Donna Ross is a 33-year educator. She is a Cree-Métis from Saskatchewan and

member of the One Arrow First Nation, Treaty Six territory. Donna began her teaching

career as a classroom teacher with Tsuut’ina Nation and continued to support First

Nations learners in subsequent positions with Siksika and Stoney Nakoda Nations, and

is currently an Indigenous Designer of Learning with the Calgary Regional Consortium.

Donna brings passion and a deep knowledge of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit histories, the impact of residential schools, and the infusion of Indigenous ways of knowing into Alberta curriculum and organizational culture. Donna is also a proud Kokum.

In this conversation, Donna generously shares many personal stories from her career as well as heart wrenching stories of her family members' experiences in residential schools and their impacts on subsequent generations. Supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action for education has been a huge part of Donna's work, including the development of educational resources and foundational knowledge which you can find out more about by visiting www.empoweringthespirit.ca.