With over 25 years in the human resources field, Jenn has enjoyed working in a variety of industries as a senior internal HR practitioner and external consultant.

For the past 10 years, Jenn has worked almost exclusively with Indigenous communities and organizations; helping them achieve their goals through impactful HR programs. Jenn is passionate about getting to know each community and organization she works with – their unique history and culture, as well as current opportunities and challenges. Being mindful of the important connection between community culture and organizational culture is key to building meaningful HR practices.

?iy ti kwiykwiy – ?ulsheniy chen skwish  – How are you this morning my traditional is ?ulsheniy and my given name is Nievelina Carmona, I am from the shishalh Nation and currently live on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with my husband and twin daughters Luna and Nova.

I have spent over the last ten-plus years working in Human Resources for a variety of First Nations communities. I feel so privileged to have worked with a variety of communities and people over these last ten years. More recently I left my role with my community to pursue other opportunities with other Indigenous communities.

I have completed my Diploma in Indigenous Community Development and Governance from the University of Victoria and am working to complete my Bachelor’s degree this year. My hope to pursue a Masters in either Leadership or Indigenous governance in the next few years.

Cheryl Standing Cloud is a Human Resource and Financial Manager with over 25 years’ experience in all areas of human resource management. Cheryl started her career working with her home reserve of Wahpeton Dakota Nation in Saskatchewan before moving to northern Alberta in 2004. Cheryl has worked with many First Nations in northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories as a Human Resource Consultant. Presently Cheryl is the head of the Finance and Human Resource departments with Woodland Cree First Nation. Cheryl enjoys assisting First Nations in developing, updating their HR department policies and procedures to ensure they have the best processes in place to assist their employees and run smoothly as a First Nation organization. Cheryl has her Bachelor Degree in Commerce, with a major in human resource management from the University of Saskatchewan and an Associate Certificate Indigenous Business Administration from SIFC (Saskatchewan Indian Federated College) both located in Saskatoon, SK. Before attaining her Bachelor Degree, Cheryl graduated with a Diploma in Business Administration from SIIT (Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology); and a Diploma in Clerical Accounting, both located in Prince Albert, SK. Currently Cheryl is working on her First Nation Health Management Certification from FNHMA.

Jackson Dionne’s mission is to train First Nations Individuals who have addiction issues using Indigenous Health and Wellness principles to achieve financial independence. He has used himself as an example to achieve this. Jackson has been married for 20 years, has been a homeowner for 20 years, is financially independent, and has done a bit of travel in his recovery journey.

Jackson’s core mission is to train other individuals to be financially independent.

To accomplish this Jackson has been working in the Addictions Field since June 2001. He started as an intake worker, then Alcohol and Drug Counsellor, then senior counselor and Team Leader, and manager of 4 programs located in two locations. He has created and developed his society, his website and has created and published recovery-related tips on YouTube. His five main drivers of empowerment are Recovery, Education, Employment, Culture, and Life Skills.

Jackson’s education includes a certificate in Fisheries Technical Assistance Program, a diploma in Forest Resource Technology, a Certificate of Counselling Science with a Specialized Addiction Counsellor Certificate, a BA Psychology Major, and a Masters of Arts Degree in Professional Communication.

Jackson is also very involved in the community. He has completed the Dale Carnegie Course and was also a Graduate Assistant three times. He has been a member of Toastmasters and has led a group of learners for the Aboriginal Run Walk program hosted by SportMed BC for approximately ten years.

Jackson is the executive director for an Indigenous Non-profit organization located at the corner of Main and Hastings in Vancouver BC where he was instrumental in raising close to $1 Million in one year. He continues to work on and develop a society he was instrumental in developing where he is striving to “Create an innovative, dynamic work environment that supports the health and well-being of the team.” He finds it very difficult to talk about himself and finds it very difficult to fit in all his contributions and accomplishments in such a small space.

