About the Indigenous Speaker Series
The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, with guidance from the CLAR and VOICES committees, established the Indigenous Speaker Series (ISS) as part of its commitment to advancing reconciliation and responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action. In particular, the series reflects the spirit of Call to Action 62, which recognizes the vital role of education in building understanding of Indigenous histories, cultures, and perspectives, and Call to Action 57, which calls for increased knowledge and cultural competency among public servants. As a public policy school dedicated to educating future public sector leaders and supporting the professional development of current practitioners, JSGS has a unique responsibility to foster meaningful learning and engagement in these areas.
The Indigenous Speaker Series creates opportunities for JSGS faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members to engage with leading Indigenous scholars, Knowledge Keepers, leaders, and changemakers on issues that matter to First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities and to public policy. Through respectful dialogue and shared learning, the series seeks to deepen understanding, strengthen relationships, and promote meaningful engagement with First Nation, Métis and Inuit perspectives, experiences, and ways of knowing.
Now entering its third year, the Indigenous Speaker Series has become an important part of JSGS's commitment to fostering an inclusive and informed learning community. This annual day of learning brings together faculty, staff, students, alumni, and invited guests to hear from some of the most insightful voices shaping conversations on Indigenous issues today. By creating space for reflection, discussion, and relationship-building, the series contributes to the ongoing work of reconciliation within JSGS and the broader public policy community.
Please note: Due to space limitations, these are invitation only events and not open to the general public. Registration links are sent out by email to all JSGS team members, students and alumni.
Upcoming Events
A Brief History of the Métis Nation and Indigenous Authenticity
Event Details
When: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Time: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm CST (Saskatchewan time – UTC-6)
Location: University of Regina and hybrid
Speaker: Jean Teillet, IPC, OMN, MSC, (BFA, LLB, LLM)
In light of the explosion of pretendians and the dozens if not hundreds of groups recently claiming Indigeneity, it is crucial that we understand basic principles of Indigenous identity and authenticity in order to identify legitimate claims. Most of these discussions have focused on individuals and relied on genealogy to determine authenticity, and while this is an important part of the discussion, it is only one part of the necessary elements in determining Indigenous identity.
Using the Métis Nation as an example, this discussion will examine how Indigenous communities/nations came into existence and how we can identify authentic ones. It will focus on identifying the foundational elements of Indigenous identity both on the individual and community/nation levels.
About the speaker:
Jean Teillet is an author, retired lawyer, treaty negotiator, and a women’s rights and Indigenous rights advocate. She is a frequent public speaker primarily on Aboriginal rights, justice, identity and equality issues. She has appeared at the Supreme Court of Canada twelve times in Indigenous rights cases. Ms. Teillet’s popular history, The North-West is Our Mother, was one of the Globe & Mail’s top 100 books of 2019 and won the Carol Shield’s and Manitoba Day awards. She is also the author of Métis Law in Canada and has written for academic journals, the Globe & Mail and Macleans. Jean was the first recipient of the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Lincoln Alexander Award and was awarded the title “Indigenous Peoples Counsel” by the Indigenous Bar Association. The Métis Nation gave her its highest honour, the Order of the Métis Nation. The Association of Ontario Midwives made Jean an honorary lifetime member and she has three honorary doctorates. Ms. Teillet is a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation and is the great grandniece of Louis Riel.
Past Events
Presented by: Dr. Niigaan Sinclair, award-winning writer, editor and professor of Indigenous Studies, University of Manitoba
Moderated by: Dr. Danette Starblanket, Assistant Professor, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
About the speaker: Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe from Peguis First Nation. He is an award-winning writer, editor and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba who was named by Maclean’s magazine in 2022 as one of the most influential people in Canada. Niigaan is a multiple-time nominee of Canadian columnist of the year (winning in 2018) and his commentary appears weekly on multiple platforms across Canada – from the pages of The Winnipeg Free Press to TV shows on CBC, APTN and co-hosts the podcast “Niigaan and the Lone Ranger”. His first book Winipek: Visions of Canda from an Indigenous Centre (McLelland & Steward, 2024) was a national bestseller that won with 2024 Governor General Award for Non-fiction. He is a former secondary school teacher who won the 2019 Peace Educator of the Year Award from the Peace and Justice Studies Association based at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
This presentation took place on October 22, 2025.
Presented by: Cadmus Delorme, Chancellor, University of Regina
About the speaker: Cadmus Delorme, belonging to the Cree and Saulteaux nations, previously served as the Chief of Cowessess First Nation. Under his visionary leadership, the community launched diverse initiatives to promote economic self-sustainability, growth, and prosperity. An inspiring learner and leader, Cadmus earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BAdmin) and Certificate in Hospitality, Tourism, and Gaming Entertainment Management from the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv). He completed a Master of Public Administration (MPA) at JSGS University of Regina campus in 2016. He has also completed the Institution of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D), which represents a lifelong commitment to excellence in governance. In July 2025 Cadmus was appointed to a three-year term as Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan.
Committed to reconciliation, Cadmus serves as the Independent appointed chairperson of the new Residential School Documents Advisory Committee, URegina Board Chair, and is the Founding Partner & Chair of One Hoop Consulting.
This presentation took place on November 22, 2024