DAVID A. ROBERTSON (he, him, his) was the 2021 recipient of the Writers’ Union of Canada Freedom to Read Award. He is the author of numerous books for young readers including When We Were Alone, which won the 2017 Governor General’s Literary Award and the McNally Robinson Best Book for Young People Award. The Barren Grounds, the first book in the middle-grade The Misewa Saga series, received a starred review from Kirkus, was a Kirkus and Quill & Quire best middle-grade book of 2020, was a USBBY and Texas Lone Star selection, was shortlisted for the Ontario Library Association’s Silver Birch Award, and was a finalist for the 2020 Governor General’s Literary Award. His memoir, Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory, was a Globe and Mail and Quill & Quire book of the year in 2020, and won the Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award for Non-Fiction as well as the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award at the 2020 Manitoba Book Awards. On The Trapline, illustrated by Julie Flett, won David’s second Governor General’s Literary Award and was named one of the best picture books of 2021 by the CCBC, The Horn Book, New York Public Library, Quill & Quire, and American Indians in Children’s Literature. Dave is the writer and host of the podcast Kíwew, winner of the 2021 RTDNA Praire Region Award for Best Podcast. He is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and currently lives in Winnipeg.

Kyla Pascal is a Métis, Black woman born and raised in Amiskwaciwâskahikan ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Edmonton, Alberta). Over the years Kyla has worked with a number of non-profit organizations focusing on anti-oppression, advocacy, and community-building. Her experiences and interests are centered around Indigenous solidarity, sustainability, community health, and food justice. The goal of her work is to build more resilient, just, and healthier communities. Kayla has also been featured in various media outlets such as CBC and featured on an Indigenous podcast called (Land)ing Back, where she shares about her entry point into climate work through food, land justice work, how climate spaces need to be actively integrating care work and the importance of finding the balance between our community work and our personal wellbeing. Kyla Pascal currently lives and studies on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil Waututh, and Squamish Peoples (Vancouver). She currently works at Alderhill Planning Inc. as an intern, is a co-editor of Hungry zine, and is a Master of Planning candidate with the School of Community and Regional Planning at UBC.

Diane Roussin is a passionate community leader committed to the pursuit of pimadaziwin (the good life) for all families and children. Her in-depth knowledge of Indigenous issues and solutions flow directly from her strong sense of identity and worldview. She is a proud member of Skownan First Nation and currently lives in Winnipeg.   Diane is currently the Project Director of the Winnipeg Boldness Project, an ambitious social innovation initiative seeking to create large-scale systems change for children and families in the Point Douglas neighbourhood. She has worked tirelessly, primarily in Winnipeg’s inner city, for initiatives that promote Indigenous People’s values and ways of knowing and being. She has led many projects and organizations including as Executive Director of the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, as Co-Director of the Community Education Development Association, and as Coordinator of The Centennial Neighbourhood Project.    Diane is adept at leading collaborative processes that involve numerous cross-sector partners and stakeholders, tenaciously seek solutions to barriers, and pursue tangible outcomes for the benefit of the community. Diane holds both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work Degrees.

Han who grew up in Arctic Bay, Nunavut now resides on Treaty 6 territory where she works from home. Believing that music is a crucial educational tool, she composes most of her songs in Inuktitut. Being active on social media, Han also uses her platform to share her learnings about the Inuit culture. Musically, Han resists labelling her sound with genres like pop or indie, instead considering it “modern,” providing a different option to the folk songs that are more widely available for Inuktitut-speakers. In 2021 she adapted her award-winning song “Qaariaq” into the children’s book The Bee, which was published in both English and Inuktitut. Although “Qaariaq” and its accompanying book were for children, most of Han’s music is actually written for adults, acoustic songs with themes of life, love and struggles. In 2020 after requesting donations for donations to the Inuujaq School in Ikpiarjuk in 2020, Han’s tweet caught the attention of actor Ryan Reynolds, who got in touch and collaborated with Canada Goose to donate more than 300 new parkas and additional winter apparel

Salia Joseph is from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Snuneymuxw First Nation’s on her father’s side and is British and Jewish on her mothers. Salia is a graduate from the First Nations and Indigenous studies program from the University of British Columbia. Salia is a Squamish language learner and is the executive director of The Sníchim Foundation which is a Sḵwx̱wú7mes language and culture non-profit. In addition to her language work Salia is the co-owner of Host Consulting Inc. which focuses on public art and elevating the designs and work of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleilwaututh artists. Salia is very passionate about where she comes from and is and learning constantly about what it means to be Sḵwx̱wú7mesh. Salia is a community organizer and facilitator dedicated to Indigenous rights, culture and politics and passionate about youth and women advocacy work.”I think about my future, the future of my family, my community, it continually comes back to language”

