Angela James

Angela James has lived most of her life in the Northwest Territories (NWT), aside from her years spent on postsecondary studies at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, University of Manitoba, San Diego State University, and Simon Fraser University. The last of these is where she successfully defended her Doctor of Education degree on Indigenous education in the NWT.  

James has worked in the NWT field of education for over 35 years as a classroom teacher, Indigenous cultural camp coordinator, school principal, GNWT education director, and recently as the special advisor to the Aurora College president to lead the development and selection of the Indigenous Knowledge Holders Council (IKHC). The IKHC formed the final entity of the tricameral governance structure within Aurora College, along with the Board of Governors and the Academic Council, and is the first of its kind in Canada.

James recently accepted the position of Aurora College president, which she sees as an act of reconciliation. With a solid track record of leadership, James started her new position on August 1, 2024, and will celebrate the many good news stories that are elevating Aurora College, transforming it into the new Aurora University Polytechnic. Her focus is on relationship building with her new executive internal team, collaborative external relations, and being grounded in research and data-driven decisions that understand the political, economic, social and cultural landscape of the NWT.

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 home and family life. She recently entered into her most important role in life, that of being Sets’úne (grandmother) to twin grandsons and a granddaughter, bringing love and joy into her family’s lives!