Darwin Hanna is a founding partner of Callison & Hanna www.chlaw.ca and is one of six Indigenous lawyers with the firm. In 2022, the firm celebrated 26 years of service to Indigenous Nations.

He has worked for Indigenous Nations throughout British Columbia and the Northwest Territories on a wide array of legal matters with a focus on reconciliation, land claims, specific claims, community governance, and employment law. He is a member of the Law Societies of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. He was lead counsel for various precedent setting Specific Claims, including Siska Indian Band v. HMTQ, 2018 SCTC 2 and Akisq'nuk First Nation v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada 2020. He is legal counsel for the only land claim negotiation process involving NWT Indigenous Métis.

For the past 21 years, he has been an Adjunct Professor at the Allard School of Law at UBC and has taught First Nations and Economic Development. He is the author of Legal Issues on Indigenous Economic Development published by LexisNexis. He is a member of the working group of officials to explore how UNDRIP will be implemented in the NWT.

He was the recipient of the 2014 Premier’s Award (GNWT) for Collaboration on the Wildlife Act Working Group which developed the new Wildlife Act. And, Callison & Hanna were the inaugural recipients of the Special Contribution Award of the Aboriginal Lawyers Forum, Canadian Bar Association, for recognition of the firm’s contribution to addressing the various issues facing Aboriginal people in the law in 2013. Callison & Hanna was the recipient of the Aboriginal Business Award, BC Achievement Foundation in 2016.

He is director with the piyeʔwiʔx kt Language Foundation Society. He is a member of the Nlaka’pmux Nation from the community of Lytton.

Dr. Beverley Jacobs was recently appointed as Senior Advisor to the President on Indigenous Relations and Outreach at the University of Windsor and she practices law part-time at her home community of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.  Her research focuses on Indigenous Legal Orders, Indigenous Wholistic Health, Indigenous Research Methodologies, and Decolonization of Eurocentric Law. Beverley obtained a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of Windsor in 1994, a Master of Law Degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2000 and a PhD from the University of Calgary in 2018.  Jacobs is a former President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (elected 2004 to 2009).

Beverley is also appointed as Indigenous Human Rights Monitor with the Mohawk Institute Residential School Survivors’ Secretariat which was established in 2021 to organize and support efforts to uncover, document and share the truth about what happened at the Mohawk Institute during its 136 years of operation.  Beverley is also a consultant/researcher/writer/public speaker.  Her work centers around ending gendered colonial violence against Indigenous people and restoring Indigenous laws, beliefs, values, and traditions. A prolific scholar, her published work has earned her numerous awards; her research combined with her advocacy has translated into national and international recognition.

Jacobs received the Laura Legge Award from the Law Society of Ontario in 2021 and she was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2018.  She received two awards from Mohawk College in 2018:  Alumni of Distinction Award and Distinguished Fellow – Adjunct Professor.  In her first year of teaching at the Faculty of Law, University of Windsor in 2017, she received an Office of Human Rights, Equity & Accessibility, Human Rights and Social Justice Award.  In 2016, she received a Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law from the Governments of France and Germany for her human rights fight for the issues relating to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.  In 2008, she also received a Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Person’s Case, an Esquao Award from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women and a Canadian Voice of Women of Peace Award from the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative and Civilian Peace Service Canada.

Amanda Kilabuk is Executive Director at Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI) in Ottawa. She has been with the organization since early 2017 serving as Manager of Employment Services and then as
Director of Employment and Education. TI serves the urban Inuit population of Ontario with
nearly thirty front-line programs and services.

Amanda is a proud Inuk with a strong belief in fostering a supportive work environment
that values and intertwines Inuit culture and corporate culture. She is an effective
communicator committed to leading by example and creating a team atmosphere. Her
passion for people is evident as she strives to be a conduit of positive and meaningful
change for urban Inuit.

