CMA Reconciliation Council
Work related to the Moved to Action report is carried out under the authoritative guidance of the CMA Reconciliation Council, a diverse group of Indigenous museum experts.
As an advisory body to the CMA, the Council believes that museums, art galleries and related institutions have a responsibility to consult, advocate, decolonise, reorganise and csupport Indigenous self-determination.
Current Council Members
Grant Anderson
Louis Riel Institute, Winnipeg, MB
Grant Anderson a member of the Red River Métis Nation, was born in Selkirk and raised in Poplar Park, Manitoba with the Libau/Netley Marsh, and Lake Winnipeg as part of his backyard. Grant grew up involved with traditional economies, trapping, fishing, hunting, and gathering as an important part of the daily lives of his family and continues to be an avid outdoorsman. An author primarily of children’s literature, Grant is also a storyteller, musician, and historian and is responsible for the creation of the “Illustrated Métis History Series”. This series published by the Louis Riel Institute is used in classrooms in Manitoba and beyond. He was formerly a Senior Director at the Manitoba Métis Federation working on the development of the Métis Nation Heritage Centre. Currently, he serves as the Coordinator of Cultural Programs at the Louis Riel Institute.
Nika Collison
Haida Gwaii Museum, Skidegate, BC
Jisgang Nika Collison belongs to the Ts’aahl clan of the Haida Nation. Specializing in Haida art and culture, she’s served as curator for the Haida Gwaii Museum for almost 20 years. In this, her most important work is as a senior negotiator for repatriation initiatives and to work with her Nation on a global scale building reparations and relationships between the Haida, museums and other institutions. She’s also privileged to work with her community in the creation of exhibitions, publications and programs locally and on an international scale.
Barbara Filion
Canadian Commission for UNESCO, QC
Barbara Filion is the Programme Officer for Culture, with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. She has previously worked as a consultant and served as the Reconciliation Program Director at the Canadian Museums Association. Prior to that, she was the Director of Education at Working Assumptions, a national organization based in Berkeley, California, that uses art to examine social issues. Barbara has over 20 years of experience in the museum field. She taught and was a thesis advisor in the Museum Studies Program, at JFK University in California and also served as the Associate Director of the Archaeology Museum at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. Barbara is of mixed heritage, she grew up in the region of La Mauricie in Quebec and is a member of the Ilnu Nation of Pekuakamiulnuatsh (Mashteuiatsh).
Nyla Klugie-Migwans
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT
Nyla Klugie-Migwans is a member of the Selkirk First Nation – Fort Selkirk, Yukon and Tlicho of NWT; she comes from the Wolf Clan. Her cultural and traditional understanding has taken her to a true and honest place of being a teacher, mentor, support in the area of reconciliation, healing and sharing. She acknowledges her former elders/teachers who played a vital role in her lifelong learning. Nyla works for the Yukon Government, as the Yukon First Nation Heritage Advisor for the last 9 years. She has worked hard to ensure cross-cultural understanding and reconciliation are important teachings for all peoples. She continues to make positive change in the area of cultural understanding with kindness, compassion and grace.
Jonathan Lainey
McCord Stewart Museum, Montreal, QC
Jonathan Lainey is the Curator, Indigenous Cultures at the McCord Museum in Montreal. Previously, he served as Curator, First Peoples, at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau as well as Archivist, Indigenous Archives, at Library and Archives Canada. His research interests include the social, political and cultural history of Indigenous peoples in Quebec and Canada, as well as the history of objects and collections over time, particularly wampum belts. He is the author of La “monnaie des Sauvages”: les colliers de wampum d’hier à aujourd’hui, an authoritative work on wampum. Jonathan has a background in anthropology and Indigenous studies and holds a master’s degree in history from Université Laval, and is a member of the Huron-Wendat Nation of Wendake, Quebec.
Sharon McLeod
University College of the North, The Pas, MB
Sharon McLeod was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Manitoba. Her family roots are in Norway House. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba with a major in History and a minor in Native Studies and a Masters of Arts Integrated Studies Degree in the area of Community Studies through Athabasca University in 2007. In addition to this, she has a wide array of heritage related training and experience. She is currently a Contract Faculty member in the Religion and Culture Department at the University of Winnipeg as well as sits on the Reconciliation Council for the Canadian Museums Association as well as Member for the Standing Indigenous Advisory Council for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Sharon also currently works as the Case Manager for the Sayisi Dene First Nation's Jordan's Principle Program.
John Moses
Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, QC
John Moses (Delaware and Upper Mohawk bands, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory) is the Director, Repatriation and Indigenous Relations, at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, QC.
Theresie Tungilik
Government of Nunavut, Rankin Inlet, NU
Hailing from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Theresie Tungilik is an artist and an Advisor for the Government of Nunavut in the department of Arts & Traditional Economy since 2003. Theresie’s father, Marc, was a carver who made work out of soapstone, narwal tusks, caribou antlers and polar bear teeth. His carvings can be found in private collections and museum collections. In Theresie’s own artistic practice, she creates wall hangings that depict the lives of Inuit people. Alongside this, she also started the Inuit Art Society and showed Nunavut art and fashions at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. She is also the National Vice-President of CARFAC and in 2021 she was appointed to the board of the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Indigenous Advisory Committee for Qaumajuq, the WAG’s new Inuit Art Centre.
Jeff Ward
Membertou Heritage Park, Membertou First Nation, NS
General Manager of the Membertou Heritage Park, drawing on his vast experience and knowledge in the field of Spirituality, Ceremony, Management and Administration. A former Director of Operations for Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation, Eskasoni Crisis Center, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable, Red Bank Police, Youth and Community worker. Growing up, he was always involved in community events and has been a leader in their planning, coordination, and participation. When it became time to pursue post-secondary education, the Bachelor of Arts Community Studies program at Cape Breton University was a natural fit. Currently, he is working on his Masters degree. He is a leader in the White Eagle Sundance. A Lodge keeper, drum keeper, conductor of ceremonies, and justice circles with over 30 years of experiences. He is a proud husband, father of 4 successful adult children, grandfather of 1 grandson, 2 cats and 1 dog.
Past Members
Previous iterations of the Council included Indigenous and non-Indigenous members. Please note that the institutions attributed to each past members reflect their affiliation at the time of serving on the Council.
- Stephen Augustine, Mi’Kmaq Grand Council, Unama’ki College, Cape Breton University, NS
- Catherine Bell, University of Alberta, AB
- Morgan Baillargeon, Métis artist, MB
- Jean-Marc Blais, Canadian Museum of History, QC
- Stephen Borys, Winnipeg Art Gallery, MB
- Alan Elder, Canadian Museum of History, QC
- Jane Fullerton, New Brunswick Museum, NB
- Pamela Gross, Kitikmeot Heritage Society, NU
- Lauréat Moreau, Shaputuan Museum, QC
- Lou-ann Neel, Creative BC, BC
- Sarah Pashagumskum, Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute, QC
- Marie-Paule Robitaille, Musée de la civilisation (retired), QC
- Anthony Shelton, Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, BC