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Hello, I’m Julia Kennedy-Francis, a policy, governance, and Indigenous relations professional with over thirty years of experience building constructive relationships between Indigenous communities and the Crown, supporting environmental assessments, Indigenous consultation and governance, and Indigenous land and infrastructure management. I’m passionate about collaborative strategy, equitable decision-making, and practical solutions that advance Indigenous rights, sustainable infrastructure, and community well-being. In my current roles, I contribute to international knowledge integration with the IJC’s Circle of Experts and COSEWIC’s ATK Subcommittee, and I lead Lands & Infrastructure initiatives for St. Mary’s First Nation, while guiding Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taquann and other communities through rights-based resource management and infrastructure planning.…Hello, I’m Julia Kennedy-Francis, a policy, governance, and Indigenous relations professional with over thirty years of experience building constructive relationships between Indigenous communities and the Crown, supporting environmental assessments, Indigenous consultation and governance, and Indigenous land and infrastructure management. I’m passionate about collaborative strategy, equitable decision-making, and practical solutions that advance Indigenous rights, sustainable infrastructure, and community well-being. In my current roles, I contribute to international knowledge integration with the IJC’s Circle of Experts and COSEWIC’s ATK Subcommittee, and I lead Lands & Infrastructure initiatives for St. Mary’s First Nation, while guiding Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taquann and other communities through rights-based resource management and infrastructure planning.

Julia Kennedy-Francis

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Hello, I’m Julia Kennedy-Francis, a policy, governance, and Indigenous relations professional with over thirty years of experience building constructive relationships between Indigenous communities and the Crown, supporting environmental assessments, Indigenous consultation and governance, and Indigenous land and infrastructure management. I’m passionate about collaborative strategy, equitable decision-making, and practical solutions that advance Indigenous rights, sustainable infrastructure, and community well-being. In my current roles, I contribute to international knowledge integration with the IJC’s Circle of Experts and COSEWIC’s ATK Subcommittee, and I lead Lands & Infrastructure initiatives for St. Mary’s First Nation, while guiding Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taquann and other communities through rights-based resource management and infrastructure planning.…Hello, I’m Julia Kennedy-Francis, a policy, governance, and Indigenous relations professional with over thirty years of experience building constructive relationships between Indigenous communities and the Crown, supporting environmental assessments, Indigenous consultation and governance, and Indigenous land and infrastructure management. I’m passionate about collaborative strategy, equitable decision-making, and practical solutions that advance Indigenous rights, sustainable infrastructure, and community well-being. In my current roles, I contribute to international knowledge integration with the IJC’s Circle of Experts and COSEWIC’s ATK Subcommittee, and I lead Lands & Infrastructure initiatives for St. Mary’s First Nation, while guiding Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taquann and other communities through rights-based resource management and infrastructure planning.

Available to hire

Hello, I’m Julia Kennedy-Francis, a policy, governance, and Indigenous relations professional with over thirty years of experience building constructive relationships between Indigenous communities and the Crown, supporting environmental assessments, Indigenous consultation and governance, and Indigenous land and infrastructure management. I’m passionate about collaborative strategy, equitable decision-making, and practical solutions that advance Indigenous rights, sustainable infrastructure, and community well-being.

In my current roles, I contribute to international knowledge integration with the IJC’s Circle of Experts and COSEWIC’s ATK Subcommittee, and I lead Lands & Infrastructure initiatives for St. Mary’s First Nation, while guiding Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taquann and other communities through rights-based resource management and infrastructure planning.

Skills

Leadership

Presentation Design

Copywriting

Experience Level

Leadership

Expert

Presentation Design

Expert

Copywriting

Intermediate

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Circle of Experts Committee Member at International Joint Commission (IJC)

August 1, 2024 - Present

Developing international objectives and strategic plans for the incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge into the management plans of the IJC; aim to achieve mutual understanding and agreement between Canada and the United States on IK implementation into shared watershed management.

Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK) Subcommittee Member at Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC)

October 1, 2023 - Present

Identifying and providing feedback on solutions to address challenges related to incorporating ATK into species at risk assessment and listing processes.

Indigenous Advisory Committee Member at Impact Assessment Agency Canada

September 1, 2022 - Present

Reviewing and providing input on policies for the incorporation of IK, Indigenous rights & inherent governance, and the proponent’s responsibilities related to the agency’s internal assessment processes.

Lands & Infrastructure Director at St. Mary’s (Sitanisk) First Nation

November 1, 2021 - Present

Facilitating and managing Additions to Reserve processes and individual Indian Act transactions; developing strategic plans to support a community Land Code under the First Nations Land Management Act; coordinating land use plans, environmental assessments, housing feasibility, and infrastructure policy.

Fisheries Director at Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taquann Incorporated

August 1, 2020 - November 1, 2021

Overseeing development of a Mi’gmaq rights-based fishery through collaborative research and community engagement; managing consultation files with DFO, DNR&E, DOT, and private sector; presenting Mi’gmaq positions for negotiation.

Fisheries Assistant Negotiator at Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick

June 1, 2019 - June 1, 2020

Project management for fisheries research; ongoing internal communication, relationship building, literature review, questionnaire analysis, and drafting final report.

Lease, Emergency Management & Funding Advisor at Townsite of Redwood Meadows

March 1, 2019 - July 1, 2019

Lease negotiations and Stewardship Agreement; emergency management organizational review; funding research and applications for infrastructure projects.

Townsite Manager/ CAO at Townsite of Redwood Meadows

October 1, 2016 - March 1, 2019

Led governance transition to a governance model; developed staff roles, bylaws, and policies; established inter-governmental collaboration with Tsuut’ina Nation for municipal-like services.

Owner/Principal Consultant at Kennedy-Francis Consulting

September 1, 2010 - September 1, 2016

Advised on Aboriginal consultation, land management, and community engagement; led negotiation strategies with First Nations and industry.

Policy Analyst at Saint Mary’s First Nation

November 1, 2009 - June 1, 2010

Facilitated working groups to update HR Manual; contributed to governance discussions and leadership code.

Policy Researcher at Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat

November 1, 2007 - August 1, 2009

Designed and implemented a research strategy to draft an Aboriginal Consultation Guide; analyzed case law and policy relationships.

Health Director at Saint Mary’s First Nation

October 1, 2004 - November 1, 2007

Led development of employee assessments, reporting requirements, and work plans; standardized HR practices; initiated Tri-lateral Aboriginal Health Care planning.

Band Policy Developer at Saint Mary’s First Nation

October 1, 2002 - October 1, 2004

Led discussions to develop an Executive-level team; defined positions and governance structure.

Lands Community Officer at Saint Mary’s First Nation

September 1, 1996 - September 1, 2002

Designed and led engagement to develop a Community Land Code; researched land management laws and governance for self-governance.

Education

Re-Certification – Land Management Training Program at National Aboriginal Lands Management Association