Jocelyn Verreault has devoted her life to finding and building new bridges from the sacred Indigenous teachings and traditions of her ancestors to the academic world and classrooms around the planet.

An Isga Wiya (Stoney woman) from Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Jocelyn’s ground-breaking work most recently saw her invited last December to UNESCO’s prestigious 2024 International Conference on Learning Cities in Saudi Arabia. Her presentation was titled: “Honouring Ancestral Knowledge: Empowering Canadian Women in STEM.”

As the sole Canadian representative attending the conference, she drew on her Indigenous identity and cultural connection to the land to talk about everything from Cree law to the Anishnaabe harvesting calendar to our reciprocal relationships in science and technology. 

Jocelyn works at Yellowhead Tribal College (YTC), one of the leaders stewarding Edmonton’s membership in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. This valuable work began more than a decade ago and culminated in 2022 when the City of Edmonton was accepted as a member, making our community the first Canadian city included in the international network.

Jocelyn has held leadership positions at YTC, Edmonton’s only Indigenous post-secondary institution, since 2003 and has helped shape a range of qualifications from certificates to advanced diplomas, including a Bachelor of Science in Indigenous Environmental Management.

“[Jocelyn’s] collaborative approach and ability to merge cutting-edge research with traditional knowledge, enhance our city’s approach to education and sustainable development,” Edmonton City Clerk Aileen Giesbrecht wrote in her nomination letter. “I eagerly anticipate her future contributions, and hope her work receives the recognition it deserves.”