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Witnessing the lightbulb turn on in her students’ heads as she teaches her upper-level law course, “Reconciliation and Lawyers” at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law provides Andrea Menard with a deep sense of satisfaction.
“What I ask of students is to get out of their comfort zones,” Menard explains. “They’re learning, unlearning, and then relearning everything they ever understood about the way they were educated in Canada.”
Educating is one of the ways that Menard, named one of Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in the government, non-profits and associations category, is making a difference in helping Canadians of all backgrounds understand the impact of colonization and systemic discrimination.
Raised in Prince George, British Columbia, Menard descends from the Red River Métis Settlement that was historically based on Treaty 1 territory. “I saw the disparities growing up as a Métis person, the Métis side of my family living one way, the white side of my family living in another way,” she says. “And I was wondering why one side was so different from the other. So that’s been my life’s journey to learn the reasons and change that reality.”
Menard is president, director, and owner of Indigenous Connect. It’s a non-profit company that offers culturally relevant Indigenous legal services, and truth and reconciliation education to lawyers, judges, academics, and other stakeholders across Canada.
“I’m utilizing my legal skills and knowledge and connecting Indigenous communities with justice professionals who can help in a good way that is relational, respectful and infuses culture, connectivity along with Indigenous community standards. Indigenous laws existed long before Canada became a country, and it is time to utilize these laws in the Canadian common law and civil law systems.”
Menard is the Lead Educational Developer of Indigenizing Curricula and Pedagogies and is cross-appointed between the Centre for Teaching and Learning and the Vice-Provost’s Office, Indigenous Programming and Research at the University of Alberta. She assists professors in decolonizing and indigenizing their curricula and is based in Camrose, Alberta.
She is also co-founder of the Indigenous Lawyers’ Forum, a group of legal professionals across Alberta affiliated with the branch of the Canadian Bar Association in the province. It provides networking and mentoring to Indigenous students and the association members.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Menard is also part of the Indigenous Advisory Board-Criminal Justice for the Canadian Bar Association, creating legal education for lawyers across the country; on the Board of Directors for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Alberta (ADRIA); and is on the Advisory Board for the Centre for Constitutional Studies.
“I wear a lot of hats, it keeps me busy,” Menard adds. She admits that the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action has given her “something to hang” those hats on.
“It’s been a slow shift, but people are beginning to listen – to start to focus on systemic inequities Indigenous Peoples face daily, and how all Canadians can embark on making things better, for all of us as a country moving forward.”
Augustana Campus, University of Alberta, Camrose, Alberta
403 333 5038
ammenard@ualberta.ca
indigenousconnect.org
Andrea Menard
President and Founder
Indigenous Connect
Lead Educational Developer, Indigenizing Curricula and Pedagogies, University of Alberta
Sessional Instructor, University of Calgary, Faculty of Law
Sessional Instructor, Osgoode Hall Law School
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Bio
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Milestones
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Year 7 Community Leader and Leader for Learning Technologies and Platforms at Northern Beaches Christian School
Master of Business Administration, 2017–2019
2021
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2008 - 2009
2013 - 2017
2018 - 2019
2020 - 2021
2022
Andrea Menard
President and Founder
Indigenous Connect
Lead Educational Developer, Indigenizing Curricula and Pedagogies, University of Alberta
Sessional Instructor,
University of Calgary, Faculty of Law
Sessional Instructor, Osgoode Hall Law School
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Profile
Milestones
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2008 - 2009
2013 - 2017
2018 - 2019
2020 - 2021
2022
Andrea Menard
President and Founder
Indigenous Connect
Lead Educational Developer, Indigenizing Curricula and Pedagogies, University of Alberta
Sessional Instructor, University of Calgary, Faculty of Law
Sessional Instructor, Osgoode Hall Law School
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
2022
Indigenous Advisory Group: Criminal Justice, Canadian Bar Association: National Branch
2022
2020 - 2021
Indigenous Liaison, Law Society of Alberta
Co-Founder, Indigenous Lawyers' Forum, Canadian Bar Association: Alberta Branch
2020 - 2021
2018 - 2019
Manager, Indigenous Relations, Legal Aid Alberta
Provincial Gladue Committee
Co-Chair, Indigenous Foundations Committee, Honourable Beverly Browne – Wîyasôw Iskweêw - Restorative Justice Committee Pilot Project
2018 - 2019
2013 - 2017
Acting Director, Aboriginal Consultation, Ministry of Culture, Government of Alberta
Senior Manager, First Nations Consultation, Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations, Government of British Columbia
Provincial Coordinator, Métis Land Rights & Accommodation, Métis Nation of Alberta
2013 - 2017
2008 - 2009
Lands & Communications Coordinator, T'exelc Nation (Williams Lake First Nation), Tripartite Treaty negotiations with Government of British Colombia and Government of Canada
Director, Indigenous Academic Services, University of Alberta, Faculty of Law
2008 - 2009
2022
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
2022
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
indigenousconnect.org
2022
2022
2020 - 2021
2018 - 2019
2013 - 2017
2008 - 2009
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
2022
Excellence awardee – Independent Mortgage Adviser of the Year category at the New Zealand Mortgage Awards
2022
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Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Human Resources Magazine | key media
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Human Resources Magazine | key media
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Human Resources Magazine | key media
2009–2011
human resources | key media
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Milestones