Jonathan Dewar, PhD

In January 2024, Jonathan Dewar returned to the role of Chief Executive Officer at FNIGC, having previously been with the organization from 2017-2022, during which time FNIGC secured permanent and ongoing funding for FNIGC’s national surveys, delivered the national First Nations Data Governance Strategy, and secured a $51 million dollar investment for phase one implementation of the national strategy. Jonathan also successfully steered FNIGC through the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He has spent most of his 20+ year career directing research and knowledge translation initiatives for national Indigenous-led organizations. During that time, his work has focused on governance, strategic planning, health and wellbeing, data sovereignty, and truth, healing, and reconciliation.

Jonathan has previously served as the Director General and Vice President, Collections, Research, Exhibitions, and Repatriation at the Canadian Museum of History; Director of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre and Special Advisor to the President at Algoma University; and Director of Research at the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, among other leadership roles.

Jonathan received a doctorate from the School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies at Carleton University and holds an appointment as Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. He also serves in many volunteer capacities, including as a member of the Board of Directors of the Queensway Carleton Hospital, where he is also the Vice-Chair of the Governance and Nominations Committee.

Jonathan is of Scottish- and French-Canadian heritage and an off-reserve member of the Huron-Wendat Nation.