Judy Half

Judy Half, ’94 BA NS
Native Studies Representative

Judy Half is a member of the Saddle Lake reserve in Treaty Six. She currently is a PhD Candidate in the Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology at the University of Calgary. Her topic is the study of Onchiminahos(Little Hunter) and Kakake’s band governance systems in Treaty Six, and examines their ancient relationship to the land by revitalizing their worldviews using oral histories in relation to cultural inclusion in heritage resource management in southern Alberta. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies and Anthropology, and a Master of Arts and Integrated Studies with the Heritage Resource Management Diploma from the Athabasca University.

Judy is also a nehiyaw specific historian, a social and cultural anthropologist, a non-permit archaeologist and has over twenty years conducting archaeological fieldwork investigations and managing consultations and community engagement in diverse treaty areas. She has presented as a Keynote Speaker and academic presenter.

In 2008-2017, Judy was the Aboriginal Liaison Office (ILO) for the Royal Alberta Museum.  She administered the repatriation policy called the First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Repatriation Act (2000) for Blackfoot communities and challenged why other Treaty First Nations were not allowed to participate until 2015 with the introduction of a non-Blackfoot Repatriation Bill. She also was involved in the design and development the museum and revamping a diverse Indigenous museum committees and elder committees.