Notre équipe

Dr. Dubé has published over 250 contributions and is a recognized expert in the field of cumulative effects assessment, environmental monitoring, and ecotoxicology. She has worked with municipalities, the energy sector, pulp and paper, base metal and uranium mining, agriculture and forestry. Her work has influenced policy and regulation, developed landmark agreements between industries, governments and Indigenous communities, ensured emergency preparedness and community protection, and resulted in development and commercialization of innovative technologies.

Since 2010, Prof. Humphries has served as academic director of McGill’s Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment, an inter-disciplinary research centre dedicated to community-based research on food and the environment. Murray also holds the McGill Chair in Northern Research, funded by the Institut Nordique du Québec. In this role, Murray initiated and currently leads McGill North, a network of northern and circumpolar researchers at McGill, including professors, post doctorates, and graduate students from 9 faculties and more than 20 departments/units. The objective of McGill North is to promote, mobilize, and interdisciplinize northern, arctic, and circumpolar research at McGill, and to assist McGill researchers in northern community engagement and knowledge co-production. In 2017, Murray received an outstanding alumnus award from the University of Manitoba and was a member of the expert panel that generated the Council of Canadian Academies 2014 report on Aboriginal Food Security in Northern Canada. Murray co-led with Stan Boutin the Environmental Innovation NSERC-CREATE graduate training program based at McGill and the University of Alberta, which partnered with more than 75 non-government, government, industry, and Indigenous organizations to train 50 graduate students and postdocs for careers in wildlife conservation and environmental impact. Murray is currently serving as a returning co-chair of the Ecology and Evolution Review Panel for NSERC Discovery Grants, is a member of the synthesis team and serves on the board of directors for the NSERC Strategic Network ResNet, and sits on the Board of Directors for Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, a leading wildlife research and conservation NGO in Canada.

I am an Indigenous scholar with over a decade of experience in developing insights and tools grounded in traditional law that help communities with consultation, community engagement, and Indigenous-settler relations. My areas of expertise are in traditional law and governance, Indigenous legal traditions, Indigenous-Settler relations, Consultation, and Community Engagement. Much of my research is directed towards Indigenous research methods and includes how Indigenous research should be conducted, how relationships with community and Nations should be maintained, and building the voices of Indigenous Elders and knowledge holders I have come to know. My hope is to build more resilient learning communities that are rooted in sharing truths, transparency, and humility. And though my work often lacks one clear path, I have faith that my culture and teachings will guide me.

Ainsley holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from University of Swansea (UK) and a Master of Science in Ecology and Environmental Biology from University of Alberta.

Sandy joined the CMN now BKC in 2023 as the Strategic Advisor and is now in the role of Governance Manager. Sandy has over 25 years of experience managing complex projects in the environmental, energy, and service sectors, and extensive experience managing board and committee meetings for a large public organization. Her expertise spans program and project management, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and change management, with a proven ability to lead multi-stakeholder initiatives and deliver measurable outcomes.

Charles (Chas) Filipski is a dynamic and results-driven professional with over a decade of experience in stakeholder relations, Indigenous outreach, and strategic business operations. At Braiding Knowledges Canada, Chas serves as the Stakeholder Liaison Manager, where he leverages his skills to foster collaboration, drive community-focused initiatives, and build partnerships. Chas’s career spans leadership roles across diverse industries, including non-profits, oil and gas, and construction. With a strong background in strategic planning, policy development, and community engagement, Chas has successfully negotiated agreements with Indigenous communities and worked collaboratively with government and private organizations to drive impactful initiatives. Notably, as Executive Director of Influence Mentoring, he played a pivotal role in creating mentorship opportunities for Indigenous post-secondary students. His work earned commendations, including a letter of recognition from Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for his collaborative efforts in environmental and stakeholder engagement.

As a designated professional accountant and senior finance consultant, Jen brings a wealth of experience in finance and accounting, primarily in the not-for-profit and public sectors, to her role with BKC. Specific areas of expertise include: planning and budgeting, accounting operations and systems, financial reporting, as well as performance management, governance, and risk. Based in Canmore, Alberta, Jen previously served as Accounting Manager for the Banff Centre and as Executive Director of the Bow Valley Learning Council. Jen received her PhD in Engineering Science from Oxford University and is a strong supporter of mountain research.

