Sheila Watt-Cloutier

Sheila Watt-Cloutier, OC, is a Canadian Inuit activist who is widely recognised as a political representative for Inuit at various levels. Watt-Cloutier is most recently known as International Chair for Inuit Circumpolar Council. She has worked on many social and environmental issues, championing Inuit issues on a national and international level, including global warming and persistent organic pollutants.

Watt-Cloutier has been widely commended for her efforts and has received several awards for her contributions. Watt-Cloutier has been featured in a number of documentaries and has been the topic of many journalist’s work and media outlets. She is an advisor to Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, an independent economics project founded in 2014. Watt-Cloutier is a widely respected figure in her sphere and holds several senior positions and various organisations, including acting as a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation.

Watt-Cloutier was born in Northern Quebec and was brought up in a traditional Inuit way, treveling on land by sled dog, before moving to Nova Scotia to study at school. Her mother was a healer and translator and her father was an officer for the RCMP. Watt-Cloutier has won many awards, namely the Global Environmental Award, National Aboriginal Achievement Award, Sophie Prize, Champion of the Earth Award, Rachel Carson prize, amongst many others. Watt-Cloutier has also been publically recognised for her services and made Officer of the Order of Canada.