From television... to First Nations
A CAREER IN JOURNALISM
For more than 15 years, Marie-Josée has worked in the media world as a news anchor on major television and radio French speaking channels such as Radio-Canada, RDI, LCN and Radio Rock-Détente. She has held positions in Quebec, but also in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Great Britain. Gradually, the need to discover new horizons became predominant. By further orienting her career as a journalist and author on issues related to human potential, she write for Vivre Magazine and hosts a weekly radio show on Radio Ville-Marie for many years.
MINDFULNESS AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
Trained for 15 years by the French specialist in conscious communication, David Ciussi, Marie-Josée soon devoted most of her time to groups or individuals in their learning of a more constructive and humane communication, based on principles of self-awareness and mindfulness.
A CLOSE LINK WITH THE FIRST NATIONS
In 2007, her life shifted: elders of the Algonquin Nation offered her a Sacred Pipe (she will receive a second one in 2015). This is a great mark of respect and recognition, requiring nevertheless a lifetime commitment to learning the language, philosophy and traditional medicine of this thousands-year-old people. That is why Marie-Josée regularly teaches alongside hereditary Chief T8aminik (Dominique) Rankin.
BIRTH OF KINA8AT and THE DOMINIQUE RANKIN FOUNDATION
With T8aminik, she founded in 2013 the non-profit organization KINA8AT, and in 2020 the Dominique Rankin Foundation, both of which have the mission of fostering healing and cultural reconnection among First Peoples, as well as promoting reconciliation and sharing of indigenous cultures with all. This joint mission brings Marie-Josée and T8aminik to work on national and international levels.
PUBLICATIONS
Marie-Josée is the author of best-seller On nous appelait les Sauvages (now published in English under the title They called us Savages). She also wrote La Leçon de Sitar ou l'Art de vibrer de toutes ses cordes.
COMMITTEES AND COUNCILS
Marie-Josée regularly participates in major events for world peace, environment and reconciliation. She sits on various national and international committees :
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Co-founder of the Kina8at Organization and the Dominique Rankin Foundation
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Serves on the World Council of the Religions for Peace Global Women of Faith Network (a UN-related organization)
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Advisor and Trainer at the Canadian School of Public Service and member of the Knowledge Circle for Indigenous Inclusion (Heritage-Canada)
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Traditional Leaders and Actors comity to Prevent Atrocity Crimes, under the auspices of the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the
Religious and Traditional Peacemakers Network -
Advisor to the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, created at the initiative of Pope Francis to address growing inequality and climate change
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Ethics in Action Committee, created by the Vatican, the United Nations, Religions for Peace and Notre Dame University, to develop an inter-religious moral consensus on the major challenges of integral sustainable development
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Expert committee for the ImpactIA Foundation in Switzerland, reflecting on the challenges posed by the arrival of artificial intelligence in the world