Kirsten is a Montreal native but has lived and worked across Canada from Vancouver Island, BC to Machias Seal Island, NB. She joined CMN now BKC in September 2020 to support Murray Humphries, whom she met during her Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology at McGill, in his position as co-research Director. Kirsten holds a Master’s of Science from the University of New Brunswick and has experience in ecological research as well as project management and nonprofit administration. She is motivated to acquire new skills, whether they be in the field, the lab, or at a desk. She is excited to learn from, and hopefully contribute to, the collective wealth of knowledge within the BKC.

Charity joined the Canadian Mountain Network now BKC in 2019 and is responsible for managing and accounting for the Network’s financial transactions. In this role, she collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders, including with the finance department of the Network’s host institution (the University of Alberta), funding partners, contractors/suppliers, with the Network’s bank and external auditors.

Karin Fodor joined Braiding Knowledges Canada in November 2024 as an Administrative Assistant, bringing a wealth of experience from her years at the University of Alberta and various non-profit organizations. With a strong background in managing complex administrative processes, Karin has supported leadership teams, faculty, and researchers through roles in university centers and institutes. She has coordinated meetings, managed event logistics, and streamlined administrative operations to create efficient workflows and build collaborative networks. Karin’s ability to navigate organizational structures and her familiarity with University of Alberta systems will be invaluable to the team.

Kimberley has been working with CMN now BKC since April of 2021 as the Events and Communications Coordinator. She is an independent contractor with a love of nature, dance, and all things marketing.

Annie has been working with the Canadian Mountain Network—now Braiding Knowledges Canada—since June 2019, leading content creation, science writing, and graphic design. As an independent contractor, she helps research networks, scientists, and initiatives effectively communicate science to diverse audiences, including fellow researchers, policy-makers, and the public.

Kirsten Aubrey has worked with Braiding Knowledges Canada since 2024 as a media producer and communications specialist. Her work includes deeply understanding the core values, messages and principles that Braiding Knowledges Canada operates with, to create compelling communications materials tailored for diverse audiences.

Jade Roberts – educator and artist is a Woodland Cree woman from Lac La Ronge Indian Band in Northern Saskatchewan. She currently resides in Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatoon, SK. Roberts graduated with a Bachelor’s of Education from ITEP at the University of Saskatchewan in 2018 and went on to teach an elementary art and Cree culture program for 6 years. Jade is now a full-time artist working with a variety of mediums including digital illustration, painting, and land-based projects. Jade’s artwork often depicts colourful florals or animals and is influenced by her Cree culture and the land. Many of Jade’s pieces are connected to stories and language as a way of honouring and remembering the teachings that have been passed down. You can find more of Jade’s work at www.jadeleviroberts.com or on Instagram @jadelevi_

Prior to joining the Public Service through the Management Trainee Program at the Canadian Centre for Management Development in 1993, Michel was a teacher at West Island College and co-founder of Macdonald-Cartier Academy, a private French immersion high school. He’s enjoyed a career of challenging assignments as a Policy Analyst in the Privy Council Office, Intergovernmental Affairs; as Senior Advisor to Minister Anne McLellan in her capacity as Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians; as Director of Aboriginal Research and Socio-Economic Development at Human Resources Development Canada; in his role of Departmental Senior Official of Values and Ethics under three Deputy Ministers; and, was the founding Senior Executive Director of the Knowledge Circle for Indigenous Inclusion and the Chair of the Federal Indigenous Executive Network during his last executive assignment upon retiring in September 2022.

Lawrence Ignace is Anishinaabe from Lac Des Mille Lacs First Nation within Treaty 3 Northwestern Ontario. He holds a Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis on Natural Resources Policy from the University of Alaska Southeast. His relationship with mountains significantly strengthened over a decade ago when he moved to Whitehorse, Yukon. During this time, he has held positions with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Carcross/Tagish First Nation, Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research and Yukon government. He has a passion for advancing the understanding and use of Indigenous Knowledge. As a PhD student at University of Victoria, his research focuses on the intersection of science and Indigenous knowledge and how we can learn from both worlds to shift our understanding. He is active on the Reference Group for the appropriate review of Indigenous research established by the three federal research funding agencies and Protect our Winters Science Alliance.

Alida Oegema-Thomas is a second-generation Dutch-Canadian living on the unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) in the Coast Mountains of BC. She currently works in First Nations led-and-directed health policy, has diverse experience in labour relations, international and community development, and community-based environmental and social research. She holds a Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) from the University of British Columbia (UBC), with a research focus on climate justice, gender equity, and human rights in public policy. Alida is a runner, triathlete, and avid supporter of women’s sports. 

