Personal Background
I am a non-Indigenous Canadian with ancestry from various parts of Western and Eastern Europe, including Irish, English, German, Ashkenazi Jewish, Swedish, and Norwegian ancestral communities. I grew up estranged from my cultural heritage, in the foster care system on what is now commonly called Vancouver Island. As I moved between different facilities throughout my childhood, I found comfort and camaraderie among many foster siblings who identified as Indigenous. I learned Indigenous stories, histories, and issues at a young age.
At 14 years old, I went to live with my biological, maternal grandmother. At this time, I learned that her daughter and son (my aunt and uncle) had married Indigenous partners and started families. I developed relationships with my aunt, uncle, and seven cousins who identify as Cree or Métis. |
During those years I was comforted particularly by Métis stories and perspectives of strength, purpose, and wellness. I grew a deep and meaningful respect for Indigenous worldviews and health perspectives. I was taught by my grandmother to be proud of my relation to Indigenous peoples who are special and important in this world. From these early experiences began my lifelong Indigenous Anti-Racism learning and allyship journey.
Professional Experience
I served in the BC public sector for a total of 14 years, with 12 of those years in various roles at the former College of Dental Hygienists of BC (now the BC College of Oral Health Professionals since 2022). In my last 4 years in health profession regulation, I served as the Manager of Strategic Initiatives. Half of my portfolio involved Indigenous Anti-Racism initiatives in the regulation context. I became a leader in Indigenous Anti-Racism and other health profession regulators began to ask for my guidance. I was appointed to the BC Health Regulators Cultural Safety Task Force in 2019. In January of 2021, I founded Exit 26 Consulting so I could support more organizations across what is now commonly called Canada to advance meaningful work in Indigenous Anti-Racism as well as gender diversity initiatives.
Education Journey
From the Camosun College School of Business in Victoria, British Columbia, I have completed:
Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Management Advanced Diploma in Managing for Government Certificate in Local Government Administration |
From Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, I completed a baccalaureate degree of arts (BA) in Global Development Studies. Throughout this degree program, I was trained in Indigenous histories, decolonization strategies, Indigenous laws and legal perspectives, as well as sex, gender, and sexuality. I received a total of nine academic and humanitarian awards and scholarships during my time in post-secondary studies.
My educational development is also informed by Indigenous methods of learning and knowledge sharing. I have been fortunate to participate in governance and health ceremonies respectively, as well as sit in meaningful knowledge sharing with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Carriers, language carriers, artists, ceremonialists, and other people with lived Indigenous experiences and ancestral knowledge.
My educational development is also informed by Indigenous methods of learning and knowledge sharing. I have been fortunate to participate in governance and health ceremonies respectively, as well as sit in meaningful knowledge sharing with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Carriers, language carriers, artists, ceremonialists, and other people with lived Indigenous experiences and ancestral knowledge.
Global Development Experiences
Intercultural relationships and cross cultural competency is an important part of my personal and professional learning and development journey as a global citizen and cultural safety professional. I have spent time in 21 countries and have volunteered as a teacher and care aide in orphanages in South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Guatemala, Nepal, Ukraine, and Ecuador. I have experience working in Indigenous communities globally, and take every opportunity to educate communities around the world about Indigenous peoples in what is now commonly called Canada.
In 2018, I was selected from over 400 applicants to represent Canada in a group of 30 international delegates at the Preparing Global Leaders Forum at the American University in Bulgaria. While attending this program, I attended a private forum with the former President of Bulgaria (2012-2017), Rosen Plevneliev. I used my platforms in this program to speak publicly in front of international delegates about Indigenous human rights issues in what is now commonly called Canada.
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Community Development Experiences in Canada
For many years I was an avid community volunteer in Victoria, British Columbia. I volunteered with and served on the Board of the African AIDS Angels Society, and also the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS). I founded, produced, and directed one of VIRCS' largest gala fundraisers, Global Fashions on One World Stage, about which I met with the federal Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages (2010). This event ran for two years.
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I also served as a member of the Public Policy Committee of the BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS). I founded and produced the BCSS anti-stigma campaign which reached over 100,000 people in British Columbia through radio, print, and social media engagement. I participated as an invited guest speaker at multicultural community gala events alongside the former Mayor of Victoria, and also the former BC Minister of Community, Sport, and Cultural Development. I was an invited volunteer guest lecturer to the Camosun College School of Business for several years, on the topics of intercultural conflict resolution and emotional intelligence in the workplace.
Indigenous Anti-Racism, and Gender Diversity Consulting
Since 2021 I have been supporting organizations across what is now commonly called Canada with Indigenous Anti-Racism, and gender diversity access and safety, consulting services. I ensure Indigenous laws, voices, perspectives, worldviews, experiences, and knowledge are paramount in all of my meaningful and transformative Indigenous Anti-Racism projects. I create and maintain accessible, safe, culturally relevant, and inclusive spaces into which my clients can invite Indigenous, and gender diverse peoples and communities for meaningful knowledge sharing and collaborative work that makes a difference.
Header photo: coastline of the ancestral and treaty territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) speaking peoples, the Songhees and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) First Nations. Photo by Robin Adams in 2018.