Angela James

Angela James has lived most of her life in the Northwest Territories (NWT). She completed her postsecondary studies at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, University of Manitoba, San Diego State University and Simon Fraser University. The latter of which is where she successfully defended her doctorate on Indigenous education in the NWT.  

Dr. James has worked in the field of education for over 35 years, as a classroom teacher, Indigenous cultural camp coordinator, school principal, Government of NWT education director, and as special advisor to the president of Aurora College, where her main task was to lead the development and selection of the Indigenous Knowledge Holders Council.

She then went on to be president of Aurora College, a role she occupied for two years. She recently retired and has moved on to working with Collège Nordique in a volunteer capacity as the Indigenous education advisor.

Dr. James is Manitoba Métis, whose great-grandmother was first cousin to Louis Riel. She moved to Yellowknife many years ago, marrying into a Dëne Súłine (Chipewyan) family, and combines Indigenous traditions, culture and languages into her family life. She recently took on her most important title, that of Sets’úne (grandmother) to twin grandsons and a granddaughter, bringing love and joy into her and her husband’s lives.