Heather Watts

Heather Watts is Mohawk & Anishinaabe from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Education has been a central part of her work over the past ten years, graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in Inclusive Education, Columbia University Teachers College with a degree in Literacy Coaching, and working as an elementary school teacher in New York City and Rochester, NY. Heather has studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) in the Education Policy & Management Program and graduated with her Ed.M. in 2019.

Heather is currently a doctoral candidate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education – University of Toronto, in the Social Justice Education program. Over the past two years, she has published three chapters on the topic of Reconciliation and education in Canada. Her research centers on Reconciliation and reclamation of Indigenous ways of knowing in modern-day education systems.

Heather serves as President of First Peoples Group, an all-Indigenous consulting firm. She also is currently an Action Canada Fellow with the Public Policy Forum.

What brings you joy? – Taking in the beautiful views from a bike trail with my kids (Nico and Ronan) and partner Jason