Marcelline P. Kanapé, (born 1941 in Betsiamites [now Pessamit] in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec)[1] is considered one of the great specialists in education among First Nations in Canada, distinguishing herself since the 1950s.
[2] Picard-Kanapé taught primary education in Pessamit for two decades and struggled with the curriculum and system that shamed and divided generations of her people.
When control of the school system passed from the Department of Indian Affairs to the Band Council in 1980, she was ready to effect changes including the introduction of Innu language courses.
[2] Picard-Kanapé was Director of Education at Pessamit then at Uashat-Maliotenam while sitting on the Conseil supérieur de l'Éducation du Québec (1989–1992), the first aboriginal person to do so.
[2] Picard-Kanapé has also worked to facilitate cooperation between native and non-native peoples, taking part in many conferences and forums and in the creation of books on the subject.