Monique Fry
Inherent Rights Fellow
Ey Swayel, my name is Monique Fry, and I am from the Xwchíyò:m First Nation on my grandfather’s side and from the Shíshálh Nation on my grandmother’s side. Both Nations are located on territories that are currently known as the province of BC. I have more than 16 years of experience in cross-cultural communication with a focus on successful engagement and partnerships with Indigenous communities. I hold both a BA and an MA from the University of Calgary (UofC) in Communication and Culture, with a focus on International Indigenous Studies with Culture and Society.
I have worked in cross-sectoral spaces all my career- including non-profit, urban Indigenous, social investment, energy, tech, and post-secondary education. I value transparency, ethics and protocols, and centering Indigenous ways of knowing into all my work and life. I have been called a Cultural Mediator by Elders in the community for my work to bridge the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
I currently reside with my family in Mohkintsis, Treaty 7 territory, just outside of Calgary, AB. I do community engagement and strategy work with NGO’s, Indigenous Governing Bodies, and philanthropic foundations through our 100% First Nation owned company called Sustainative Inc. Along with my husband Christopher Fry, we co-teach a graduate course in the School of Public Policy at the UofC, in the Sustainable Energy Development MSc program.