About Nadia McLaren
Nadia is Anishnaabe Kwe (Bear Clan), whose family story is rooted in Heron Bay Pic River, Biitigong, First Nations, located on the North Shore of Lake Superior. She grew up in small towns across Northwestern Ontario and calls Sioux Lookout home. She is a Drawing and Painting graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design University and brings to her work, deep knowledge and experience in the areas of Indigenous community wellness, pedagogy, professional development, community engagement, and relationship building. She is a published author, international public speaker, educator, award-winning artist, director, and storyteller and has more than 20 years of experience working in Indigenous community wellness and educational contexts. She is the creator (writer/director/producer) of an award-winning, feature documentary she made in honour of her grandmother, Theresa McCraw entitled, “Muffins for Granny,” (Mongrel Media 2007) which involved extensive research with Indigenous Elders and Indian Residential School Survivors. “Muffins for Granny,” was the recipient of a prestigious Aboriginal Healing Foundation grant, is used as a mandatory resource for Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation, and was later added to the Criterion Collection in 2012. Nadia continues to create, write, direct, and collaborate on projects that celebrate and nurture Indigenous success, innovation, wellness, and stories.

Along with her two children, Nadia currently lives in Toronto and works with an exceptional team of Indigenous healthcare leaders at Women’s College Hospital at Ganawishkadawe, Centre for Wise Practices serving as Manager, Indigenous Health Education, dividing her time with Temerty Faculty of Medicine at U of T.