DR. Duke Redbird, Elder, Poet, Human Rights Activist, Educator, and Artist. Dukes’s most recent recognition (2022) is an Honorary Doctorate of Law from his Alma Mater, York University where he also holds a Masters degree for Environmental Studies and Political Science. Duke Redbird is also featured on Native North America which received a Grammy Award nomination for best historical album in December 2015. Duke recently recorded his poem The Power of the Land with The Sultans of String and is currently recording Sweet Alberta and Our Mother the Earth with them.  In 2020, Duke was awarded a Life Time Achievement Award by the Toronto based performing arts organization JAYU in recognition of his influence through his art on Human Rights.   In 2020 Duke delivered a keynote address to MIT on the growing influence if Indigenous Thinking and Practices on the world of technology and higher learning. Inspired by his address, MIT announced the upcoming publication of COLLECTIVE WISDOM 2022 funded by the Ford Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation.   He occupies the position as Elder with the following organizations: Myseum Toronto, The Toronto Biennial, Summer Works, the Toronto Arts Council’s Banff Leaders Lab, Ontario Place, and is Artist in Residence with the Urban Indigenous Education Centre at the Toronto District School Board.

Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation. He has written three fiction titles, and his short stories and essays have been published in numerous anthologies. Waub got his first taste of journalism in 1996 as an exchange student in Germany, writing articles about being an Anishinaabe teen in a foreign country for newspapers. Back in Canada, in 2014, he received the Anishinabek Nation’s Debwewin Citation for excellence in First Nation Storytelling. His most recent novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow, was published in 2018 and became a national bestseller. He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002, and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host. He left CBC in 2020 to focus on his literary career. He lives in Sudbury, Ontario with his wife and two sons. His novel, Moon of the Turning Leaves, will be published in 2023.

Stephanie Harpe is an International Advocate for MMEIP Murdered or Missing and Exploited Indigenous Peoples, Murder Attempt, Exploitation Survivor and Family member who was a part of public testimony for the National Inquiry. Keynote Speaker for United Nations, traveled 50 Indigenous communities in western Canada and hosted MMEIP support group for 3 years. Completed 2 provincial action plans for Alberta for the National Action Plan, Grassroots works with oppressed people on human rights, safety and security. Developed 16 topics for Wellness and Safety Super clinics, lived experience coaching. Invited to London, Dubai and Malaysia for the largest youth conferences in the world to speak the truth of how Indigenous people have to survive their own country called Canada. Tedx Talk titled Indigenous Suffering and Survival to Success. An award nominated Singer and songwriter for Stephanie Harpe Experience (S.H.E.), Actress and former casting agent for local to Hollywood productions.

Johna is Anishinaabekwe belonging to Wasauksing First Nation by Georgian Bay.  Mom to five, partner, daughter, sister, auntie, cuzzin and Indigenous Educator for language and cultural revitalization.  She works with the Near North District School board teaching Anishinaabemowin and Indigenous Studies.

Ahnahktsipiitaa* (Colin Van Loon) originally hails from Piikani aka Brocket AB and spent most of his formative years in Lethbridge AB.  After years of experience in the film industry as an actor Ahnahktsipiitaa made a decision to become a filmmaker, entering the  

SFU School of Contemporary Arts BFA Film Production program. Ahnahktsipiitaa works within the film industry commonly as an AD, but most notably spent a year working as the assistant to Alejandro González Iñárritu on the feature film: The Revenant. Ahnahktsipiitaa has been involved with the Talking Stick in many capacities whether it is screening personal films (The Fast, 2014), serving as the Director and Curator of REEL RESERVATIONS: Cinematic Indigenous Sovereignty Series and the additional upcoming Reel IndiGenuity youth film series. When not on a production Ahnahktsipiitaa works on building Blackfoot Nation Films, directing personal projects such as working in collaboration with Section 35 (Kill The Mascots, Save The People Ad campaign) and The Snotty Nosed Rez Kids (Skoden, Clash Of The Clans Music Videos). Ahnahktsipiitaa currently works and resides on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tseil-Waatuth peoples.