Category: <span>Moderators, Facilitators, and Special Guests</span>

Elder Doreen Spence (Grandmother)

Doreen Spence (Grandmother) is from the Saddle Lake reservation and was one of the first  Indigenous nurses in Alberta. Despite all the challenges faced by many Indigenous women, grandmother is an accomplished teacher, healer, mentor and knowledge keeper.  Doreen has worked tirelessly for the rights of Indigenous Peoples. She spent over …

Elder Mike Arnouse (Uncle Mike)

Uncle Mike Secwepemc Elder Mike or Uncle Mike as students call him speaks softly but his lessons about our history, healing and the damage of colonialism is always heard. He is often seen on the front lines with grassroots Indigenous movements, always working towards peace and justice for our people.   …

Dr. Sereana Naepi

Dr. Sereana Naepi Bula Vinaka, I currently teach in the Sociology program and completed my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Auckland before completing my PhD at the University of British Columbia. As an emerging Pasifika researcher, I was the founding associate-director of All My Relations; an Indigenous research center …

Dr. Robert Henry

Robert Henry, PhD, is Métis from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan in the Department of Indigenous Studies. Robert’s research areas include Indigenous street gangs and gang theories, Indigenous masculinities, Indigenous and critical research methodologies, youth mental health and visual research methods. Working …

Dr. Chantelle Richmond

Dr. Chantelle Richmond is an Anishinabe scholar (Bigitigong Anishinabe, Bear clan) at Western University where she is an Associate Professor and holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health and the Environment. Dr. Richmond’s research is framed by community-based approaches that aim to understand the multifaceted relationship between …

Dr. Alex M. Otsehtokon McComber

Dr. Alex McComber is Kanien’kehá:ka Bear Clan from Kahnawake Territory near Montreal, Qc.  He has been married for forty years to Theresa Canadian, Wolf Clan and they have three children and seven grandchildren. Alex is a teacher by nature, was teacher and principal at the Kahnawake Survival School from 1978-1994. …

Dr. Charlotte Loppie

Dr. Charlotte Loppie is a Professor in the School of Public Health and Social Policy and Associate Dean-Research for the Faculty of Human and Social Development, University of Victoria.  For 20 years, Charlotte has responded to requests by Indigenous communities, collectives and organizations, to partner on community-led research, capacity bridging, …

Dr. Lisa Bourque Bearskin

Dr. Lisa Bourque-Bearskin is from Beaver Lake Cree Nation, a passionate and esteemed Cree Métis nursing leader, researcher, and Associate Professor. As British Columbia’s first CIHR Indigenous Research Chair in Nursing, Lisa will advance Indigenous wellness by reconciling parallel pathways in Indigenous Health Nursing. Recipient of the NNPBC Excellence in …

Dr. Rod McCormick

Dr. Rod McCormick (Kanienkehaka-Mohawk) is a Senior Professor and BC Government endowed Research Chair in Indigenous Health at Thompson Rivers University. Before moving back to his partner’s home community of T’Kemlups te Secwepemc, Rod was a psychologist and counselling psychology professor at the University of British Columbia for 18 years. …