Charlene Bearhead
Charlene is a mother, grandmother, community member, experienced educator and education innovator with 30 years of regional, national and international experience in the field. Most recently Charlene served as the first Education Lead for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba and is currently the project coordinator for the Alberta Joint Commitment to Action: Education for Reconciliation. She currently serves as the co-chair of the Downie-Wenjack Fund Board of Directors and is a member of the Pathways to Education Canada Indigenous Education Advisory Circle.
Charlene previously served as the National Coordinator for Project of Heart, the primary focus of which is the education of Canadians on the history and legacy of Indian Residential Schools in Canada, and for the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation, the primary goal of which as to educate Canadians on the legacy of federal government policy on various ethnic groups throughout Canada’s history and to promote respect and reconciliation. Ms. Bearhead coordinated the Education Days within the TRC National Events for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which focused on inspiring teachers and students to further educate themselves around the history and legacy of Indian Residential Schools as well as to support and facilitate the building of positive and respectful relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Canada.
Bearhead also served as the National Coordinator for the National Addictions Awareness Week at Native Counselling Services of Alberta. She was the curriculum writer for the education program Sacred Relationship with Water (www.sacredrelationship.ca) with BearPaw Media Productions. Charlene was the founder of Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School in Alberta and coordinated the youth track of Healing Our Spirit Worldwide in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2002 and the children’s program of the same international gathering in Edmonton, Alberta in 2006.
Charlene has served as a teacher, principal, education director and superintendent, both on and off reserve, over the years and holds permanent teaching certificates from both Alberta and Manitoba.