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.

Terri Cardinal (she, her) who’s Cree name is wapekihêw iskwew, is from Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 Territory. Terri is currently on leave from MacEwan University, where she is the director of Indigenous Initiatives.  She is working on a project with Blue Quills University as the Indian Residential School Coordinator for the next year. Terri has previously worked in First Nations communities developing and implementing culturally appropriate programming for Indigenous families while mentoring front line workers in the Health and Social Work field. Terri acknowledges her learning and connection to Cree Worldview from the Blue Quills University where she completed her first two degrees (BGS & IBSW). She completed her clinical MSW specializing in trauma with the University of Calgary and is currently pursuing her PhD in Social Work. Terri also received the 2020 Esquao Award for her work in Indigenous Education. In addition, she delivers nêhiyaw trauma informed practices workshops for front line workers. Terri sits as a member of the Social Work National Indigenous Accreditation Board and the external Indigenous Advisory Council for Edmonton Public Schools. She chairs the Indigenous Advisory Council for MacEwan University and has led Indigenous focused lectures internationally.

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

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.

Peatr Thomas is a multidisciplinary Ininew and Anishinaabe self-taught, full-time visual artist from the Pimicikamak and Miskooseepi territories located near the heart of Turtle Island. A Youth Facilitator of many years he is sharing passed down knowledge, traditional teachings, culture and the healing process in creating visual forms of art. Peatr had a collaborative floor mural with Mike Valcourt and Kenneth Lavallee in the Winnipeg Art Gallery for their Boarder X exhibition in 2016, he won the 2019 Manito Ahbee 48-Hour Film Challenge with Skate Break and created a 1600 square foot mural for Synonym Art Consultation’s 2019 Wall-to-Wall Mural Festival. Skate Break is included in the Video Pool Media Arts Centre’s Showing Initiatives II screening program curated by Jenny Western. He has also done countless art programs with youth across Canada, sharing his artistic skills, life experiences, and culture.

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.

Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singer-songwriter from Northeastern Ontario. Through her rhythm and story-driven songs, Mimi embraces the beauty of the land, all the while yielding to her Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki roots. In her music you will find sounds from the forest, uplifting melodies and introspective lyrics weaved with pop sensitivities and acoustic instruments. The layers of percussion and surprising harmonies make you feel the music rather than just hear it.    

Her 5th release, and first instrumental album, Fiddleheads & Ferns, was produced and recorded in their Log Home Studio. Mimi’s album , Elle Danse, was nominated for Best New Artist & Best EP at the Trille Or Awards (2020) which recognizes Francophone Artists outside of Quebec. She continues to compose music for film & TV through Nagamo and has had music placed on CBC’s Trickster Ontario’ Highlands Documentary, Precious Leader Woman Docu-film, APTN’s Mohawk Girls, Showtime’s Ray Donovan. Mimi also composed the lyrics for Music Monday’s National Anthem for 2022. In 2019, she was awarded Best Pop Album at the Indigenous Music Awards.   

Mimi shares her passion for songwriting and art through workshops with youth in schools across Canada

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.

l am Sempulyan, my late mother is Norma Campbell (Musqueam), my late father is Harvey Tsialten-t Gonzales, my late maternal grandmother is Amy Teresa Paull (Squamish), my late maternal grandfather is Sylvester Campbell (Musqueam). My late paternal grandmother is Ethel Lucy Jerome (Tsimshian), my late paternal grandfather is Johnny Kwestanaxen-t Gonzales. My late maternal great-grandmother is Theresa Charlie and my late maternal great-grandfather is Dan Paull (both are Squamish). My late paternal greatgrandmother is Emma dChatatolt-t Tsialten (Squamish) and my late paternal great grandfather is Peter Gonzales (Maule).  Semplúyan was elected as a General Councillor for the Squamish Nation during the September 2021 election.