MC & Speakers

CFAR Elder & Former Chief of the Piikani Nation

Reg Crowshoe is a Blackfoot Cultural and Spiritual Advisor and is the former Chief of the Piikani Nation. Reg and his late father, Joe Crowshoe, travelled extensively around the world bringing awareness and education about Blackfoot history, traditions and spirituality. In 1997, Reg developed the Blackfoot Framework for Decision-Making and Mediation Processes called Akak’stiman, and presents it widely to Corporations, Government, Aboriginal organizations and the Non-Profit sector. Akak’stiman is a Blackfoot World View on dual paradigms; Western Thinking and Blackfoot Thinking, and how these paradigms can be integrated to best serve Aboriginal people. Reg sits on many Committees and Boards in Calgary, and commits his time to other provincial and national organizations. As the Board for Calgary 2012 concluded in March 2013, he ensured the Legacy Project for Calgary 2012 was the Making of Treaty 7 Project; a project that tells the important local history of Treaty 7.

Beginning in 2011, he played an instrumental role as the Cultural and Spiritual Advisory for the University of Calgary’s (UofC) 2011 Solar House Decathlon project which was designed to respond to First Nations housing issues, and named the solar house Spo’pi. Spo’pi is now a permanent fixture on the UofC Campus for use in research and education. Reg provides advice to the University of Calgary and to the United Way of Calgary related to their Indigenous strategies, and leads a group of Treaty 7 Elders so that they can better be a support system to members in Treaty 7.

Lillian comes from the kinokamas of Kehewin Cree Nation. She is also of the Nipihkopahk Cree Nation of Maskwacis. She has two beautiful daughters and seven grandchildren. She is proud and happy to uphold her sacred responsibility in miyo opikinawasowin (good child rearing) ekwa nehiyaw kiskeyihtamowin (Indigenous Education).

· She has extensive experience in teaching traditional languages and culture to help strengthen cultural identity through educating adult learners, youth and children. 

· Is an excellent workshop facilitator. 

· Highly skilled at working effectively in developing appropriate programs as needed. 

· Highly experienced in working with Indigenous peoples for reclamation of traditional parenting skills (doctoral thesis was on traditional parenting skills).  

· Further, she is a Cree Language and Cultural Developer. She has developed Indigenous college courses, along with resources. 

· She has extensive experience working with women and youth as an instructor of traditional pow-wow dancing, specially related to the healing medicine dances of the Jingle Dress.  

· She is extremely committed to the principles of professional development, reliability and dependability, including conducting her own life in ancestral traditional values.  Work is based on integrity, values and strong work ethics that make an exemplary team member whether contracted, part-time or permanent.

Jasmine is a proud Nehiyaw Iskwew (Cree Woman) from Kehewin Cree Nation, AB. She is also a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and Vice-Chair of Indigenizing

Psychology with the Psychologist Association of Alberta (PAA). She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Grant MacEwan University, a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta, and a Master of Education in School and Applied Child Psychology from the University of

Calgary.

While not fluent in Cree, she incorporates many traditional teachings into her personal and professional life. She is trained in science-based clinical psychology and blends these Western views with Traditional

and community-based cultural interventions. Working in the field since 2015, Jasmine has focused much of her career on Assessments, which are done to help identify cognitive, academic, social, emotional, or

behavioural concerns. Jasmine has experience working with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Anxiety, Depression, Intellectual Deficits, Specific Learning Disorders, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Disorder, Autism, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, Giftedness, Mood Concerns, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Addictions, etc. She has worked in both local School Districts and First Nations Schools as a

teacher and a Psychologist because she greatly enjoys working with children and adults to succeed in their pursuits. Jasmine has worked extensively with many First Nations and related programs, for example, Jordan’s Principle, NIHB, Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD), and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) programs.

Jasmine views psychometric assessments holistically, incorporating strengths and weaknesses and seeing a client as a person, not just their deficits. Jasmine aims to make assessments as culturally

relevant as possible and ensure families come away feeling heard and supported. A medicine wheel is used to guide report writing and presentation of information. She strongly advocates for her clients and

ensures they know as much as they can about positive mental health. Jasmine believes that it is never too late to understand yourself better and to get help identifying what your next steps can be. As the seventh generation is upon us, now is the time for the Indigenous people to heal and continue moving

toward positive futures.

When not doing psychology, Jasmine enjoys Taekwondo with her two sons, and you can find her in the hockey rink or archery range cheering on her boys.

