Verna J. Kirkness is from Fisher River Cree Nation in Manitoba and is an Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia. She is an influential leader and pioneer in Indigenous education and has received numerous awards including the Order of Canada. Kirkness has made significant contributions to Indigenous educational policy in Canada. In this interview, Ms. Kirkness shares her experiences from the 1970’s onward in the movement to achieve what was first known as ‘Indian control of Indian education.’ She also discusses what, in her view, is critical to the success of Indigenous education initiatives and some key moments in history that have shaped Indigenous education today.
