Dr. Terri Brennan

I am a cultural planning and engagement professional with 30+ years of experience across the South Pacific, the UK, Europe, Egypt, Nepal, and North America. In 2017 I launched my own consulting firm after having held diverse roles in government and academic institutions as well as in for-profit and not-for-profit agencies. With a broad social science background with credentials in the areas of public policy, archaeology, sociology, and education, and now as the CEO of Inclusive Voices Incorporated, I continue to inspire societal systems to platform diverse voices and bodies inclusive of Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQQIA and differently-abled/disabled populations as leaders equitably able to sit at change-making board tables, dinner tables and café tables across the world, starting at home.

Through Inclusive Voices Incorporated I apply an inter-cultural methodology to equitable planning, making and/or thinking needs which interweaves an Indigenous worldview and critically elevates an understanding about culture as an aspect of life that penetrates all those stimulating experiences in our daily routine. I am a proud  Kanien'keha:ka (Mohawk), British Woman with family originating from Six Nations of the Grand River/Oshweken and Brantford, Ontario. I have strengthened the capacity of Indigenous knowledges as an equal methodology and approach to research and developing plans and policies, and through my unique engagement approach, am considered a highly respected Indigenous cultural professional across Canada. I am known for my ability to draw out Indigenous voices as valued contributions to guide and lead critical policy changes and innovate planning actions, as well as develop the potential for municipal and institutional reciprocity that is sustainably profitable and progressive for tourism and economic development. My methodology has established critical partnerships and networks through not only planning and engagement, but also assessment and feasibility projects globally that has brought together 100’s of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and agencies while working with budgets upward of $250,000.

Recent Selected Experience:

INTER-CULTURAL PLANNING

• Queen’s University, Ontario, Office of Indigenous Initiatives Strategic Planning Project lead, ongoing.

• SPARC (Supporting Performing Arts in Rural and Remote Communities) Project Lead & Facilitation Consultant for Strategic Plan; completed strategic plan, workplan/scorecard and recommendations submitted March 2020.

• Yukon Arts Centre, Strategic Planning Consultant – Indigenous Outreach & Engagement; recommendations submitted January 2020.

• Ottawa Museums Network, Indigenous Program Plan Evaluation, Project Lead; completed report and recommendations submitted December 2019.

• Murney Tower National Historic Site Indigenous Exhibit Design and Content Planning, Project Manager; March – July 2019.

• The ArQuives (formerly Canadian Lesbian & Gay Archives), Project Lead, Feasibility & Planning Study; completed report and recommendations submitted May 2019.

INTER-CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT

• Bellevue House Parks Canada, Local Indigenous Outreach Coordinator/Facilitator and Interpretation Plan Advisor; ongoing.

• Ontario Presents BIPOC Equity Initiatives, Project Lead, ongoing.

• Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Alberta Indigenous Engagement Lead for Public Art Strategy, ongoing.

• Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance, Board of Directors Recruitment Consultant, ongoing.

• City of Canmore, Alberta, Cultural Planning Team Associate (Indigenous Outreach and Engagement), (consortium member with AA Associates); completed culture plan and recommendations submitted March 2020.

• Isabel Bader Performing Arts Center, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Indigenous Engagement & Outreach Project Manager; Phase 1 September 2018 – April 2019 completed report and recommendations submitted April 2019; Phase 2, September 2019 – February 2020.

• City of Ottawa Light Rail Transit Phase 2 Public Art Strategy, regional Indigenous outreach and research contributor; November 2017 – June 2019.

• City of Toronto’s Metrolinx Kennedy Station/Jospeh Kosuth, Indigenous Outreach and Community Consultation; completed October 2018.

ASSOCIATED EXPERIENCE:

City of Kingston, Cultural Services, Community Engagement and Indigenous Outreach Coordinator; (April 2013 – October 2017)

• Designed, delivered and awarded funding from local and federal governments, for Phase 1, Engage for Change: A Reconciliation Journey Project. The goal is to create a relationship protocol/policy between The City of and Kingston’s urban Indigenous community going. This multi-level partnership engaged 5000+ community members (Budget $180,000).

• Facilitated multi-level partnerships in delivering a reconciliation-based SJAM Macdonald Bicentennial Education Curricular Program with 180 students/500+ community members (Budget $25,000).

• Contributed Indigenous content/sections, inclusive language and direction on corporate plans and policies, such as the Waterfront Master Plan (2016), Official Plan (2017), Proposed Renaming of Indian Road & City Parks (2017).

• Conducted Indigenous community consultation to script a Recognition Statement of the Land for Council adoption June 2016.• Established best-practice protocols for the Corporation in working with Indigenous Peoples.

• Designed, initiated and conducted a regional First Peoples Community Asset and Needs Report (2016) with a community outreach of +50,000.