HO
Heather O'Watch
Indigenous Peoples Rights International
Database and Documentation Officer
Biography
Heather O’Watch (She/Her) is a Nakoda and Nehiyaw woman from the Okanese First Nation in Treaty 4 Territory. She has paternal ties to Carry The Kettle First Nation. Heather is enrolled in a Masters Degree in Public Policy (MPP) at the University of Saskatchewan. She holds a BA in Indigenous Studies from the First Nations University of Canada. She works with Indigenous Peoples Rights International, a global Indigenous led organisation that works to amplify justice for Indigenous peoples and communities facing criminalisation and impunity. Heather has experience in research, policy and communications. Her role includes supporting the development of a global database in supporting systematic documentation and monitoring of cases of criminalisation of, and human rights violations against Indigenous Peoples around the world.
Recently, Heather was selected as one of four young Canadian delegates to represent Canada in the Y7 Summit in Tokyo, Japan in April 2023 with Young Diplomats of Canada. The Y7 Summit is the official youth delegation to the G7 Presidency and delivered a communique of policy recommendations to G7 leaders on behalf of young voices. Heather led the Health Track and was the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion coordinator. She also recently joined the Young Diplomats of Canada as a programme coordinator with hopes to contribute further to global affairs.
Heather recently founded Timpsina Society, a local Indigenous youth-led initiative which seeks to empower Indigenous youth in building skills regarding policy and advocacy in the prairie provinces of Canada.
Loading