Lynne Hately, CGA, CPA, and CFRE is Director of Development and Communications, Alberta Region with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Canada’s leading national land conservation organization. She has worked with non profits for more than twenty years focused on the environment, international development and youth development, including in indigenous communities. Lynne has a MA in International Development Studies from Carleton University and a BA (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. She is also a professional fundraiser and holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential. Lynne lives in Canmore, Alberta, where she enjoys everything to do with mountains.

Dr. Myrle Ballard is a Canada Research Chair in Weaving Indigenous Science and Sustainability Science and Associate Professor in the Dept. of Earth, Energy, and Environment at the University of Calgary. She stood-up the new Indigenous Science Division at Environment and Climate Change Canada. Anishinaabe from Lake St. Martin First Nation, Dr. Ballard’s research explores Three-eyed seeing and how her fluency in Anishinaabe mowin can transform approaches to land and water resource management using Anishinaabe mowin baseline indicators. She has researched and documented the forced displacement and relocation of communities from flooding, as well as research on climate change and weather. She was recently selected as Lead Author on IPCC AR7 WG III Chapter 4 Sustainable Development and

Mitigation. She was also appointed as a Scoping expert for the second IPBES global assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services; and Expert for the IPBES task force on Indigenous and local knowledge. She was inducted to the Royal Society of Canada in November 2025.

Bill Borland is an Environmental Professional and is the President of Borland & Associates Inc. in Rothesay, NB. He has held senior environmental management and government relations positions with Dillon Consulting, Associate; AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Vice President, Canadian Federal Programs; J.D. Irving, Limited, Director Environmental Affairs and NB Power, Manager Environmental Planning. Bill Chaired the Board of the Canadian Water Network and sat on the Boards of the Canadian Rivers Institute, NB Research & Productivity Council and Enovex Inc. He was appointed to the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) where he Co-Chaired the Boreal Forest Program and sat on the Expert Advisory Committee on Water. He is a member of the Standing Selection Committee (Chair) and the Monitoring Committee of the Networks of Centres of Excellence, as well as the Board of ECO Canada. He sits on several Selection Committees for NSERC and New Frontiers, and the Multidisciplinary Assessment Committee for the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

Erinn Drage is an environmentalist, filmmaker, protected areas enthusiast and outdoor adventure guide. Originally from Nova Scotia, she now calls Canmore, AB home. In recent years Erinn has worked as an expedition guide in the Arctic and Antarctica, directed, shot, and edited digital media series’ for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and conducted research on nature-based tourism economies in the Denali region of Alaska. Her first feature-length documentary, In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors, follows the story of the Sahtú Dene and the Canol Trail in the Northwest Territories. She currently works full-time in international conservation policy with Parks Canada and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), while pursuing her other passions by writing and editing film projects on the weekends.

Shannon Flint served as Deputy Minister of Alberta Infrastructure. As Deputy Minister, Shannon led over 900 ministry staff responsible for the delivery of major capital projects totalling over $26.6 billion. Capital projects include learning, health, and government-owned facilities. Shannon was an active steward of developing and maintaining a citizen-centered public service by driving ministry outcomes and fostering cross-ministry collaboration. As a proponent of innovation, Shannon drove the ministry toward advanced systems thinking and proactive problem-solving in the development of strategic Infrastructure solutions.

Prior to her role as Deputy Minister at Alberta Infrastructure, Shannon served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises at Economic Development and Trade. In this role, Shannon advanced strategies and initiatives to enhance support for industry and collaborated with communities and stakeholders to foster regional economic development. As head of the Division, she led the development of a $178 million program for investor and investment tax credits as well as a $20 million program for regional and community development.

Shannon transitioned to Economic Development and Trade from her preceding role as Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy and Planning at Environment and Parks, where she was accountable for strategic leadership in the development of planning and policy frameworks, strategic relationships, and programs focused on air, climate change, water, land, forestry, biodiversity, fish and wildlife. As Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy and Planning, Shannon led a division of over 300 people with a budget of $400 million.

Shannon holds a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge and an Administrative Management Diploma from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She has filled progressively responsible roles throughout her 43 years with the Alberta government, and continues to foster relationship building, strategic collaboration, and innovation now and into the future.

Dr. Glanfield is currently Vice-Provost (Indigenous Programming and Research) and a Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Secondary Education. She is an Affiliated Faculty member with the Centre for Research for Teacher Education and Development at the University of Alberta. She earned her PhD in 2003 studying mathematics teacher understanding as an emergent phenomenon.

