Honours B.A., M.A. Honorary Ph.D
Senior Analyst / Cultural Advisor

Dr. Elder Shirley Ida Eliza Williams nee Pheasant (Neganigwane) began her spirit journey on December 19, 2025. She was the traditional mother to Andrea Williams and the traditional grandmother to Lydia and Caitlin Williams. We honour her legacy and remain guided by her teachings in all that we do.

Dr. Elder Shirley Ida Eliza Williams nee Pheasant (Neganigwane) was a member of the Bird Clan of the Ojibway and Odawa First Nations of Canada. She was born and raised at Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island. Dr. Elder Williams attended St. Joseph’s Residential School in Spanish, Ontario.  She held several degrees, including a BA in Native Studies, a Native Language Instructors Program diploma, a Masters in Environmental Studies, and an honorary Ph.D. for her outstanding achievement in post-secondary education pedagogy, her advocacy of Indigenous language teaching, and her inspirational community leadership.

Identified by former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson as a Role Model for Survivors, Dr. Elder Williams was a Professor Emerita at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, where she taught and researched the Anishinaabe language since 1986. Shirley was a long-time teacher of and advocate for Anishinaabe language and culture. A survivor of Canada’s Residential School system, Dr. Elder Williams vowed to always make learning inspirational and fun for her students. She published crucial Anishinaabemowin-language teaching resources on topics ranging from animals to hockey to treaties through her own publishing firm, Neganigwane Co.  She continuously designed and delivered language and cultural knowledge courses.  She was one of the founding members of Anishinaabemowin Teg Inc., which promotes language revitalization, promotion, and protection. She is the only Indigenous person in Canada to have achieved the rank of full Professor as a Dual Traditional Scholar, recognizing her Traditional Indigenous knowledge and outstanding research and publication record.  She received an award for Excellence in the Indigenous Education for First Nations Communities by Wikwemikong Board of Education in 2009 and an Alumni Excellence award from Trent. In 2016, she received the Canadian Union of Public Employees Award for Excellence in Teaching, confirming the integral role Elders play in the learning environment of universities.

She contributed simultaneous translation services for various organizations including the Union of Ontario Indians Organization, Olympics torch run (Peterborough), Loon Story Scholastic Education Centre, Self-government (Curve Lake), Toronto Zoo for Endangered Species of Ontario, Ontario Ministry of Education, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Heritage Canada and the Union of Ontario Indians.

She retired form teaching after 18 years  at Trent University and 18 summers at Lakehead University for NLIP. She served as an Elder for numerous organizations, including Trent University and Sir Sandford Fleming. Throughout her life she continued to teach part-time at Trent University and other educational institutions. She also advised the Chiefs of Ontario and Aboriginal Physicians of Canada on health programming. Her work resulted in significant service delivery changes in Sudbury’s major regional healthcare centres and, most recently, Toronto General Hospital.

She worked with Williams Consulting and Andrea J Williams since 1984.