Janna is a proud Métis Nation Citizen and second-generation Dutch-Canadian, born and raised on unceded Algonquin Territory (Ottawa, ON). Her mother’s family are Halfbreed scrip-takers who traveled West from St. Francis Xavier, Manitoba, to Fort Qu’Appelle and Pasqua First Nation (Saskatchewan), eventually moving to southern Alberta. Her father’s family hail from Eindhoven and Alkmaar in the Netherlands.
Prior to joining First Peoples Group, Janna worked as the Advisor and Executive Assistant to Métis National Council (MNC) President Cassidy Caron. During her time at the Métis National Council, Janna supported the MNC in their national and international advocacy work in a wide variety of policy areas. She assisted Residential School Survivors during their travel to Rome to meet with Pope Francis and during the Pope’s visit to Canada. She has liaised with her counterparts on Parliament Hill to facilitate meetings and events with Federal Ministers and other members of Parliament. Janna coordinated meetings at international fora such as the United Nations (COP, UNPFII, EMRIP, UNCSW). Her time at the MNC provided with her the opportunity to attend community and governance events across the Métis Nation Homeland and to network with Métis leaders, youth, and Elders.
Janna’s work was motivated by her desire to give back to her Nation and to uplift the needs and aspirations of other Métis Citizens. Janna has MCed Métis community events and attended conferences as a Métis youth delegate. She has taught introductory courses in research and Indigenous studies at Sault College, served as the managing editor of the Carleton Perspective on Public Policy (CPoPP), a student-run, peer-reviewed academic journal, which aims to foster policy dialogue, and provide students with the opportunity to engage in the peer-review and production process. Janna is also an outstanding photographer whose photos have been featured in several publications.
In 2019, Janna completed her Masters in Canadian Studies in the Indigenous Studies stream at Carleton University. Her major research project focused on the history of Indigenous research ethics and the transition from doing research “on” to doing research “with” Indigenous Peoples. Prior to her MA, Janna earned a Bachelor of Humanities (Honours) with a minor in German from Carleton University. Her undergrad covered a broad array of disciplines, including philosophy, religion, the arts, and literature.