New organizational director

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) has officially welcomed Nathalie Murray as the new director of the Organizational Development Unit (ODU), a role that she started on July 7.

This marks a new chapter not only for Murray, but also for the MCK, as it continues to strengthen internal systems, processes, and strategic planning with a renewed vision for long-term sustainability.

Born in Australia and also proudly Australian-Canadian, Murray brings a unique combination of international experience, academic achievement, and deep-rooted community involvement. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Information Technology from Australia and a Bachelor in Political Science from Concordia University.

While her early passion was in computer systems. Her move to Canada inspired her to study political science.

“I became really interested and passionate about Indigenous rights,” said Murray, reflecting on her academic journey. “That led me to work at Concordia’s Advocacy Center where I learnt to fight for rights in complicated systems and later I worked for a nonprofit organization. Both were informative experiences that taught me about community, advocacy, and working collaboratively with all hands on deck.”

Murray’s path to the MCK began during her time covering for a colleague’s maternity leave in the Consultation Unit, where she played a key role in coordinating engagement between Indigenous communities and government consultations and creating structures to support the consultation committee.

It was during this time that she discovered a passion for organizational development and the practice of optimizing systems, processes, and structures within an organization collectively.

Through that role, she led the creation of the Kanien’kehá:ka Rights and Research Office, a significant initiative housed within the Office of the Council of Chiefs.

This new office is now tasked with managing and housing critical rights-related files. “We built everything from the ground up. It gave me hands-on experience in large-scale organizational change, and it’s where I realized how impactful well-designed systems and structures can be,” she said.

“Knowing what’s the best way to run an initiative, thinking creatively and outside the box gave me a good insight.”

Now as director of the (ODU), Murray’s role expands across all units within MCK. Her vision is clear: to build a stronger organizational foundation through creativity, collaboration, community involvement and strategic planning.

One of her top priorities is overseeing the MCK’s strategic plan, which runs through 2029. This includes ensuring quarterly and annual reporting across all units, as well as identifying opportunities to fill gaps and implement innovative solutions.

“We’re looking to grow our team as well,” she said. “I want to bring on others who are passionate about systems, processes, policies and making things work better for the community.”

Her enthusiasm for the work is both evident and compelling. “I often feel like I’m not working because I love it so much,” she said. “It surprises me that it’s actually my job and it’s an area of work I feel very passionate about, something I truly love doing.”

Murray is also looking forward to deepening her connection with the community and understanding how organizational development can be adapted to local values.

“We want to think creatively and create new ideas or new approaches on how to tailor systems that are often designed for cities or other workplaces, and make them meaningful and functional for our community,” she said.

Her work directly supports all departments that serve the people of Kahnawake from Public Works to the Environment Protection Office. “If we can improve how our internal systems operate, we improve how every unit serves the community,” she explained.

Looking ahead, Murray hopes to connect with others who share her interest in stewardship, and sustainable growth in organizations. “If anyone is interested in this area of work, I’d love to chat. It’s an exciting field because it allows you to work across all sectors of the organization and really make a difference.”

[email protected]