Janvier offered his testimony at a TRC Sharing Circle as part of a TRC National Event in Edmonton, Alberta. ( [Public testimony](https://archives.nctr.ca/SC141_part03))
Alex Janvier was born on Le Goff Reserve, Cold Lake First Nations, near Bonnyville, Alberta. His heritage is Dene Suline and Saulteaux. At the age of 8, Janvier was taken to Blue Quills Residential School located near the town of St. Paul, Alberta. The principal of Blue Quills identified Janvier's natural artistic talent and staff encouraged him to pursue art. Janvier went on to study art at the Alberta Institute of Technology and Art in Calgary where he graduated, with honors, in 1960. Janvier was an early role model for Indigenous artists to pursue formal art school training.