Courtesy: Corey Bullock/CBC
Celebrated Ktunaxa leader Chief Sophie Pierre has been appointed the Inaugural Senior Fellow in Indigenous Governance and Development at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, a prestigious recognition of her decades-long leadership in Indigenous governance, cultural preservation, and economic development.
Starting in Spring 2025, Pierre will bring her wealth of knowledge to Harvard’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, where she will mentor students and share insights from her groundbreaking work in nation-building, Indigenous rights, and self-determination.
“I am the first one that’s been invited here, and I feel very honoured by that,” said Pierre. “It is a result of many years of hard work.”
Pierre is widely known for transforming governance in the Ktunaxa Nation, having served as elected chief of ʔAq̓am (St. Mary’s Indian Band) for 26 years and as administrator of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council for 25 years. She also served as Chief Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission from 2009 to 2015, helping facilitate treaty negotiations between Indigenous Nations, the Province of British Columbia, and the federal government.
Among her most lauded achievements is the transformation of the former Kootenay Indian Residential School, where Pierre herself was once a student, into the thriving St. Eugene Resort—a powerful symbol of cultural reclamation and economic revitalization for the Ktunaxa people.
“I know this to be the thing I am most proud of,” she said. “We took back that building and didn’t let it define our future. Instead of letting it deteriorate, we created something beautiful. Now when you drive by, it’s alive.”
Pierre’s leadership has been recognized nationally with numerous accolades, including the Order of British Columbia (2002), the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in Business (2003), and the Order of Canada (2016).
Her contributions extend beyond governance. Pierre played a central role in formalizing the Ktunaxa language, working with linguists in the 1960s to develop an alphabet and dictionary that transformed an oral tradition into a written one—ensuring the survival and transmission of Ktunaxa knowledge for generations.
As a fluent Ktunaxa speaker, Pierre is focused on passing on cultural and governance knowledge. Her fellowship at Harvard is not just an academic milestone, but an opportunity to deepen the connection between traditional wisdom and modern leadership.
“Self-determination has to be the number one issue,” she emphasized. “If we don’t have self-governance, we’re always fighting for what we should be able to determine ourselves.”
She continues to mentor young Indigenous leaders through the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and serves on boards including the BC Achievement Foundation and Vancouver Foundation. For Pierre, mentorship is a two-way responsibility—elders must share their knowledge, and youth must be open to receiving it.
“You pass on good examples through your work,” she said. “As grandparents, we have the responsibility to share what we’ve learned. That’s how we bring good into our society.”
Chief Sophie Pierre’s presence at Harvard marks a historic moment—not only for her personally but for the Ktunaxa Nation and Indigenous communities across Canada. From the Elk Valley to the global stage, her story is one of determination, transformation, and enduring leadership.
Fernie and the wider East Kootenay region can take great pride in the legacy and future impact of this extraordinary local leader.
Source: Harvard Kennedy School