Prior to TI, Amanda was very active in senior development roles as an Acting Senior
Academic Officer for Nunavut Arctic College, where her role was to ensure the delivery of
critical learning support services in order to provide equitable and quality services suitable
to an accredited post-secondary learning institution. Additionally, she served as University
Studies Coordinator with Nunavut Arctic College and was the Executive Director of Skills
Canada in Nunavut where she oversaw the annual programming of the Skills Clubs and
Competitions.

Charlene is Metis woman from Batoche, SK.  Both her parents are Metis.  Charlene has been involved with Metis organizations since she was a teen.  Currently Charlene is the President of the Association of Metis, Non and Status Indians, Saskatchewan.

Charlene’s employment has primarily been in the areas of the humanities and justice field. Charlene has also been an employment & training counselor for an Indigenous organization.

When Charlene started working, she was given opportunities because of her interest and determination even though she lacked formal education.

Charlene soon recognized there are many skills that can’t be taught. They call them soft skills. Communication, critical thinking, leadership, positive attitude, team player, work ethic and common sense.

Appreciate and utilize all your employees’ skills and abilities. Give them opportunities to shine. Pay attention to their natural abilities and utilize them.

Your employees are an investment.  Any certification, credentials they can obtain makes you and your business look better, investing in them will come back to you.

Patricia is Senior Counsel with Westaway Law Group, where her practice is focused primarily on negotiations, litigation support and general advisory services.

Patricia brings many years of experience in Aboriginal legal issues to her position with Westaway Law Group, having worked as counsel in the Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio of the Department of Justice on major Aboriginal litigation, and policy issues from 2000 through to 2012. Working collaboratively with other Justice counsel, Patricia contributed to the government’s position on major Aboriginal rights and title matters before appellate courts across the country and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Prior to joining Westaway Law Group, Patricia spent five years as a Research Lawyer with an Ottawa-based law firm specializing in labor and employment law. She provided litigation support and advisory services to employer clients on a broad range of labor and employment and human rights issues.

Patricia has training and experience in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, facilitation and conducting independent investigations.

Virginia is Counsel with Westaway Law Group providing litigation, negotiation, and advisory services. Her focus to date includes Constitutional Law, Aboriginal Law & Specific Claims, Corporate Governance, Human Rights, Employment, Equality, and Not-for-Profit/Charities Law.

Virginia was in-house counsel to the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC). She acted as lead counsel for the NWAC during the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Virginia also assisted in negotiations on the historic accord between NWAC and the Government of Canada. Virginia has experience providing strategic advice on many legal issues, including s. 7 and s. 15 Charter rights, s. 35 Aboriginal and Treaty rights, gender and sex rights, self-government, UNDRIP, and not-for-profit governance. Her public advocacy experience is primarily in the areas of Indigenous peoples’ rights, women’s rights, child and family services, anti-violence, justice reform, and victim’s rights. She has been honored to represent Indigenous clients as interveners before Supreme Court of Canada on three high profile cases: R. v. Ewert, Canada (Canadian Human Rights Commission) v. Canada (Attorney General), and Southwind et al v. Canada. Virginia holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction from the University of Toronto with a double major in Criminology and Ethics, Society & Law.

As part of this degree, she completed an undergraduate thesis literature review project on the unique nature of domestic violence in queer relationships and the lack of appropriate services available to survivors. She graduated from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law in 2016. During her time at the University of Ottawa, Virginia was named a Top Ten Outstanding Volunteer by the Pro Bono Students Canada’s Ottawa chapter for her corporate governance work for a not-for-profit corporation. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2017 after completing her articles at a boutique Labor and Employment Law firm. Virginia lives in Ottawa with her wife, their son, and a menagerie of pets. Her interests include music, theater, gardening, spending time in nature, and bringing home stray animals.

Scott advises and represents employers in all areas of labor and employment law. His practice focuses on human resources, terminations, policy development, and human rights. Scott has experience appearing before arbitration boards, a variety of administrative tribunals, and has also appeared as counsel in all levels of court in British Columbia.

