Valerie Bellegarde

Valerie Bellegarde is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Indigenous Languages Revitalization Associates, where expertise in policy development played a key role in supporting the Assembly of First Nations’ negotiations regarding the Act Respecting Indigenous Languages, which received Royal Assent in June 2019. As a Steering Committee Accredited Observer for UNESCO, Valerie contributed to the establishment of the United Nations’ Global Proclamation for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages from 2022 to 2032. In the role of Senior Advisor to the Assembly of First Nations, strategic leadership was provided to implement the National Chief’s vision. Valerie also managed multiple successful national political campaigns for the Perry Bellegarde Campaign, significantly influencing Indigenous funding priorities. Additionally, extensive consultancy work has involved crafting essential policy documents for university presidents and national organizations, alongside an academic background with a Master of Arts in Canadian Studies from Trent University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University.