Emily Riddle

Currently, Emily works as the senior advisor of Indigenous relations for the Edmonton Public Library, where she facilitates a positive relationship between the library and Indigenous people. As a public educator, Emily has used her writing to advocate for Indigenous rights—her work has appeared in publications such as GUTS Magazine, Canadian Art, Briarpatch, Teen Vogue, and The Globe and Mail. Listen to Emily on the Let’s Find Out podcast or watch her speak on YouTube.

2019–Present: The Edmonton Public Library – Senior Advisor of Indigenous Relations

In this role, I ensure the library is building good relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations and ensure that Indigenous people have a positive relationship with the library.

2018–Present: The Yellowhead Institute – Board of Advisors

I am on the board of advisors for the Yellowhead Institute, which a First-Nations-led think tank based out of Ryerson University. In this role, I have done research on the First Nations Land Management Act with Dr. Shalene Jobin and helped facilitate a youth freedom school.

2017–19: The First Nations Education Steering Committee – Policy Analyst

I previously worked as a post-secondary policy analyst for the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), which represents most of the First Nations in BC in education advocacy. In this role, I helped communities move toward self-governance in education.

2018 –19: WePress, Downtown Community – Board Member

I was on the board of directors of WePress, which provides a community artspace in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. “The mission of WePress is to advance education by providing workshops on historic and contemporary methods of print- and art-making for the public, with a particular focus on individuals from marginalized communities in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES).” – WePress website