Dr. Dustin Louie is a First Nations scholar from Nee Tahi Buhn and Nadleh Whut’en of the Carrier Nation of central British Columbia. He is a member of the Beaver Clan. Dustin’s education background includes a degree in Canadian history, a Master's in International Relations, and a PhD in Educational Research. The topic of Dr. Louie’s dissertation was Sexual Exploitation Prevention Education for Indigenous Girls. He has worked as an historian in a land claims law firm, studied Indigenous homelessness in Western Canada, worked internationally for non-governmental organizations in Uganda and Australia, and is now at the Werklund School of Education in the University of Calgary. As a tenure-track Assistant Professor, he teaches primarily in courses related to Indigenous education, social justice, and educational philosophy. Further research interests include practical approaches to Indigenizing education, decolonizing education, Indigenous pedagogies, and critical theory.
Adrian Paolinelli FNMI Lead Teacher- I have been teaching for 11 years and have embarked upon my own personal journey towards reconciliation. This has led me to educate myself and others on the importance of building empathy, understanding, and resiliency towards all students we teach, regardless of ethnicity or socio economic status.
My name is Beatrice Morin (nee Littlechild)
I was born and raised in Maskwacis, Alberta and now live in Enoch with my husband Jerome Morin of 47 years. Together we have six adult children and blessed with lots of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
I'm a fluent Cree speaker and have taught the Cree language to numerous schools and organizations including my community.
I have a Cree Language Instruction Diploma from Maskwacis Cultural College as well as a Bachelor of General Studies Degree from Athabasca University. and am a certified Life Skills Coach and Addictions Counsellor from Nechi Institute. I graduated from St. Joseph High School in Edmonton back in 1970.
I'm currently mentoring teachers and Caregivers with the Cree Language Curriculum in the early years, at Daycare, Head Start, Playschool and Kindergarten in Enoch.
I am also a Traditional and Knowledge keeper and help out at cultural events and ceremonies. My hobbies include painting, pow wow dancing, camping and watching the grandkids' hockey games
Braiden Scotten is a grade four teacher and Indigenous Education lead at St. Marguerite Catholic School. She has worked collaboratively with staff, students and the greater parent community on creating opportunities to grow and learn our understandings of Indigenous cultures and perspectives.
Corinne Goulet is a member of Gift Lake Metis Settlement and graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts Recreation Administration Degree in 1996. Since then she has spent most of those years working for her home Settlement in a community services capacity until joining HPSD in 2014 as a Wellness Coach and moving to the Indigenous Success Coach team in 2016. Corinne is passionate about creating a sense of belonging and creating spaces, programs and opportunities for all students to learn from.
Corrie Ziegler has been an educator for over 39 years. Prior to joining Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium, Corrie served as a teacher, principal, supervisor and director with Edmonton Public Schools, where she led numerous districtwide projects, managed complex teams, and facilitated professional learning sessions on a broad spectrum of topics related to teaching and learning. Corrie has her Master’s degree from the University of Alberta, and was a finalist in Alberta's Excellence inTeaching awards program. Corrie believes in the power of collaboration and has coached numerous learning communities in working together to achieve high levels of engagement and learning for all students.
Crystal Cholin has been an educator for over 25 years, gaining experience in multiple provinces and community settings. She now works with Elk Island Catholic Schools as a learning consultant with a focus on Indigenous education and literacy. Her personal learning journey continues through the pursuit of educational opportunities and through the exploration and sharing of strategies and resources to enhance literacy and Indigenous knowledge instruction.
Etienna Moostoos-Lafferty was born and raised in Grande Prairie Alberta. Etienna's family is from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory. Etienna has 7 years of teaching experience both on and off-reserve, and also in public and Catholic school systems. Etienna spent 4 years working for an Indigenous perspective school with the Calgary Board of Education where she learned the importance of culture and language in Indigenous education.
Etienna has since moved back to Edmonton has worked provincially as an Indigenous Education consultant helping to develop and implement workshops aimed at promoting reconciliation through teacher education. Etienna has created resources for the ATA and ARPDC that help teachers better understand topics such as Residential Schools, Metis Settlements, Inuit history, Myths and Stereotypes of Indigenous people, progression of the TRC, and treaty relationships.
Today, Etienna is an Indigenous Education Coach for Evergreen Catholic Schools and is completing her masters at the University of Alberta. She is a mother to a 5 year old daughter named Layla and her husband is also a teacher and works as an assistant Principal for Edmonton Public Schools.
