Roots in Community
Learn About My Story and Work
Walking Alongside Youth and Communities
A Life Devoted to Service
Service is at the core of my philosophy—a radical approach to breaking barriers and nurturing imagination. You’ll find me actively engaged seven days a week, walking alongside youth and elders. Whether counseling over a cup of tea, discussing life’s challenges in a restaurant, or exploring the land, my service is about creating small, impactful conversations that instill hope.
Excellence in Teaching
Safe Spaces, Sustained Success
- Working alongside multiple First Nation communities across Canada.
- Creating wellness models through land-based learning, physical sports, and activities.
- Collaborating with elders and knowledge keepers.
- Writing impactful children’s books and engaging in nationally funded research programs that advocate for indigenous youth
- Coaching and purposefully mentoring high school and post-secondary students seven days a week through in-person and online engagement.
- Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Student Award, University of Alberta, 2010–2012
- Kaplan Graduate Student Award, University of Alberta, 2011–2012
- Pat Clifford Award Early Career Research in Education, Canadian Education Association, 2015
- CRTED Outstanding Teacher Education Doctoral Dissertation Award, University of Alberta, 2015
- Narrative SIG American Educational Research Association Outstanding Publication, AERA, 2016
- Distinguished Alumni, Lakeland College, 2018
- Narrative SIG American Educational Research Association Early Research Award, AERA, 2019
Community-Focused Research
Collaboration, Wellness, and Co-Constructed Knowledge
Community and collaboration take center stage in all of my projects. I partner with multiple communities to create wellness models through land-based learning and healing initiatives. My engagement with elders and knowledge keepers brings depth and authenticity to the co-construction of knowledge. The impact of these collaborative efforts extends beyond academic boundaries, reaching communities in need.
Expanding Education to Communities
Every Day Matters in the Heart of Communities
In my commitment to service, most of my efforts are dedicated to Indigenous communities. Every week, I willingly immerse myself in the educational landscape, volunteering at schools and tutoring and counseling youth across various subjects. Armed with a certified Alberta Education number, I step into the role of a de-facto school at a public school on Fridays. This weekly act of service is not confined to physical presence; it extends to the virtual realm through online visioning and coaching sessions.
My mission is to bridge educational gaps, offering support and guidance to youth striving for success. Beyond the classroom, I bring my services to communities and engage in community based wellness programming linked to education and health.
Speaking Engagements
Inspiring Minds and Shaping Futures
Engaging with diverse audiences has been an enriching facet of my journey. As a speaker, I have had the privilege of sharing insights and perspectives that transcend traditional boundaries. My keynote addresses are not just presentations; they are heartfelt conversations aimed at inspiring minds and shaping the futures of those who listen.
Having walked a unique path from Montreal Lake Cree Nation to academia, I bring a blend of personal narratives and scholarly expertise to the stage. My story resonates with audiences from various walks of life. From boardrooms to classrooms, my speaking engagements encompass a spectrum of topics, weaving together threads of education, community well-being, and the transformative power of mentorship.
We are all in a line, a long red line, staying as close together as possible. And when the Red Worn Runners take off into the distance, it is magical. It takes me home every time we run; home to the gravel roads and the farms of my youth, to the wheat fields and barley fields, and the beautiful sounds and smells that I cannot imagine in the city.
I am a proud member of Montreal Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 Territory.
Engaging with diverse audiences has been an enriching facet of my journey. As a speaker, I have had the privilege of sharing insights and perspectives that transcend traditional boundaries. My keynote addresses are not just presentations; they are heartfelt conversations aimed at inspiring minds and shaping the futures of those who listen.
Having walked a unique path from Montreal Lake Cree Nation to academia, I bring a blend of personal narratives and scholarly expertise to the stage. My story, marked by resilience and determination, resonates with audiences from various walks of life. From boardrooms to classrooms, my speaking engagements encompass a spectrum of topics, weaving together threads of education, community well-being, and the transformative power of mentorship.