Riley Yesno
ᕒᐊᔦᓬᐄ
About
Riley Yesno is a queer Anishinaabe scholar, writer, and commentator from Eabametoong First Nation.
She is highly sought after for her words and analysis— called an 'Indigenous powerhouse' by the Toronto Star— she has been a contributor and commentator for some of the largest media outlets in Canada and the world, including the New York Times, BBC World News, The Globe and Mail, and CBC National News.
Riley has also travelled the globe speaking at internationally renowned institutions and events, including the UN climate negotiations, the Stockholm Forum on Gender Equality, TEDx stages, and many others.
She is a frequent lecturer at the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University and is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toronto, where she studies Indigenous/Canadian politics and is a Vanier Scholar.
Services
Riley provides several services to businesses, non-profits, and other parties dealing with Indigenous affairs.
Here is some of what she offers. If you are interested in a collaboration beyond the scope listed, please reach out.
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Riley offers research and policy drafting, auditing, and revision services to a diverse range of clients. She approaches her work with an anti-colonial, Indigenous queer feminist, and anti-oppressive lens, and has a special knack for translating complex ideas into practical and accessible policy solutions. Her expertise lies broadly within Indigenous politics and Canadian politics.
Examples of the types of services Riley has provided include developing a framework for responsible investing in Indigenous clean energy initiatives, outlining a reconciliation action plan for an Ontario municipality, proposing revisions to federal department policies, developing a conflict resolution policy rooted in restorative justice for a non-profit, and much more.
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With over ten years of experience in public speaking to audiences all over the globe, Riley can confidently command the attention of most any room she enters. Whether it be a keynote, a panel discussion, or a workshop format, audiences consistently call Riley’s presentation skills some of the most engaging and educational they have ever experienced. Both new learners and subject-matter experts can benefit from Riley’s approach.
While she has a menu of some pre-prepared speaking topics (available to view here), the vast majority of her presentations are tailored to the specific needs of the organizations she partners with. Commonly requested topics include sector-specific conversations on reconciliation, allyship, Indigenous-led climate solutions, conflict resolution, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ education.
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As more individuals and institutions seek to ensure Indigenous voices are included in their work, Riley has been increasingly called on to help inform these places' goals and operating/programatic practices. Riley blends insights from her academic and professional background with her lived experience as a young, queer, Anishinaabe woman to produce the most impactful feedback and reccomendatons for clients.
Some consulting services Riley has provided in the past include acting as an Indigenous cultural advisor in the development of an educational virtual game, reviewing and revising land acknowledgements, and helping organizations build relationships with Indigenous and young people based in reciprocity and equity.
Work
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