My teachings and responsibilities as a Sqilxw person require that I prioritize accountable and flexible collaborative work on teams, and ensure all written work has an oral component and connected to the land. I have clear direction from my communities to invest in work that has clear, tangible outcomes for marginalized people and priority populations. As a result, I have aligned myself as a consultant, team member, and research designer in several community-based research partnerships.

Along with a research portfolio, I also bring grounded experience and knowledge of Indigenous teaching pedagogies and methodologies; student mentorship and student success program development with a focus on enhancing Indigenous excellence. As a person who lives with both a learning and physical disability (hard of hearing), I am firmly committed to creating safe, supportive and accessible learning environments that foster student success as they identify. I always ground my learning environments in disability justice framework, from course design to evaluation and community engagement. I am always learning new ways to incorporate interactive and adaptive technologies within the physical learning environments.

My background includes over thirty years of field experience as an activist, community organizer and Indigenous helper with and in HIV/AIDS trainer, crisis counsellor; young folks and with strong relations with many Indigenous communities, both urban and on reserve; as well as solidarity work with other communities of colour and across multiple marginalities. I have worked in both mainstream and Indigenous social service agencies, and at several post-secondary institutions.

Wherever I go, I bring a specialization in Indigenous knowledges, 2Spirit pedagogies, anti-racist praxis, Indigenous research methodologies, by supporting Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) student success and engagement with multiple internal and external stakeholders. Wherever I go, I combine these theories, research approaches and frameworks of understanding to create relationships that honour treaty. My focus is on ensuring the reciprocal relationship culture is fostered and supported within higher education spaces.

My research orientation is always towards community. It is my responsibility as a researcher and academic to disrupt mainstream models. I work to re-center Indigenous ways of knowing and being and harness the existing strengths and leadership from Indigenous community members. As a result, I prioritize community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) over single-author papers, and always strive to involve myself in research that has tangible impacts. I have worked as a principle researcher and contributor on many CBPAR projects with social agencies that provide health and service support to Indigenous and 2LGBTQ communities.

The scope of my current research agenda includes First Nations, Metis, Inuit, 2 Spirit, trans, sex-worker, youth, deaf/hard of hearing and homeless communities. Research in these areas is increasingly salient, as resources within healthcare must be tailored to fit the unique needs of these communities by service providers (Brotman et al, 2002).

I am the successful recipient of WAGE Grant of $394k for Trans, Non-Binary & Gender Diversity.

• WAGE Grant of $394k for Trans, Non-Binary & Gender Diversity
• 2020 Merit Award for Promoting Indigenous Achievement, Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), University of Manitoba – Winnipeg, MB
• 2017 Aboriginal Affairs Award, Access, Equity & Human Rights Awards, City of Toronto – Toronto, ON
• 2008 The Lillian McGregor Award of Excellence, University of Toronto – Toronto, ON
• 2008 Nominee, Premiers Award, College Compensation & Appointments Council – Toronto, ON

I bring with me an extensive teaching portfolio at a number of post-secondary institutions, where I have been instrumental in supporting students in all capacities of student life. My focus on relationship development with multiple stakeholders; both within and outside of institutions; is basis of my approach. I centre Indigenous worldviews, self-determination, resilience and promote sustainable social change. My strong ties with numerous Indigenous social service agencies and communities in Toronto, across Canada and the South Pacific reflect the strength of our highly respectful relationships. This is underscored by how often I am sought out to work with communities, including in an advisory capacity in projects, co-investigator and consultancy roles.

• Gender, Sexuality & Social Justice – SOJE 370
• Introduction to Indigenous Studies – ID120BR2
• Indigenous Children and Family – ID302BR1
• Indigenous Community Organizing – ID375BR
• Indigenous Allyship & Kinship – ID401BR2

• 2020 R Panelist, “Inclusion and access: Indigenous 2 Spirit, Trans, Non-binary Relatives reclaiming Our place in the circle.” 90th Anniversary of School of Social Work International Symposium on Social Justice and Social Care – University of British Columba – Vancouver, BC
• 2019 Panelist, “The Lived Realities of 2SLGBTTQIA” Fierté Canada Pride conference – Regina, SK
• 2019 R Panelist, “Tending to the Fire, Stoking the Flames as Responsibility: A 2 Spirit Indigenous Ontology of Healing and Decolonial Social Work Practice” Holding Social Work Accountable: Resistance, Challenge and Change – Social Work Stream, SAANZ Conference 2019, University of Auckland – Auckland NZ
• 2019 R Panelist, “2 Spirit Smoke Signals: Addressing gaps of current smoking cessation plans of care & access to traditional uses of tobacco.” 5th International Indigenous Voices in Social Work Conference: Healing, Reconciliation & Transformation: Approaches to Promoting Indigenous Well-Being – Hualien, Taiwan
• 2019 Presenter, 2LGB, N2S Youth Wellness Gathering, Enowkin Center – Penticton, BC
• 2019 R Community Facilitator, Symposium 8 “ Elders teach and youth reach”: Indigenous conversations on sexual health, Aboriginal Health Elders Advisory Council at Vancouver Coast Health, STI & HIV 2019 World Congress – Vancouver, BC
• 2018 R Panelist, "Why Do You Get to Call Yourself Crazy & I Can't?" White Madness as Disability Identity & the De-legitimatizing of 2QTPOC Sanism, WPC, Ryerson University – Toronto, ON
• 2016 Panelist, A Focus on 2LGBT Public Health, City of Toronto – Toronto, ON
• 2015 R Keynote, Sovereignties and Colonialisms: Resisting Racism, Extraction and Dispossession, York University – Toronto, ON
• 2015 R Presenter, Creating a Culture of Healing: A 2Spirit Syilx Woman’s Journey of Dis(man)tling the Master’s house of Learning, Indigenous Women’s Symposium, Trent University – Peterborough,ON
• 2013 R Presenter, 9th Annual Indigenous and American Studies Storyteller’s Conference, University at Buffalo The State University of New York – Buffalo, NY
• 2013 R Panelist, Opportunities and challenges for peer based Interventions in the HIV prevention, engagement & treatment cascade, Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Toronto, ON

• Fall 2019 Presenter, “Inclusion & Access: 2 Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary Relatives reclaiming our place in the circle. Indigenous Scholars Speakers Series, University of Manitoba – Winnipeg, MB
• Fall 2019 Presenter, “The lived realities of 2LGBT” Fireside Chats, University of Manitoba – Winnipeg, MB
• Fall 2019 Presenter, “2 Spirit, Trans & Non-Binary Brave Spaces for Indigenous Youth!” Rec n’ Read, Kinesiology, University of Manitoba – Winnipeg, MB
• Fall 2019 Presenter, “2 Spirit: how to welcome young learners into the circle, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba – Winnipeg, MB
• Fall 2019 Presenter, “Current Social Movements: 2 Spirit Resurgence & Futurities” UML Indigenous Cultural Competency Training (ICT), Turtle Lodge – University of Manitoba – Winnipeg, MB
• Fall 2019 Presenter, “Historic Trauma & Microaggressions” Teach-In for Reconciliation, Department Of Native Studies, University of Manitoba – Winnipeg, MB
• Winter 2019 Keynote Speaker, Indigenous Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Minwaashin Lodge & Tungasuvvingat Inuit – Ottawa, ON
• Fall 2016 Presenter, 2 Spirit health & wellness, Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance – Toronto, ON
• Winter 2015 Presenter, 2LGBT History, health needs & cultural safety for health providers, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Thunder Bay ON