Kokum Hazel's Bio
As a community volunteer, activist, and mentor for well over forty years, Hazel has developed an extensive background in the field of Medicine and Dentistry, especially within the Indigenous community. Hazel has surpassed her life goal of inspiring others to nurture and protect their own heritage by instilling pride, sense of identity, and strength in others through education, as her parents and community members had instilled in her.
Hazel’s interest in helping community, began while growing up on the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, as she was forced to preserve through the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual assaults that were a part of the daily regime of Indian Residential Schools. Post residential school, she enrolled in the University of Ottawa and then the University of Manitoba completing her Bachelor of Education degree. After meeting her husband Bill, they decided to move to Edmonton, where Hazel began working as a grade one teacher at Our Lady of Peace School. Being a First Nations school teacher was a rarity in the day and Hazel went to seek the help of the Elders and cultural people to assist her in making sure her students learned the Indigenous ways and culture. Hazel continued on through the years teaching, eventually becoming one of the first ever Aboriginal liaisons for the Edmonton Catholic School Board.
For more than forty years, Hazel has worked as a teacher, program director, and Aboriginal liaison. In the late 1960’s, she worked as a teacher at the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nations School in Sandy Bay, MB, teaching the knowledge and appreciation of the Indigenous culture and language. Since then, she has reached many children and adults through her teachings at Our Lady of Peace School, Edmonton Catholic School District, Canadian Native Friendship Center, Edmonton Native Senior Center, Society for Retired and Semi-Retired, and Edmonton Public School Board.
In addition to her active involvement as a teacher and program director, she has been a committed volunteer within the medical field. She could many times be found at the children’s school making bannock, taking a child to the hospital or teaching a class on Indigenous history. For five years, she sat on the St. Albert Youth Justice Committee as a community member helping hand out disciplinary actions to youth who have chosen alternative dispute measures. Also, she is board member of the Friends of the Geographical Society of Alberta, a group focused on helping Albertans learn the history behind the name of their city or town.
Hazel holds a proven track record of success and is the recipient of many awards. Through her decades of work in education and Indigenous advancement, Hazel has earned many awards including, an Esquao Award from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, numerous Eagle Feathers, and special recognitions from the Edmonton Public School Board, Edmonton Catholic School District, Wahkotowin Society, Canadian Native Friendship Center, University of Alberta, and the Heart and Stroke Association.
A rare breed, Hazel has made a significant contribution and tireless commitment to preserving and rejuvenating the Ojibway language and culture, encouraging Indigenous women in Canada, and supporting the medical program at the University of Alberta. Aside from Hazel’s professional and community success, she has always put her family first, raising her three wonderful children, Mark, Daniel, and Sean. A pioneer in education, health, administration, and culture; a voice for the young and the old; a role model; and a mother, Hazel McKennitt has benefited thousands of Indigenous people in countless ways.
Hazel’s interest in helping community, began while growing up on the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, as she was forced to preserve through the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual assaults that were a part of the daily regime of Indian Residential Schools. Post residential school, she enrolled in the University of Ottawa and then the University of Manitoba completing her Bachelor of Education degree. After meeting her husband Bill, they decided to move to Edmonton, where Hazel began working as a grade one teacher at Our Lady of Peace School. Being a First Nations school teacher was a rarity in the day and Hazel went to seek the help of the Elders and cultural people to assist her in making sure her students learned the Indigenous ways and culture. Hazel continued on through the years teaching, eventually becoming one of the first ever Aboriginal liaisons for the Edmonton Catholic School Board.
For more than forty years, Hazel has worked as a teacher, program director, and Aboriginal liaison. In the late 1960’s, she worked as a teacher at the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nations School in Sandy Bay, MB, teaching the knowledge and appreciation of the Indigenous culture and language. Since then, she has reached many children and adults through her teachings at Our Lady of Peace School, Edmonton Catholic School District, Canadian Native Friendship Center, Edmonton Native Senior Center, Society for Retired and Semi-Retired, and Edmonton Public School Board.
In addition to her active involvement as a teacher and program director, she has been a committed volunteer within the medical field. She could many times be found at the children’s school making bannock, taking a child to the hospital or teaching a class on Indigenous history. For five years, she sat on the St. Albert Youth Justice Committee as a community member helping hand out disciplinary actions to youth who have chosen alternative dispute measures. Also, she is board member of the Friends of the Geographical Society of Alberta, a group focused on helping Albertans learn the history behind the name of their city or town.
Hazel holds a proven track record of success and is the recipient of many awards. Through her decades of work in education and Indigenous advancement, Hazel has earned many awards including, an Esquao Award from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, numerous Eagle Feathers, and special recognitions from the Edmonton Public School Board, Edmonton Catholic School District, Wahkotowin Society, Canadian Native Friendship Center, University of Alberta, and the Heart and Stroke Association.
A rare breed, Hazel has made a significant contribution and tireless commitment to preserving and rejuvenating the Ojibway language and culture, encouraging Indigenous women in Canada, and supporting the medical program at the University of Alberta. Aside from Hazel’s professional and community success, she has always put her family first, raising her three wonderful children, Mark, Daniel, and Sean. A pioneer in education, health, administration, and culture; a voice for the young and the old; a role model; and a mother, Hazel McKennitt has benefited thousands of Indigenous people in countless ways.