Sophie Pierre — a past Chief of the aq'am Community, Order of Canada recipient, and Commissioner for the British Columbia Treaty Commission — has been named the inaugural Senior Fellow of the Harvard Kennedy School's Project on Indigenous Governance and Development for spring 2025.
Pierre told Black Press Media this appointment is something that has been in the works for nearly three decades.
She started working with Dr. Stephen Cornell and Dr. Joe Kalt, the founders of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development at Harvard University in around 1993. Pierre and the Ktunaxa Nation have been working with both professors on and off on different projects since then, and Pierre is a member of the Native Nations Institute.
"It’s something that many people, both Indigenous people and people like Dr. Joe Kalt and Dr. Stephen Cornell, have been trying to lobby for within the Institution of Harvard, through the Kennedy School," Pierre said.
"They got approval and they’ve got this opportunity and I was asked if I would be the inaugural Senior Fellow, which is an incredible opportunity and an incredible honour. It’s a bit daunting, it’s a huge responsibility, but I’m looking forward to it also, it’s pretty exciting."
According to an article on ash.harvard.edu, the Project on Indigenous Governance and Development at Harvard Kennedy School is "dedicated to advancing knowledge and research on Indigenous governance, leadership, and development."
It is hosted the Ash Centre for Democratic Governance and Innovation, and exists to provide a platform for Indigenous leaders and scholars to "collaborate, share knowledge, and inspire change through interdisciplinary research, public presentations, and educational initiatives."
Pierre was Chief of aq'am for 26 years and was the Administrator and Tribal Chair of the Ktunaxa-Kinbasket Tribal Council for 25 years.
She attended the former Kootenay Indian Residential School for nine years and through her leadership, played a crucial role in its transformation into the St. Eugene Resort it has become today: a massively successful resort, hotel, casino and championship golf course.
In addition to being honoured with the Order of Canada in 2016, Pierre also received the Order of Canada in 2002 and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in business in 2003. She also served as a mentor within the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation and served on numerous boards including the BC Achievement Foundation and the Vancouver Foundation.
As Chief Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission, Pierre facilitated treaty negotiations between Indigenous Nations and the provincial and federal governments.
She continues to be an elder advisor to the aq'am Community and works to preserve Ktunaxa language and culture.
"I didn’t go out specifically trying to build a legacy, but I think it’s very much a part of what is a foundational value of Ktunaxa, is that any knowledge you have — my mother always used to tell me that whatever little bit of knowledge you’ve gained in your life — if you don’t pass it on and you just take it with you then it ends up not helping anyone.
"So I have a responsibility to pass on that knowledge and this is kind of an incredibly awesome way to do it. Not very many people get this kind of opportunity, so I’m pretty humbled by it and very, very grateful for the opportunity. And I know that it is a responsibility and I take it very seriously."
Pierre said she will spend a week at the Harvard Kennedy School, where she will interact with students and faculty, and any others who wish to have a dialogue, as well as whatever opportunities are set up for her. She will be discussing Indigenous governance as well as recent governance through colonial governments.
"I am very fortunate in the situation that I’m in, because I was born into the era where we still had Indian agents that were responsible for ‘Indians’ living on reserves, to now where we have modern-day treaties and we have self governance," Pierre said. "So I lived through all of that and I have the opportunity to share that experience.
"We are thrilled to welcome Chief Pierre as our inaugural Senior Fellow,” said Megan Minoka Hill, Senior Director of the Harvard Kennedy School Project on Indigenous Governance and Development in a press release.
“Her legacy of transformative leadership in her community and her profound impact on Indigenous governance are unmatched. We look forward to the insights and mentorship she will provide to our students, faculty, and to the greater Harvard community.”
