, Trent University

In 1969 Mr. McCue, a member of the Georgina Island First Nation in Ontario, co-founded Trent’s Native (now Indigenous) Studies department with President Tom Symons. He taught at Trent for 14 years, attaining the rank of Associate Professor. Mr. McCue held many Directorships, notably with Education Services for the Cree School Board, the Mi’kmaq Education Authority in Nova Scotia, and the Education Branch at Indian and Northern Affairs in Ottawa, where he became Director General in 1991. Since 1995, Mr. McCue has worked in Ottawa as a consultant on Aboriginal issues.

Mary Simon

Former Ambassador, Inuit Leader, and former Chancellor of Trent University

As Canada's Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs and to the Kingdom of Denmark Ms.Simon has attained international recognition for her work on Arctic and Indigenous issues. Throughout her distinguished career, she has been committed to seeking diplomatic and policy solutions to problems in the North. In the environmental, economic and political arenas, she has been a leading advocate for Inuit concerns and cooperation among Arctic nations. In her role as Ambassador, she worked hard to raise awareness of the challenges facing Arctic residents and promoted environmental protection and sustainable development initiatives among the circumpolar nations. In 1996, under her leadership, the Arctic Council was established to address common concerns of the circumpolar north. The following year Ms. Simon was appointed as a member of the Joint Public Advisory Committee of the Commission on Environmental Cooperation of NAFTA, and served as its Chair in 1998. She served as the President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (international) from 1986-1992.  Ms. Simon has received numerous honorary degrees from different Canadian Universities and is an Officer of the Order of Canada, Member National Order of Quebec and the Gold Order of Greenland. She is a recipient of the National Aboriginal Achievement Award and the Gold Medal of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. She is presently the Chair of the National Committee on Inuit Education.

Claudine VanEvery-Albert

Past experience as Co-ordinator of the Brock University Native Teacher Education Program (NTEP), Director of Education for Oneida Nation of the Thames, Instructor and Principal Native Classroom Assistant Program at Nipissing University, three term Trustee for the Grand Erie District School Board, and teacher, consultant, policy analyst and member of the Elected Council at Six Nations of the Grand River