Talon Giroux is a 2025 Youth Leadership Recipient of the Okimâw Awards in partnership with the City of Edmonton and a dedicated community builder based in Edmonton, Alberta. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Dreamspeakers Film Festival Society, where he advocates for Indigenous representation and youth engagement in arts and culture.

With a background in administration, communications, and Indigenous-led organizations, Talon has built a strong foundation in governance, public relations, and community advocacy. His work reflects a deep commitment to uplifting Indigenous voices, strengthening relationships between generations, and creating meaningful change through collaboration and storytelling.

Jessus Karst is a citizen of Métis Nation Saskatchewan with maternal Métis family roots tied to the Qu’Appelle Valley and German/Irish roots on his paternal side. He is the Biodiversity Policy Advisor for the Métis National Council, which involves advocating nationally for the Métis Nation in work related to species, water, and food security.  He also works internationally advocating for Indigenous Peoples rights in the U.N Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar, and the UN Water conferences. Jessus is a member of the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge sub-committee of COSEWIC and sits on several other committees related to Species at Risk and invasive species in Canada.

His 20-year career in biology and conservation has included working for non-profit organizations, as well as federal and provincial governments.  As a field biologist, he has been fortunate enough to study different parts of Nature: from water, fish, and invertebrates to plants and ecosystem studies, as well as birds, reptiles, small mammals and game species. Jessus is a proud father of two boys and proud uncle to his nieces and nephew. He lives and works in Regina, SK, in Treaty four and the Homeland of the Métis.

Megan is a PhD student in Family Medicine at McGill University, of Kanien’kehá:ka and European settler heritage, and is committed to amplifying Indigenous youth voices in research and decision-making. Her doctoral research in Nunavik explores how intergenerational dialogues can improve Nunavik youth house services. She has expertise in community-based and participatory research, youth engagement, and program evaluation.

Megan has contributed to various community health initiatives and youth empowerment programming. This includes co-creating content and evaluating a national youth generativity and reconciliation conference through her work at the Student’s Commission of Canada, as well as volunteering at the Kahnawake School of Diabetes Prevention Program. 

Through her work, Megan is dedicated to promoting Indigenous led, culturally grounded pathways that enhance community well-being and self-determination.

My name is Dr. Maurice Manyfingers, and I am a member of the Kainai First Nation (Blood Tribe) of the Blackfoot Confederacy of Treaty 7 or Siksikaitsitapi.

Dr. Emily Missyabit McAuley is a member of Lake Manitoba First Nation and was born and raised in Algonquin Anishinaabeg Territory in Ottawa. She received an M.Sc. in Biology (Behavioural Ecology & Evolution) from Carleton University in 2009 and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences (Conservation Ecology) from Simon Fraser University in 2020. Her Ph.D. thesis examined the food web impacts of native fish introductions into naturally fishless river systems across the Western Cordillera and resulting migratory behavior and breeding distribution of harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus). Her research interests include food web interactions, species distribution modeling, geomatics, stable isotopes, citizen science, and Indigenous Science. Emily has nearly a decade of experience fostering federal-Indigenous research partnerships and supporting the braiding of knowledge systems.

Kim Neale is a regenerative economies futurist, environmental engineer, and economist who braids Indigenous knowledge with 20 years of experience in nature-related finance product design, insurance, and environmental risk management. With ancestral roots that are mixed – settler (French/English) and Anishinaabe — her journey of re-connection with Anishinaabe cultural teachings and her own ancestral lineage has been shaped by her time living and in relationship with the knowledge-sharers, lands, and waters of Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island).

Kim is the founder of Manitoulin Climate Collaborative (Mc²), where she co-creatively works on a wide range of community-led nature-based solutions, supporting the development of Indigenous-led regenerative financing mechanisms and standards like capital methodologies, land trusts, and resilience/biocultural diversity/stewardship credits. Since 2020, she has also held several leadership roles at national not-for-profit organizations, co-designing the first Two-Eyed Seeing Natural Asset Inventory frameworks and supporting the launch of new funding programs for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and NbS knowledge hubs. In addition to serving on the Braiding Knowledges Canada (BKC) board, Kim is also a board member for the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) and has served as an advisor to the First Nations National Guardians Network (NGN) Indigenous-led Natural Climate Solutions (ILNCS) fund. As a regenerative economies’ futurist, her work is focused on advancing Indigenous-led regenerative economies, co-governance models, and decolonized evaluation frameworks that restore balance with Mother Earth.