Heather Friedenthal is an elementary school teacher with experience teaching high school in the past. As a non-Indigenous person, she has worked to teach her students about Canada’s true history in an age appropriate manner across different subjects. Reconciliation is both a personal and professional passion for Heather.
Heather Thomson has been an educator for over 25 years, gaining experience in multiple provinces and a variety of communities. She now works in Elk Island Catholic School District as a secondary administrator and is a member of the Indigenous school committee working in conjunction with the Indigenous school lead. As part of the Indigenous school committee, she is passionate about permeating Indigenous education into the school. A big focus is the process in which we are able disseminate information within our school community.
The High Prairie School Division Indigenous Success Coach team work in all areas of the quadrant to support approximately 1400 students their families and communities. Our team provides divisional professional development for all of our approximately 350 staff. We have a very active Land Based Learning program developed and delivered exclusively by local Elders and Knowledge Keepers. Cultural Arts are offered to all 13 schools throughout the division which include language, history, local content and storytelling.
Isabelle Kootenay is a Stoney Elder from Alexis First Nation. She is a teacher and graduated from UBC. She has 21 years experience, most of which was in grade seven. Isabelle likes to write short stories and sing. She is a member of the Alberta Foster Parent Association. She speaks her Stoney Language and is an active member in her community. She is a survivor of the Hobbema Indian Residential School and is passionate about helping teachers.
Mary Cardinal Collins is a semi-retired teacher from Treaty 6 Saddle Lake First Nation, AB, fluent Cree speaker and translator - Nehiyaw -skwew -who works in the field of Indigenous languages and Indigenous education for the past 30 plus years. Mary is a 12 year survivor of the Blue Quills Indian Residential school and although she remained a fluent speaker she has had to reclaim her kinship systems and ceremonial activities post the residential school experience. She has experience in Cree language curriculum development at the provincial level and at the national level with the WNCP. Mary was involved at several levels of leadership during the development, writing and publishing of Aboriginal studies in Alberta education. She has led many workshops on Cree language methodology and classroom activities as Supervisor of Aboriginal Programs with Northland School Division. Lately she completed a contract with the Southern Tutchone FN languages in Haines Junction, Yukon using the Alberta Aboriginal language template. Because of her experience in Indigenous languages curriculum she also has a special interest in Infusion of Indigenous culture in the everyday core curriculum.
Sarah Congdon-Reitzel is in her early stages of teaching with four years under her belt. With many passions, Indigenous Education is her newest. She grew up knowing she was Metis, but never followed or learned about the culture. Becoming the Indigenous Lead at her school has been an incredible opportunity to begin her journey and has given her the chance to begin learning. She looks forward to continuing to experience new educational opportunities that moves education forward to finding truth and reconciliation.
Sarah Dewhurst has been teaching for the past 5 years in various capacities, all at the High School Level. Sarah’s intro to Indigenous Education was working at St. Joseph’s High School within the Braided Journeys program. Since moving to Elk Island Catholic Schools, Sarah has become the Indigenous Education Lead at her school, and has worked with a team to bring Indigenous content, pedagogy and understandings to Archbishop Jordan. Sarah is passionate about building and increasing foundational knowledge about Canada’s history and Indigenous cultures with her colleagues and within the classroom.
Terri Lynn Guimond is principal of St. Marguerite in Evergreen Catholic School Division. She has first hand experience in developing teacher capacity through a collaborative and embedded process called Learning Sprints.
Tia Vandermeer Junior High Educator- I have been teaching for 10 years and I am a PBL based classroom teacher. I teach every subject to one class of grade seven students where I weave culture and curriculum together in meaningful authentic learning experiences. This specific project has inspired me to share the message the students have created around reconciliation.
Tiffany Hourie is Oji-Cree and originally from the Anishinaabe territory in the Interlake area of Manitoba. She is currently the Coordinator of Curriculum Development for the newly amalgamated Maskwacis Education Schools Commission (MESC). She holds a Masters of Education in Educational Studies, a Bachelor of Education, and a Bachelor of General Studies. In her eight years of classroom teaching in First Nation communities, it was her students that inspired her to pursue a graduate degree with a focus on the integration of Indigenous knowledge in curriculum and instruction. Aside from her teaching experience, Tiffany has also had the opportunity to serve as the Indigenizing Curriculum Coordinator for Miyo Wahkohtowin schools where she supported teachers in their capacity to integrate Indigenous knowledge in curricular practice.