Barbara received her Master's degree in Political Science from the University of Manitoba in 1997. Her most recent work has been in association with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and the Metis National Council on various federal government initiatives related to recognizing and advancing the rights and security of Canada's off-reserve Aboriginal Peoples. Barbara also sits as a member of the Board of Directors for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, and as a reviewer for the Historica-Dominion Institute. She has also worked with the Conference Board of Canada on researching and developed a security model for Canada's northern territories. She is currently working with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples to facilitate the development of various legislative, justice and population health initiatives at the federal level.