Ksik’ksiiniaki (White Buffalo Woman) Jennifer Russell is the Director of Indigenous Engagement at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Russell — who has Cree and Blackfoot relations and is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta — has dedicated her career to driving systemic change through Truth and Reconciliation. Advocating for the safety and support of Indigenous women is a lifelong commitment she’s made, and one that has informed her personal and professional journey.

Spending a decade in the energy industry, Russell supported an Indigenous Peoples Policy and led response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 92, which calls on Canada’s corporate sector to weave a reconciliation framework into policies and operations.

Her work also involved addressing the psychological safety and well-being of female Indigenous employees at oil and gas work camps, and she brokered a partnership with the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) — the organization involved in the creation of Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and its Calls for Justice.

Russell made a mark through time spent at TELUS where she worked as Indigenous Connectivity Lead, building relationships with a multitude of stakeholders and strategically advancing reconciliation strategy and commitment. After a previous role with SAIT’s Indigenous Student Centre, where she became their first Indigenous advisor for Indigenous students, Russell has returned to lead the post-secondary institution’s strategic direction on Truth and Reconciliation. Her impact has been felt deeply across campus with the implementation of Indigenous graduation celebrations and the introduction of the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation course for employees and students in partnership with First Nations University of Canada.

Another notable success during Russell’s tenure was the renaming of SAIT’s Chinook Lodge to reflect the Treaty 7 Nation people it serves. During a traditional Blackfoot Pipe Ceremony in July 2023, a new name was given — Natoysopoyiis — and Russell was made a keeper of the Lodge.

Today she sits on the Safety of Indigenous Women in Urban Settings task force, a collective of Indigenous and non-Indigenous agencies and stakeholders in Calgary working together to support Indigenous women and girls who are victims of family and domestic violence.