Advisory/Contributor

Amanda Dawne Burton is a Red River Métis citizen and has ancestral relations from England, France, Ireland, France, Germany, and Scotland. Her educational background is in criminology and psychology (undergraduate) and social work (graduate). She has over 25 years of experience working with Indigenous children, youth, families and communities in a variety of fields such as child welfare, youth work, therapy, research, and curriculum development work. She is the co-author of the textbook Social Work Practice and Assessment: A W/holistic Approach.

Advisory/Contributor

Barbara Bruce is a Kookum and Knowledge Keeper and a citizen of the Red River Metis Nation– Michif aen Otipemisiwak. Her beliefs of Indigenous traditional teachings are reflected in all the work she takes on. A Sundance Chief, Sweatlodge Conductor and Pipe Carrier, her dedication to advancing the rightful place, recognition and acknowledgment of the Two Spirit community, Indigenous women, and children is an integral part of her life.

Theme artwork

Brandon Mitchell is Mi’gmaq from Listuguj First Nation in Quebec and currently resides in the unceded Wolastoqiyik, Peace and Friendship Treaty territory of Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is a husband to Natasha Martin and father to Brayden and Bryce Mitchell. He carries a Diploma in Animation and Design from the New Brunswick Community College of Miramichi and holds a master’s degree in Education from the University of New Brunswick. He is the founder of Birch Bark Comics and creator of the Sacred Circles comic series, which explores his Mi’kmaq heritage through a contemporary lens.

Advisory/Contributor

Dr. Daphne Littlebear is from the Tamaya (enrolled in Santa Ana Pueblo), Yuchi, Mvskoke, and Shawnee Nations. She received her PhD in Justice Studies at Arizona State University's School of Social Transformation. Her dissertation is titled, Intergenerational Intersections of Teaching and Learning in Santa Ana Pueblo. Daphne is an interdisciplinary Pueblo scholar with research interests in Indigenous education and policy, Indigenous evaluation, Indigenous community building, data sovereignty, and Tribal governance.

Advisory/Contributor

Deana Halonen is an Anishinaabe/Métis ikwe working as a Senior Instructor at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba. She holds MSW, HBSW, and BA degrees from Lakehead University, a Native Child and Family Worker Diploma from Confederation College of Applied Arts & Technology, and a Social Service Worker Diploma and Native Literacy Communications Certificate from Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology with interests in Indigenous ways of helping, healing, and teaching.

Advisory/Contributor

Don Robinson is originally from Bunibonibee Cree Nation (Oxford House First Nation), and has been a long time Winnipeg resident. He currently works in the areas of Grief and Trauma, and traditional knowledge counselling. He brings a unique cultural perspective on healing, intergenerational trauma, cross cultural awareness, family therapy work with Indigenous families, training and learning, traditional ways of healing, and family group conferencing. He has learned from Elders and knowledge keepers about the traditional ways through participating in ceremonies, fasting, sweat lodge, and the Sundance.

Advisory/Contributor

Julianne Denny resides near Rocky Boy Reservation in Montana where she raises her children with her husband. She is a mother, artist, birthworker, and cultural practitioner. She is Cree, Ojibway and Mikmaq. Her family is from Cowessess First Nation and Membertou First Nation.

Advisory/Contributor

Larry K. Bremner, CE FCES (Métis) has worked in social research and evaluation for 45+ years. He is recognized for his depth of knowledge and his willingness to share his knowledge, particularly in the areas of Indigenous and decolonizing approaches to evaluation including the use of storytelling. In 2012, Larry was elected National President of the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES). As Past President, he represented CES on the international stage where he was the driving force behind the creation of the global EvalPartners’ network EvalIndigenous.

Advisory/Contributor

Nadine Flagel is a Vancouver, BC-based settler with English, Irish, and German roots. She has a BA in English from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, an MA in Cultural Studies from the University of Sussex, in Brighton, UK, and a PhD in twentieth-century English Literature from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS. Her dissertation was about how contemporary fiction borrows from 18th and 19th century black autobiography, especially slave narratives. Nadine taught literature and composition on contract at various postsecondary institutions in Canada for nearly twenty years. She has also worked as a grant and report writer at not-for-profits. Now she works as a researcher, writer and editor on books and articles connected to social justice. She’s also a textile artist with a specialty in reusing fabrics in rugs and quilts.

Advisory/Contributor

Dr. Nicole “Nicky” Bowman (Lunaape/Mohican), is a nationally and internationally recognized Indigenous evaluator whose leadership advances equity, sovereignty, and justice across systems. As a traditional Lenapexkwe, she has served Indigenous communities for nearly 40 years and worked as an Indigenous evaluator for over three decades. Through her business, Bowman Performance Consulting and work at WCER, her work braids Indigenous knowledge with scientific methods to support transformational evaluation, systems change, and sustainable, self-determined solutions. Follow BPC on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Advisory/Contributor

Olivia Roanhorse, MPH, COO and Portfolio Lead, Roanhorse Consulting, LLC. Olivia provides leadership and oversight of key policy, research, and evaluation projects. Before joining RCLLC, Olivia was the Vice President of Programs for Notah Begay III Foundation for seven years where she oversaw the strategic and operational responsibilities for all program areas. Before returning to New Mexico in 2012, Olivia held several health program and policy positions in Chicago. She was a Policy Associate at the Ounce of Prevention Fund; a Project Coordinator for RWJF National Project: Finding Answers Program: Disparities Research for Change; and a Clinic Manager for Community Health, the largest free health clinic in Illinois. Olivia has a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois in Chicago and an undergraduate degree from Colorado College. Olivia attended Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health from 2018 to 2021 working on her Doctorate of Public Health. Recognizing that the institution did not value health equity and social justice, she withdrew and decided to instead focus on her lived experiences and the opportunity to co-design meaningful solutions with communities. Olivia is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and lives in Albuquerque, NM.

