Joanne Pereira-Ekström

Natural Resources Canada
Acting Director – Partnerships and Engagement, Nòkwewashk

Joanne Pereira-Ekström is the acting director of the IAMC-TMX Secretariat and she is proud to be part of Nòkwewashk, the new name for the Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation and Major Projects Management Sector. This name was gifted by Elders and is one of several Algonquin words for sweetgrass. The sweet grass braid symbolizes how we have become stronger together by bringing together Indigenous peoples, government and the land. As one of Algonquin people’s sacred and powerful medicines, sweet grass represents kindness. It is with this sentiment that Joanne approaches her work in supporting the relationship between Indigenous partners, industry, federal regulators and other government departments to advance reconciliation. Joanne has been with Natural Resources Canada for 20 years and has benefited from varied experiences across the Department including in the areas of strategic policy, program management, cabinet affairs and Indigenous policy, working to enable a distinctions based approach (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) with National Indigenous Organizations. Joanne has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies (with a specialization in Sustainable Development and Indigenous Studies) and resides on the traditional unceded Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation with her family.