Chris joined Aurora College in 2024 as Vice President Research based in Yellowknife. Previous to that he worked in the Ontario College system as a Dean, Associate Dean and Chair. Chris has taught and developed curriculum (course and program development) at both colleges and universities. Chris has previously worked in the north for the territorial government, as a business owner (Deep Consulting Inc), executive assistant to the Chiefs of the Yellowknives Dene, manager of lands and environment for the Dene Nation, and as an advisor to the Arctic Athabaskan Council. Chris has numerous publications and he holds an interdisciplinary PhD from the University of Manitoba, Natural Resources Institute (2000). His oldest children both live and work in the Northwest Territories. In addition to his role on the Board of the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (Finance Committee), he is Vice President of the Yellowknife Ski Club, Director on Cross Country Northwest Territories and the Sport North Federation. Chris holds an interdisciplinary Phd from the University of Manitoba (2000), Masters from Carleton University (1995), and undergraduate degree from University of Winnipeg (1993).

Dr. Mark Prystupa earned his Ph.D. in geography with research in Yukon and went on to be a university professor at Laurentian University in Sudbury. He left academia to take a position with the Government of the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife before joining the federal government in Ottawa. He worked with Suncor Energy in Calgary and now works for Vale Base Metals in Sudbury. All of this work has focussed on Indigenous peoples and resource management. Mark has been fortunate to have done this work throughout much of Canada.

Vicki is an ecologist and a Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) from Wahta First Nation, Ontario. She has degrees from the University of Guelph (BSc), York University (MES), and University of Alberta (PhD) and is currently the Knowledge and Research Manager, Lands and Resources, Mushkegowuk Council. Mushkegowuk Council represents and serves seven Cree Nations in northern Ontario. Vicki has been immersed in protected areas management, research, and monitoring her entire life. She applies her expertise to supporting Indigenous conservation of lands, waters, and ocean: currently in northern Ontario, and previously in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and coastal British Columbia. She began her career as a national park patrolperson (aka guardian), then in the 1990s she became the first woman Chief Park Warden (now called Resource Conservation Manager) in Canada at Ivvavik National Park located on the Beaufort Sea coast. She adopted the Arctic as her home from 1993 until 2021, living, working and travelling across the northernmost reaches of NWT and Nunavut. Exploring nature, especially wilderness areas, on foot, skis, snowmobile, boat, or kayak keeps her happy and healthy.

Wendy is a Senior Consultant with Humanity Financial Management Inc., specializing in providing accounting and financial management advisory services to not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous communities. She brings over 10 years of accounting and audit experience in both public practice and not-for-profit sector, as well as her understanding of corporate governance. As a passionate volunteer, she had significant involvement in local charities and industry associations.

Meagan Grabowski is a researcher, biologist, and instructor with lifelong knowledge of Yukon systems. Through her business she supports governments and communities in integrated and collaborative approaches to socio-ecological stewardship. Meagan has studied and worked throughout northern mountain regions, including southwest Yukon, Nunavut and interior BC. As a founding board member and 2016-17 Chair of APECS Canada, she enhanced the voice and priorities of northern residents. From 2015-2017, she was a Jane Glassco Northern Fellow creating recommendations for research licensing in the Yukon. Meagan holds a Master of Science in Zoology specializing in plant-herbivore interactions and boreal shrub dendroecology. Meagan is deeply committed to relationship building between the research community and the North, and continues to advocate for the role of northerners in all stages of research.

Marlin Legare is a Métis graduate student and a research project coordinator who aids in the development and production of Indigenous research projects from the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S). He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in the field of Nutrition at the U of S, as well. Finally, Marlin is a U of S member of the Indigenous Initiatives Committee as a representative of the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition.

Adam Gaudry, Ph.D. is a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation. He serves as Vice-Dean and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta. His family is from Northwestern Ontario and Red River before that. He grew up in Hamilton.

Adam received his Ph.D. from the Indigenous Governance Program at the University of Victoria and completed his MA in Sociology and BAH in Political Studies from Queen’s University. He is a past Henry Roe Cloud Fellow at Yale University. In his administrative leadership role, Adam oversees strategic projects in the Faculty. This has included strategic planning documents, faculty program reviews, curricular updates, and new research partnerships. He has published extensively on Métis history and governance, Indigenous research methodologies, as well as indigenization policy in Canadian higher education. Adam’s work has been published in Native American and Indigenous Studies, American Indian Quarterly, AlterNative, Critical Ethnic Studies, The Wicazo Sa Review, aboriginal policy studies, the Canadian Journal of Native Education, the Osgoode Hall Law Journal, The Canadian Encyclopedia, and numerous edited collections.