The community mourns the loss of Katherine A.H. Graham—distinguished scholar, leader and public servant who dedicated her life to public policy, local governance, community development and Indigenous policy in Canada.  

As a longstanding member of the Carleton University community, Katherine was a Professor of Public Policy and Administration for 30 years, Dean of the Faculty of Public Affairs from 2003 to 2009 and Associate Dean (Research and Faculty Development) from 1998 to 2002.  

She extended her passion for local governance and innovation beyond Ottawa through her work in Toronto, northern hamlets, First Nations communities, and to municipalities in both Ghana and Vietnam. Katherine’s leadership in driving impactful community-based research and community–university partnerships led her to serve as Coordinator of the Carleton-Batawa Initiative, Chair of Community-Based Research Canada and to become a founding member of the former Carleton Centre for Community Innovation (3ci). 

Katherine was a leading expert in Indigenous governance and served as a policy advisor for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. In 2011, she led the development of Carleton University’s first institution-wide Indigenous strategy. Three years later, she was appointed to the Aboriginal Advisory Circle of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.  

Katherine subsequently collaborated with community leaders on youth mental health research in Northwestern Ontario and taught a course focused on leadership and management within Indigenous organizations. Her contributions were recognized through the establishment of the annual Katherine Graham Lecture on Indigenous Policy in honour of her commitment to the sustainability of Indigenous communities through public policy and engagement.  

During her retirement, Katherine furthered her craft of woodworking by taking on projects in wooden boat restoration by building a canoe and a skiff. She also remained engaged in her community through volunteer roles on the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands Committee of Adjustment, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addiction and Mental Health Board and the Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police Detachment Board.   

This fund honours Katherine’s legacy by encouraging individuals to continue her life’s work in advancing Indigenous rights, governance and knowledge. 

Under this initiative, each year the University will invite a noted leader in the Indigenous community, the non-profit sector, government or business to present a public lecture on Aboriginal policy. The Graham lectures will provide a vehicle for examining a wide range of policy issues, cases, models and tools related to First National, Metis and Inuit communities across Canada. To promote further dialogue and analysis, the lectures will be published in print format and on the University’s web site.