DESIGNING OUR ECONOMIES INDIGENOMICS BY DESIGN SPEAKERS

​JOCELYN FORMSMA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDSHIP CENTRES

Jocelyn Formsma is the Executive Director of the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC).  Ms. Formsma is a member of the Moose Cree First Nation in Northern Ontario. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Ottawa. Ms. Formsma has over 18 years of work and volunteer experience building strong relationships and advocacy on behalf of Indigenous peoples.

She is called to the Bar of Ontario and has worked as a lawyer for a First Nations-owned law firm. Prior to this, she worked for numerous national Aboriginal organizations and First Nations organizations. In addition, Ms. Formsma serves as the Chairperson of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Board Member of the National Indian Child Welfare Association, Treasurer of the Indigenous Bar Association Board, Founder of the Morningstar Fund and is an Advisor to the Ontario Indigenous Youth Partnership Project.

​As Executive Director, Ms. Formsma brings her legal training and passion for Access to Justice to her work with Indigenous peoples in urban environments and the Friendship Centre Movement towards innovative, positive and effective systemic change for Indigenous peoples.