Indigenous Women in Community Leadership 2024

I am a Métis citizen and a marketing and communications professional. I hold a Master’s in Professional Communications, a Communications Management Professional certification, and a Chartered Marketer designation. I am the Manager of Marketing and Communications at the First Nations Capital and Infrastructure Agency of Saskatchewan (FNCIAS). Over the past few years, I have served on the boards and volunteered with Saskatoon SPCA, Women in Leadership Saskatchewan, Camponi Housing Corporation, Data for Good Sask., and IABC Canada West/IABC Saskatoon.

In my day job with FNCIAS, I work with my colleagues to support our member Nations in improving housing and infrastructure as a First Nations-led, member driven agency. In my project/community, as Métis person, I hope to create awareness, space, and dialogue to support Métis peoples on their journey in reconnecting with their culture and communities.

I am Nehiyaw Iskew from Bigstone Cree Nation. I am a wife and mother to three beautiful children and kokum to one handsome grandson. I am a working professional with over 26 years of experience. My background is in First Nation Governance and Leadership, Executive Management, Chief Administration Leadership, and as a Certified Land Use Planner and Project Manager. I worked in Municipal Government and the Energy Sector (oilsands companies) as Managing Growth Consultant, for the Alberta Government, and currently Treaty 8 First Nations. I volunteer in sports activities, working with Elders and Youth.

I hope to empower First Nations and our Peoples in governance and leadership, on wahkotowin, and assist/facilitate the Nations in building sustainable workforces, and in community development. The work I do has to be meaningful. The ability to cultivate great working relationships, teaching about our ways of life, who we are, our identity, our true history, and our dependency on lands, waters and natural resources – this is what I am most passionate about. This is what would be so meaningful.

I am a proud Wolastoqey woman from Sitansisk in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Being proudly of the Wolastoqiyik, “the people of the beautiful and bountiful river,” I have a deep connection to the land and its medicines. I hold a B.Sc. in Environmental and Natural Resources, specializing in Water Resource Management from UNB. Now, as a Fisheries Technician for the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick, I merge scientific and Indigenous knowledge to develop sustainable fisheries practices. My passions include youth empowerment and exploring Two-Eyed Seeing.

As the Fisheries Technician for the Wolastoqey Nation, I aim to lead a change that harmonizes scientific and Indigenous knowledge to create sustainable fisheries management practices. By fostering a deep connection to our land and waters, I strive to empower our youth and community members, encouraging them to embrace the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing. This approach will ensure the preservation of our natural resources while promoting cultural resilience and intergenerational knowledge transfer for the benefit of our people and future generations.

I am currently working in our community health centre in the mental health and addiction field as a lead in community activities, events, and programs. These are created with mental, social, physical and spiritual components as the core. My goal is to help build a healthy, safe community. Besides my full time job, I also sit on the Chief & Council and a council member, I am Wampum CISM coordinator for the six Wolastoqey communities, and I volunteer with the seniors group on their yearly trip.

My goal for change in my community is to work towards unity and connection within our community.

Currently, I work as Taykwa Tagamou Nation’s Impact Benefit Agreement Coordinator. I’ve had a long career in my community on and off reserve in many capacities. I have a demonstrated history and experience working in the fields of management and administration. I have skills in working with nonprofit organizations, government, public speaking, facilitation, and environmental awareness. I have worked with District School Board Ontario North East as an Aboriginal Liaison and qualified teacher in Cochrane Public schools.

My vision is to work with interested and like-minded community members to develop and create opportunities that will allow us to reclaim, restore, and relearn the Cree language and its link to identity.

I am a proud Haundenosaunee woman from the Oneida Nation of the Thames, currently residing in the Greater Toronto Area. With a background in communication and public relations, I have dedicated my educational journey to advocacy work and organizational storytelling. This passion is reflected in my professional path, with a strong focus on Indigenous community engagement including roles in Indigenous Friendship Centres and the post-secondary education sector, where I have consistently advocated for advancing Indigenous voices and cultural inclusion.

Currently serving as an Indigenous Student Advisor in the college sector, I continue to leverage my extensive experience working with Indigenous communities. I am committed to fostering strong, meaningful partnerships and believe in the power of community-driven initiatives to enact positive, inclusive change.

I am a Two-Spirit person who was born and raised in Treaty 1 Territory. My family comes from Lake Manitoba First Nation and Ebb and Flow First Nation.
I currently work as an Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program coordinator. We are an after school program that aims to create spaces where Indigenous children and youth have safe, healthy spaces to belong and grow.

I was fortunate to grow up in ceremony, around elders, and my people’s teachings. I aspire to help give our children and youth opportunities to connect with their culture and find their own gifts. With the Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program, we use a communal-mentorship approach where we hire young people to work with high school students; to build their confidence and leadership skills. The students will then run a program for their local elementary school. It’s important to give our young ones healthy role models who are from their own communities.

