Kelly Laurila

Kelly Laurila is a Canadian academic and Indigenous rights advocate known for research and teaching related to Indigenous peoples in Canada and settler engagement with the outputs of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Early life and education Laurila was born and raised in northern Ontario and is of Sámi and Irish ancestry. The focus of her doctoral research focused on Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Career

Laurila is an instructor with Laurier's Faculty of Social Work. She also teaches in Renison University College's School of Social Work. The central focus of the course is the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and was developed based on Laurila's realization that Canadians don't always understand the need for reconciliation.

Laurila took over from Jean Becker as the songcarrier for Mino Ode Kwewak N’gamowak (Good Hearted Women Singers) in 2006. Founded in 2003, and composed of predominantly of First Nations women, the group met weekly to drum and sing. Building on the teachings Becker brought to the group, Laurila expanded its scope into the community, leading public performances and building relationships with non-Indigenous communities including a police choir. The group received the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation Award of Excellence in 2016.

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