Betty Jean Bastien

As the first Piikani member to receive a university degree, Betty Jean Bastien’s life has been committed to the revitalization of First Nations’ culture. By regaining their cultural identities it connects and re-establishes the Indigenous pedagogical and healing practices of First Nations’ communities. She is celebrated for her research on Blackfoot child development theories, Indigenous research methodologies, child welfare, and intergenerational trauma. She is an amazing example of leadership in women, a scholar in her field, and a source of support and inspiration for many.