Land Acknowledgment
Fulbright Canada acknowledges that we live and work on the traditional unceded territories of the Algonquin Anishinabe People and the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
We also acknowledge that our work spans the territories of many Indigenous communities and recognize that they have guarded and nurtured the land for millennia.
Fulbright Canada remains committed to doing everything in our power to recognize, support, and amplify Indigenous communities and Indigenous ways of knowing.
About the Program
Indigenous-led and Indigenous-informed, Honouring Nations Canada is a new initiative of Fulbright Canada that has been established to recognize, celebrate, and share stories of Indigenous achievement and promote and encourage opportunities for Indigenous persons. The program will create national awards that recognize exceptional achievement, and underwrite case studies of Indigenous challenges and Indigenous economic development.
Initiatives
Policy Briefs
Program Director
Honouring Nations Canada is directed by Robin McLay who has had a long history of supporting Indigenous access to higher education through his association with Fulbright Canada, Harvard University’s Native American Program and the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. In addition to his role as Director of Honouring Nations Canada, he serves as Special Advisor to the President and CEO of Fulbright Canada and Regional Director of Fulbright Canada West.
Robin McLay
Director, Honouring Nations Canada
Regional Director, Fulbright Canada West & Special Advisor to the President and CEO
Robin McLay has had a long history of supporting Indigenous access to higher education through his association with Fulbright and Harvard University’s Native American Program. Before taking on the role with Fulbright Canada, Robin was the Senior Advisor to the President of Vancouver Island University. Before returning home to British Columbia, Robin served as the Head of Research and Strategy at The MasterCard Foundation – a foundation that continues to support Indigenous access to higher education in partnership with many Canadian universities. Prior to that role, Robin was the Executive Director of McGill University’s Institute for the Study of International Development. He also worked for more than a decade at Canada's International Development Agency (CIDA) as its Director of Research and Director of Democratic Institutions and Conflict. As part of his responsibilities at CIDA he represented the Agency’s participation at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples and managed its Indigenous Peoples Partnership Program. Robin also worked at Harvard University as the Executive Director of the Harvard University Native American and still works closely with the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development as a Research Associate.
Robin pursued his graduate studies at Harvard’s Kennedy School as a Fulbright Scholar. He also holds a Master’s of Science degree from the London School of Economics and a BA from McGill University. He remains actively involved in his family’s Indigenous art business and is proud member of the Métis community in British Columbia with strong Métis roots in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Circle of Advisors
The work of Honouring Nations Canada will be guided by a Circle of Indigenous Advisors representing culturally based initiatives from across all parts of the country.
Dr. Becky Cook
Land Monitoring Manager at the Misipawistik Traditional Learning Program
Dr. Becky Cook is from Misipawistik Cree Nation, and she was raised on the lands and waters surrounding Misipawistik and Lake Winnipeg. She completed her Ph.D. in Marine Geophysics in 2015 and is now committed to her traditional education. Becky was a coordinator with the Northern Manitoba Food Culture and Community Collaborative for two years. She has worked with Elders and knowledge holders in her home community of Misipawistik to develop a land-based education program for youth, Misipawistik Pimatisimēskanaw, which offers teachings throughout the year.
Dr. Joe Dragon
Board Chair, Canadian Mountain Network
Dr. Dragon is a member of Smith’s Landing First Nation. Dr. Dragon began his career as a wildlife biologist for the Government of the Northwest Territories while completing his Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology and Management from the University of Alberta. In 2017, Dr. Dragon returned to the territorial government to serve as the Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, followed by an appointment as Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, where he was also Chairman of the Board for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. Dr. Dragon holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and is a graduate of the Government of Canada’s Accelerated Executive Development Program. Dr. Dragon was born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and received a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his community service in 2012.
Mr. Kirt Ejesiak
Inuit leader and founder of UAV Arctic
A seasoned manager with 25 years of experience running successful start-ups in the Arctic, Kirt Ejesiak is Chairman & CEO of Arctic UAV Inc (Professional Drone Imagery). He is a past chairperson of Ilitturvik University, chair of the board of the Iqaluit Museum, and has served as Iqaluit's deputy mayor and vice-chair of Nunavut Trust. As a Fulbright Scholar, Kirt attended the Harvard Kennedy School, completing his MA in Public Administration in 2005. From 2010-2014, Kirt served as vice-president and executive member of the Inuit Circumpolar Council.
Ms. Carol Anne Hilton
Founder and CEO of the Indigenomics Institute
Carol Anne Hilton, MBA, is the CEO and founder of the Indigenomics Institute and the Global Center of Indigenomics. Carol Anne is a dynamic national Indigenous business leader, author, speaker, and senior advisor with an international master's degree in business management from the University of Hertfordshire, England. Carol Anne is of Nuu-chah-nulth descent from the Hesquiaht Nation on Vancouver Island. Carol Anne is the author of 'Indigenomics–Taking A Seat at the Economic Table' and is an adjunct professor at Royal Roads University's School of Business.
Co-Chair
Ms. Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie
CEO/Principal, JWR Business Group and LNM Indigenous Consulting
Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie is the CEO and Principal at the JWR Business Group and LNM Indigenous Consulting. She is a member of the Wəlastəkwey Nation (Maliseet First Nation) at Negwotkok (Tobique) in New Brunswick. She has held numerous senior roles within Indigenous organizations and the federal government, including a recent stint as Special Advisor for Indigenous Issues at the permanent mission of Canada to the United Nations. Lea has also served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, as well as Chief of Protocol for the Four Host First Nations.
Ms. Sarah Midanik
President, Gord Downie/Wenjack Foundation
Sarah Midanik is an Indigenous professional who is passionate about increasing capacity and social impact across Indigenous communities. Born and raised near the historic Métis community of St. Albert, Sarah is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and the Cunningham family. She is currently the President & CEO of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, a national charity that builds cultural understanding and creates a path towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. Sarah is the former Executive Director of the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto (NWRCT), a charity dedicated to providing resources and support to urban Indigenous women and their families.
Sarah is committed to advancing Indigenous programs and projects and has sat on many advisory councils and boards including the Indigenous Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Indigenous Professionals Association of Canada (IPAC), the Aboriginal Advisory Committee for the City of Toronto, the Toronto Indigenous Health Advisory Circle, the Toronto Police Service and was the co-chair and co-founder of the Indigenous Place Making Council. A dedicated volunteer, Sarah currently sits on the national boards for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. Sarah is a Founding Member of the Honouring Nations Canada Circle of Advisors which is a collaboration between Fulbright Canada and the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. She also serves on the CRA’s Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector. Sarah completed her MBA in the Indigenous Business and Leadership program at Simon Fraser University in 2023 and was named one of The Peak’s Emerging Leaders of 2022.
Co-Chair
Mr. Matt Vickers, CET, LL.D
Chairman, Island Rail Corporation
Matt Vickers is the Chairman of Island Rail Corporation. Matt is also the Managing Director of Indigenous Engagement with Hillcore Group, responsible for developing strategy and advancing new business opportunities with First Nation communities to close on these opportunities. Matt has over 36 years of experience in a diverse range in the management consulting field. Throughout his career, Matt has had the opportunity to work in a broad base of industries, including First Nations, arts and culture, financial institutions, healthcare, government, and information technology.
Updates
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An initiative of Fulbright Canada and its founding partners, the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness (SCSC) and the Harvard Kennedy School, Honouring Nations Canada is supported by generous commitments from the University of Saskatchewan, the Canadian Mountain Network, the Government of Canada and the U.S. Embassy in Canada.
Program Partners