As the leader of Harris’ First Nations employment law practice area, he provides legal advice, policy development, and training seminars for numerous First Nations and other Indigenous organizations in British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon.  Scott is a recognized lawyer for both Labor and Employment Law and Indigenous and First Nations Practice by Best Lawyers in Canada.

Gary Muuren is a career Human Resources Executive with more than 20 years of experience in all facets of Human Resources Management. He started his career in the rail industry facilitating organization design and development, change management and leadership and executive training. “Future Developed Management” and “Woman in Rail”

Gary headed up the Kal Tire Human Resources division before joining Baptist Housing as Vice President, HR integrating a major acquisition. He then joined Paper Excellence and JJM Construction. Heading their HR divisions before joining Nch’kay. Gary chaired several CPHR BC and Yukon roundtables and committees.

Gary enjoys setting up HR divisions in large organizations and developing systems and processes. He also has a passion for organization development and employee training and development. He has implemented several leadership and other training programs and large learning management systems. He also negotiated several collective agreements.

Gary is a Chartered Professional in HR. He received a Bachelor in Industry Psychology, an Honors Degree in HR Development from the University of Johannesburg and an MBA from Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC.

Jeff launched ‘Workplace Ki’ as a model to better understand common threads leading to success. Workplace Ki blends thinking from business leaders, traditional practices, and academic research to create inclusive working cultures.

Jeff is a proud member of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek with several family ties to the Fort William First Nation Community. As a seasoned workplace harassment prevention advisor, Jeff has a passion for supporting national Indigenous communities from coast to coast. Jeff has worked on a multitude of initiatives within his community of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek. Over the last 5 years, Jeff has worked alongside Northern Ontario Indigenous organizations in an HR capacity with a focus on compensation, benefits, performance management and employee relations.

Jeff actively demonstrates his commitment to building strong, healthy, and sustainable First Nation Communities. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Lakehead University and a post-graduate diploma in Human Resources from Confederation College.

Angela Wesley is a citizen of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations (Nuu-chah-nulth) in the province of British Columbia.  Since April of 2011 her Nation, along with 4 other First Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island, has been implementing the Maa-nulth Treaty, the first multinational modern day treaty under the BC Treaty process.  She was one of the champions in her Nation’s self-governance journey, having been involved throughout all stages of negotiation, ratification and now implementation of the treaty.  Angela serves as Speaker (Chairperson) for the Huu-ay-aht First Nations Legislature and Annual People’s Assemblies and continues to represent the 5 Maa-nulth First Nations on the tripartite Treaty Implementation Committee along with Canada and British Columbia representatives. For 8 years she served as Board Chair/President for the Huu-ay-aht Group of Businesses (forestry, fisheries, lands, hospitality/tourism, gravel, retail).

Through her consulting company Wes-Can Advisory Services, Angela has worked for more than 30 years with First Nations throughout British Columbia providing advisory and facilitation services in areas of strategic planning, community development and engagement, communications, and governance capacity building.

Angela has served as a Commissioner on the BC Treaty Commission since 2018 and has served and continues to serve as a Director on a number of First Nations and Provincial Boards.  Angela is actively involved in international discussions on indigenous governance and leadership.

A Partner at Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark’s Vancouver office, Jennifer represents employers in all areas of labour and employment law including wrongful dismissal, employment contracts, human rights issues, employment standards, union organizing, collective agreement interpretation, grievance handling, progressive discipline and investigations into employee misconduct.

Jen has experience appearing before arbitration boards and a variety of administrative tribunals including the Human Rights Tribunal and the BC Labour Relations Board. She has also appeared as counsel in the Provincial Court of British Columbia, Supreme Court of British Columbia and BC Court of Appeal.

A significant part of Jen’s practice involves acting for and advising First Nations governments, economic development corporations, and First Nations-owned entities and business and assisting with their policy development and training, as well as governance.

Jen volunteers for the BC SPCA Vancouver/Burnaby Branch as a Community Council member.