Advisory/Contributor

Rebecca Rae (Jicarilla Apache), MCRP, MWR, is a Research Lecturer III at the University of New Mexico’s College of Population Health. She is an Indigenous scholar and her expertise spans over sixteen years implementing community based participatory research (CBPR) projects and Indigenous participatory evaluation in partnership with Tribal communities. Her primary areas of research include Indigenous research methodologies, prevention/intervention research and Indigenous evaluation. She also has experience in curriculum and program development. She works closely with multiple tribal community partners to mentor, strengthen and enhance community members’ skills in program development, program implementation, data collection, data analysis, grant writing, research, and evaluation. She has served as an evaluator to tribal non-profit organizations, tribal programs, and national foundations. She also has 15 years of experience in Positive Youth Leadership Development, specifically serving as Senior Faculty with the Leadership Institute Summer Policy Academy (LI/SPA), a program that educates Indigenous high-school students on American Indian History, Federal Indian Law, Policy and Advocacy.

Category Artwork
Print, Digital Package + Web Design
Social Strategy ‍+ Interactive Development

Selena Burgess is a multidisciplinary designer, strategist, storyteller and founder of ROAR Creative & Consulting. Of Cree and French Canadian-Settler lineage, she brings more than two decades of experience across design, communications, knowledge translation, digital media and community-building. Her work centres Indigenous-led storytelling, meaningful relationship-building and creative approaches that make complex ideas accessible and impactful. A self-taught and academically trained creative, Selena works across sectors to turn knowledge, vision and purpose into thoughtful design, strategy and connection with measurable results.

Advisory/Contributor

Sofia Vitalis was born and raised on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw, and mi ce:p kʷətxʷiləm Nations. Sofia is of mixed ancestry, though her strongest cultural roots are through her maternal side; connecting to her tierra in Colombia, South America. Sofia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Simon Fraser University, where she deepened her passion for critically examining systems and centring heart-led values in all aspects of her work and life. She continues to nurture and put these values into practice through her work at Reciprocal Consulting. In her role, Sofia is passionate about adapting systems to meet people's needs as well as working collaboratively. Sofia also thrives on fostering relationships and deepen understanding through the organizational and community education work she is privileged to do at Reciprocal Consulting. Sofia has a special affinity toward systems in public health and access to safe inclusive services.

Advisory/Contributor

Tammy Mudge is L'nu (Illnew), from Glooscap First Nation, a mother of four and a member of the Mi'kmaq Nation. She is the Manager of Learning and Evaluation at Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax, a non-profit organization working to build an ecosystem of inclusive and meaningful participation in and among neighbourhoods, and a part-time faculty member at Acadia University, where she teaches Decolonizing Community Development. She is an active community member and Co-founder and Chair of the Glooscap First Nation Family Recreation Committee. Tammy is also a member of the Atlantic Indigenous Evaluation Stewardship Circle.

Advisory/Contributor

Taylor Wilson is an Ojibwe, Cree, and Filipina scholar and member of Fisher River Cree Nation on Treaty 5 territory, with connections to Peguis First Nation (Treaty 1), Fairford First Nation (Treaty 2), and the Ilocano region of the Philippines. She grew up between Fisher River and Winnipeg (Treaty 1 and homeland of the Métis Nation) and now lives and works primarily the traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nation. Taylor is currently pursuing her PhD in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia. Taylor’s work is rooted in Indigenous food sovereignty, health, and evaluation, with a commitment to Indigenous methodologies, relational accountability, and data sovereignty. She has contributed to community-based research and evaluation, curriculum development, and taught in Australia, Hawai’i, and across central and western Canada.

Advisory/Contributor

T,lalisam (Kim van der Woerd) is a proud member of the ‘Namgis First Nation from Alert Bay, BC. Kim is the founding owner of Reciprocal Consulting Inc, an Indigenous consulting firm specializing in program evaluation and research. She has close to 30 years of experience managing almost 500 projects. Kim completed her PhD in Psychology at Simon Fraser University. Her dissertation was the recipient of the Michael Scriven Dissertation Award for Outstanding Contribution to Evaluation Theory, Methodology or Practice, 2007.  Kim also received the Canadian Evaluation Society Contributions to Evaluation in Canada 2014 Award for her mentorship of Indigenous students. More recently, Kim was awarded the 2018 BC Community Achievement Award, and the 2018 Mitchell Award through the BC Achievement Foundation; as well as the Indigenous Business Award 2018 for businesses with 3-10 people. Kim was recognized as a Fellow of the Canadian Evaluation Society in 2023. Kim has also been active in her community serving on many boards locally and nationally.

Advisory/Contributor

Dr. Yvonne Pompana is a member of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. Yvonne is a former Director of the Inner-City social work program, a longtime Associate Professor, and a current Senior Scholar. Yvonne is a tireless supporter of students and a longtime advocate for change within educational systems.