PHD in political science from Carleton University, Jean-François Savard has been a professor at ENAP (École nationale d’administration publique) since 2006, where he teaches public policy analysis, design and implementation. His research focuses on Aboriginal policy issues, particularly Aboriginal self-government, relations between Aboriginal communities and public administrations in Quebec and Canada, and federalism. In addition to having given numerous lectures in this field, he is also the author of several publications in his field of expertise. Jean-François Savard has also led the development of graduate programs in public administration offered in Aboriginal communities, with the aim of fostering the autonomy of these communities. Prior to joining ENAP, Professor Savard worked as a Senior Policy Analyst in the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) of Health Canada. His mandate was to ensure that FNIHB programs and policies were consistent with the needs of Aboriginal communities and regional offices of the department.
Christian Rock is a member of the Innu First Nation of Pessamit. Since the beginning of his career, he has developed his knowledge and accompanied Aboriginal communities in matters of First Nations public administration. A collaborator from the beginning of the Observatory on First Nations Public Administration, his marked interest in understanding and resolving complex questions and issues characterizes his career. Motivated by progress, he pays particular attention to understanding the perspectives of First Nations. With a Bachelor’s degree in civil law, a Master’s degree in public administration and a membership in the Order of Chartered Administrators, his academic and practical knowledge brings a different point of view, always oriented towards the solution or the in-depth understanding of the factors associated with the First Nations environment or their external partners.

Emmanuel Saël
Emmanuel Saël is a doctoral student at the National School of Public Administration (ENAP) since 2017. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from ENAP (2015). He has published two scientific articles in collaboration with other researchers, one on methodologies used in public administration in Canada and Australia, and the other on Aboriginal people and the Canadian Armed Forces. Since 2017, he has been working at ENAP as a research assistant in different research teams. As part of his research, he has worked, among others, on issues affecting Quebec municipalities, the coherence of policies applied in the fight against excessive gambling in the French-speaking cantons, and the integration of Aboriginals in the Canadian military. Emmanuel has worked in the Haitian public administration as a financial inspector. He has also taught in several academic institutions in Port-au-Prince.

Claudine Cyr
Claudine Cyr holds a doctorate in communications from the Université de Montréal and a master’s degree in sociology from the Université du Québec à Montréal. She was coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Research Group on the Americas (GIRA) at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) for ten years. She was an assistant professor at the Faculty of Administrative and Social Sciences of the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada campus, Mexico (2014-2016). Claudine Cyr is co-founder of the international symposium Regards autochtones sur les Amériques, held as part of the Montreal First Peoples Festival and created in 2009 in partnership with Land InSights and the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Cultural and Linguistic Center (KORLCC) in Kahnawà:ke. She also co-edited the book The Rebirth of Aboriginal Cultures. Issues and Challenges of Recognition (PUL, 2018). Her research interests include cultural autonomy of Indigenous peoples and the co-production of knowledge and innovation in collaborative research with Indigenous communities.

Michelle Jacob
Michelle Jacob holds a specialized graduate diploma from ENAP. She was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1994 and also holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and a certificate in Native Studies from Laval University. In addition, she completed the 26th teaching session of the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg in 1995. Coordinator of the “Public Management in an Aboriginal Context” graduate programs for ENAP since 2017, Michelle Jacob has long been interested in cultural, linguistic and religious diversity. At ENAP’s Observatoire de l’administration publique from 2007 to 2016, she collaborated in the supervision and realization of various studies on best practices implemented in different public administrations concerning the valorization of the public service, different aspects of human resources management and the training and evaluation of linguistic and cultural knowledge. Previously, she practiced law as legal counsel to various Aboriginal Band Councils and the Mamuitun Tribal Council. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Francophone section of Amnesty International for several years, and until recently was responsible for the local group in Quebec City. She is an active advocate for the respect of human rights, diversity and inclusion.