Julia Lafreniere

Julia Lafreniere (pronouns: she/they) is an advocate for bridging cultural gaps and creating institutional understanding within colonial spaces. She is a mother and carries the teachings of love, kindness and understanding that have been passed to her from knowledge keepers within the Indigenous community.

Julia’s family is from the Metis community of Camperville located on Treaty 4 territory. She is a second-generation residential day school survivor and grew up both on Treaty 1 territory and Swampy Cree territory on Treaty 5. Currently, Julia is the Head of Indigenous Initiatives at the Winnipeg Art Gallery where she has been professionally since 2019. Julia holds an advanced Bachelor's degree in Native Studies from the University of Manitoba and is currently completing her Masters in Developmental Practice at the University of Winnipeg. Julia has extensive community involvement, having served in a volunteer capacity on local boards, student groups and within ceremonial spaces.