Katie McKenzie is a proud Indigenous woman from the Gitanmaax First Nation with roots in Treaty 5 territory, as well as strong French and Scottish roots. As one that was gifted the name Buffalo Shawl Woman, she believes in following the teaching of respect and sharing that with all those around her. Being born and raised on Treaty 1 territory in Winnipeg Manitoba, Katie continued her post-secondary education at the University of Manitoba. She is currently a first-year student at Robson Hall in the Faculty of Law and has also recently completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Manitoba in Labour Studies and Sociology.  

Katie has a wide range of experience in both professional and community roles. Over the last few years, she has worked as a research assistant with Dr. Sean Carleton at the University of Manitoba. This led to her co-publication of Hiding in Plain Sight: Newspaper Coverage of Dr. Bryce’s 1907 Report on Residential Schools. She has also worked closely with the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre Inc., the largest Urban Indigenous Social Services organization in Winnipeg, Manitoba. First contributing to the organization as a volunteer, she then worked as a Camp Developer & Coordinator for their Ozosunon Foster Care program, and then most recently as an Event Developer & Coordinator organizing events that honour the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. She is also an active member of the Manitoba Catholic School’s Truth and Reconciliation Advisory Committee where she helps advise educators on the variety of ways that reconciliation can be integrated into classrooms.