EDUCATION
Leah Heron
Research Associate
1996-1997, computer
training, facilitating and
public speaking
Slate Training Centre
(Edmonton),
1998-2000, Legal
Assistant Diploma
Grant McEwan
University (Edmonton)
CONTACT
604-228-1855
leah@ecoplan.ca
www.ecoplan.ca
Leah has extensive experience working with Métis and First Nations groups. Since 2005
Leah has worked as a Research Associate with EcoPlan on the Métis Settlements
traditional land use, oral history and archival research project. She has conducted
hundreds of interviews, conducted GPS/field work, trained researchers on all eight Métis
settlements in Alberta, conducted primary quality control on TUS projects and been an
integral part of developing the TUS project. Leah is also a trained genealogical/archival
researcher. Her training as a legal assistant has been invaluable in maintaining and
organizing the thousands of records resulting from EcoPlan’s TUS projects.
SELECT PROJECT RESPONSIBILITIES
Plan and hold community gatherings and information sessions on settlements
 Plan meal
 Send invitations to community members and Council
 Ensure there are sample maps and atlases along with any other
sample information
 Ensure all helpers are paid (cooks, cleaners, helpers)
Train settlement members on eight remote Métis settlements to conduct Traditional
Land Use/Historical Community Interviews
Conduct Traditional Land Use/Historical Community interviews
 Set up/schedule interviews for participants
 Organize and process info from TLU/HC interviews
o Label all maps, pictures, videos and other docs as required
 Draft biographies for participants
 Conduct ground-truthing interviews and arrange logistics
o Determine target areas
o Organize remote travel logistics – using quads/skidoos/trucks/ATV etc.
o Coordinate camera person and equipment
o Document various locations referred to in interview using GPS, cameras,
video records and forms
 Conduct verification interviews
o Verify Traditional Land Use info
o Verify Historical Community info
o Verify ground-truthing info
o Verify biographical information
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
2004-2005
Legal Assistant
Gawlinski Parkatti
Verhaege Barristers and
Solicitors
Athabasca
2002-2003
Legal Assistant
Wolff Taitinger Law Firm
Fort McMurray
2000-2001
Executive Director
Lac La Biche Native
Friendship Centre
Lac La Biche
2000
Legal Assistant
Gordon D. Honey,
Barrister and Solicitor
Edmonton
1997-1998
Researcher for Housing
and Municipalities
Metis Nation of Alberta –
Zone 4
Edmonton
1995-1996
Regional Training
Representative for Eastern
Settlements
Strategic Training
Initiatives for Metis
Settlements General
Council
Edmonton
1990-1994
Secretary to the Executive
Metis Settlements General
Council
Edmonton
Oversee all Archival Research work to retrieve documents for participants and
ancestors
 Train Archival Research team
o Search for scrip docs
o Search for homestead docs
o Search for traplines database
o Search census databases
o Search for obituaries
o Search Hudson’s Bay Company database
o Search for photos of ancestors
 Conduct online
 Conduct research at Provincial Archives of Alberta
 Conduct research at University of Alberta Library
Review and edit draft atlases prior to final printing (Ensure info is correct – including
spelling of names and info)
Write script for training videos
Record training video
Plan and hold community gatherings on settlements (to report back on findings and
celebrate successes)
 Plan meal
 Send invitations to community members and Council
 Ensure there are final copies of:
o Maps
o Photos
o Videos
o Thank you gift and thank you video
o Archival information
 Ensure copies of atlases are provided to settlement Councils and
administrators