I own and operate Buffalo Spirit Consulting which focuses on Training and Development for Indigenous organizations and communities. Some of the Speaking Engagements I offer are: Shining the Light on Suicide and “I am just a Rez Girl.”
I love working with elders in my community to gain teachings and knowledge. Hearing the language makes me happy and touches my spirit.
I am a daughter, sister, auntie, kokom, helper, student, teacher and entrepreneur.
As a leader I want to focus on being in balance in all aspects of my life.

My goal is help people become self aware through training and development. Training can be inspiring, motivating, life changing, uplifting, and innovating and it provides time for self reflection that allows people to dream, set goals and plan their personal and professional growth.

I have my Bachelor of Commerce Degree, majoring in Management, as well as a Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing background. Currently, in my role as Special Projects Director at the Council for Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando), I work with many Indigenous Economic Development Officers and Land Managers from across Canada on many projects, which is a passion of mine. Throughout the years, I have coordinated projects such as conferences, workshops, webinars and various initiatives. My passion is working with community, youth and empowering women. I enjoy mentoring others and do my best to do so.

The change I am trying to make is to show others a different path than what is often shown. I strive to be an example of hard work, persistence and what positivity can lead to. There are great examples in community that I have been lucky to see and learn from. I would like to be one of these examples one day. Often it takes opportunities to open doors and access to resources that can seem inaccessible. I want to try to reduce  barriers for youth and community.

I work for the Further Education Society of Alberta as a Facilitator and Trainor. Before moving to Calgary, I worked in my home community as a youth coordinator, youth Chief, and as a consultant for the Manitoba Hydro Project. This led me to the position of para educator for the elementary school. I also worked at Atoskiwin Training & Employment Centre (ATEC) as an employment officer. As an employment officer, I recognized my desire to help those in need in her community.

My passion led me to move to Calgary with my son with the hope of finding more learning opportunities and gaining experience to take back to my family and my community.

I would like to take our Indigenous Workplace Learning Circle to my community as I been facilitating in many communities across Canada.

Aanii, Boozhoo! My name is Arianna. I am the community wellness worker in my community of Whitefish River First Nation. My areas of focus are prevention around Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), violence, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and Diabetes. I offer programing with our local partnering organizations that also supports our community’s Indigenous Health and empowerment. I enjoy being an active helper in our community when extra hands are needed and strengthing our relationships amongst one another. I am always looking forward to being creative and attentive to our needs.

I am excited to be able to apply my learning into the community to encourage new perspectives of learning, knowing, and doing. It is empowering to know how much our community is capable of when given the proper tools to succeed at what they want to see in our community. By learning some of the fundamental tools, I am able to help encourage motivation and determination in our community to revitalize our need for community engagement and a two-eyed seeing approach when coming together to create a healthy, active community based on our needs.

Tell us more about yourself: I am a Mi’kmaw and Ukrainian woman, raised in Alberta until 16 when my family moved home to Newfoundland. I hold a Master’s degree in International Relations and am starting a Doctor of Education in September. I have worked as an educator for many years and am passionate about creating inclusive learning environments. I work for a national charity, the Canadian Centre fr Diversity and Inclusion, where I lead our national youth education initiative, See Different. I am on the board of directors for my local theatre and volunteer locally with the community hot meal program and the Kiknu Indigenous Student Centre.

I aim to bring together women from nearby communities to create an Indigenous women’s drumming circle where we can sing songs in our language(s), drum, and cultivate a space of healing, respect, and shared learning. This initiative comes from my deep love of music and language, and from my desire to continue growing my knowledge and understanding of my own culture and traditions. My hope is that women who attend will take away a sense of empowerment and connection that will bolster and revitalize them as they continue working toward their goals.

I work for an incredible organization rooted in Indigenous culture, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT). I’m part of the Employment Development department and have the privilege of working with staff in career centers across the province. I strive to be fair and supportive, recognizing and utilizing the unique gifts our staff bring. My goal is to create systems that will positively and lastingly impact those who access our services, contributing to the economic prosperity of our people for generations.

My goal is to continue my healing journey and discover my identity as an Indigenous woman. As a lifelong learner, I will keep seeking the teachings of the natural laws. I have a responsibility to share the knowledge and teachings I receive from the Elders. I aim to lead by example, hoping to inspire others to find their truth and authentic selves. I want to be a positive leader at work and in my personal life.

Greetings! I am Dakota Leask (formerly Woitowicz). I am dedicated to promoting positive transitions for youth and advocating for Indigenous health and wellness. As a Lead Youth Transitional Worker, I bring seven years of experience in empowering young individuals through crucial life stages.
Currently serving on the Board of Directors for Aboriginal Health and Wellness and the Advisory Council for Indigenous Youth Roots, I am committed to enhancing community support systems and promoting cultural resilience.

I am committed to promoting holistic approaches to youth development, emphasizing cultural resilience and empowerment. By leveraging my experience and collaborative spirit, I aim to enhance support systems that address the unique challenges faced by Indigenous parents.