Concordia’s Indigenous Directions welcomes Ghislain Picard and Geoff Kelley as experts-in-residence

Ghislain Picard and Geoff Kelley will offer their considerable knowledge of leadership, politics and the inside workings of government to Concordia students as experts-in-residence.

Picard is Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) and Kelley was a long-serving Member of the National Assembly of Quebec. They began their two-year Indigenous Directions residencies in early September.

“For the next two years, Ghislain Picard and Geoffrey Kelley will bring to Concordia an unprecedented look at Indigenous politics and governance from an Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspective,” explains Manon Tremblay, senior director of Indigenous Directions.

Concordia’s experts-in-residence, such as the jurist-in-residence and the Mordecai Richler Writer in Residence in the Faculty of Arts and Science and the executive in residence in the John Molson School of Business, allow students to learn firsthand from experienced industry professionals.

“The experts-in-residence can serve as mentors and advisors and they can engage in a number of activities that benefit the entire university community, such as delivering guest lectures, teaching special-topic courses and participating in special events,” Tremblay notes.

Plans are in the works for Picard and Kelley to co-teach a graduate-level class in the MA in Public Policy and Public Administration program.

“They can also provide strategic guidance and facilitate hands-on workshops in a way that provides students with a privileged insight into how subject matter translates into practice in the real world.”

Ghislain Picard

Ghislain Picard is Innu from the community of Pessamit in Quebec. He has served as Chief of the AFNQL since first elected in 1992.

In his capacity, Picard sits on the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Executive Committee and Management Committee, and acts as the main spokesperson for global claims, the urban population and international issues. He also served as the AFN’s interim National Chief for six months in 2014.

Picard was made a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec in 2003 and received the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur from the Consul General of France in 2005.

Geoffrey Kelley

Born and raised in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, Geoffrey Kelley earned a BA and MA in Canadian History from McGill University. His involvement in government-Indigenous relations began in 1990 after he joined the staff of Claude Ryan, who was Quebec’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Public Security.

In 1994, Kelley was elected to the Quebec National Assembly for the Jacques-Cartier riding in Montreal’s West Island, a position he held until retiring in 2018. During his career as an MNA, he served as Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs three times (2005-7, 2011-12 and 2014-2018).

Kelley has maintained his interest in Indigenous issues since retiring. He was appointed chief negotiator for Quebec with Kahnawake in 2021 and since 2019 has sat on the board of Projets Autochtones du Québec, which offers emergency shelter and housing services to Montreal’s Indigenous homeless population.

Concordia President Graham Carr will sit down for a conversation with Ghislain Picard and Geoff Kelley, to introduce them to the university community at the Henry F. Hall Building, H-771, on October 18, 3 ̵ 4:30 p.m.

Join In Conversation with Ghislain Picard and Geoff Kelley, moderated by Concordia President Graham Carr, at the Henry F. Hall Building (1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.) H-771, on October 18, 3 ̵ 4:30 p.m. The event is free and no registration is required. Or register to watch the livestream.

Learn more about Concordia’s Indigenous Directions.