An ambitious 30-year-old from Sturgeon Cree First Nation has managed to become a successful entrepreneur despite his very troubled past. His vision and sense of need for creating awareness of Aboriginal culture and understanding continue to fuel his successes. Jules talked about the challenges of peer pressure and the difficulties of breaking from a lifestyle. He spoke of the importance of will power, and of the people he met along the way who gave him a chance. He explained how key following his passion had been to be successful, and how much courage and trust that took. Jules emphasized on the importance of self-confidence : the more he believed in himself, the more things started coming his way. He shared the turning points in his transition, fatherhood being one of the most important. Jules always focused on looking forward "We can't change our past. What we can change is the future."  

 Kimberly Tootoosis lives on Poundmaker Cree Nation in Treaty Six

Territory. She is a mother of four children who are now associates of Red Echo, a family practice that has provided training, workshops as well as counseling since 1993. First and foremost she is a grandmother to eight granddaughters, Her late husband Arsene Tootoosis founded Red Echo on the vision of providing quality and effective workshops and seminars to First Nation communities and agencies. They worked as a team until his passing in May of 2015.

Kimberly has a Masters in Aboriginal Social Work and a Bachelors Degree

in Social Work. She uses both western and traditional modalities of counseling including Grief work, Journey work, Family and Couples

counseling as well play therapy with children. Red Echo and Associates provides specialized trainings in Native Family Systems In the Spirit of the Family, Life Skills Coach/ Facilitator Development Training, Traditional Parenting, Healing and Recovery, Grief and Recovery, as well as many other specialized workshops. She also provides staff development training based on the needs of the agency. She has provided counseling and therapy to many communities and is presently in private practice with clients through NIHB and the IRS programs with Indigenous Services Canada

Mallory Yawnghwe is a dynamic force in the worlds of entrepreneurship and community engagement, leveraging her extensive experiences, deep community ties, and education to drive positive change. As the Co-Founder, CEO & Chief Reconciliation Officer of Indigenous Box, Mallory champions Indigenous businesses and nurtures meaningful connections within and between Indigenous communities and corporate Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Supply Chain Management from MacEwan University and is the only Indigenous person in Canada to hold a Supply Chain Management Professional designation.

Highly respected in business and community circles, Mallory has consulted and provided educational insights for numerous initiatives, including the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership’s Circle of Abundance, Fort Edmonton Park's Indigenous Peoples Experience, MacEwan University’s Centre for Supply Chain Excellence, the Royal Alberta Museum’s Human History Exhibit, Supply Chain Canada, Global Affairs Canada, the Government of Alberta’s Indigenous Learning Initiative, the University of Waterloo’s Economic Development course, and small business advisory meetings for the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion of Canada, and Edmonton Global.

Derek M. Bruno is a member of the Samson Cree Nation in Alberta. Recognized Canada-wide as an entrepreneur, instructor, speaker, author, mentor and facilitator, Derek brings a strengths- based approach to supporting corporations, educators, and governments at every level in rising to meet the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP). As the Founder and Managing Partner of SevGen Consulting, he believes in seven generation thinking to advance the evolution of Indigenous relations and governance. Having served two terms as Councillor for his Nation, he has firsthand experience related to Indigenous relations. His passion for community development inspired his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Cape Breton University and his commitment to leading visionary projects that bridge the worlds of business and Indigenous communities.

 A radio personality on the Windspeaker Radio Network, has been a host of the Heartbeat of Nations powwow program on 98.5 fm Edmonton but broadcasting Alberta wide.
A Nakota/Cree from the Paul First Nation is a men's traditional dance champion, a hunter/outdoorsman has made a career of working first children, youth & families in different capacities.
An experienced powwow emcee and arena director of many years has been head staff of many powwows including Kehewin Cree Nation, Paul First Nation, Navajo Nation Fair, Carry the Kettle Nakota Nation,
Painted Hand Casino, Sikisika Nation Fair and San Manuel, California to mention a few.   

Allow the whisperings of your heart’s awakening to lead you on a journey of remembering as you receive Jeff’s messages of truth, timeless wisdom and spiritual insights to guide you back to a place of balanced perspective. Jeff has accumulated a wealth of practical experience through sacred teachings, ceremonial rituals and inner reflections. His inner guidance has taken him on domestic and international travels and explorations with Elders, Mystics and Teachers who have graciously modelled how to deeply know oneself amidst a world of external distraction, accelerated change and increased social isolation. Whether working among audiences, with groups or individuals, Jeff has an innate ability to guide people to tune into themselves and break through obstacles which have been blocking their progress and creating suffering. Once he helps them release these discordant energies people have experienced noticeable and instantaneous results manifest. Additionally, individuals report feeling reconnected, grounded and peaceful with a renewed sense of belonging and purpose. 

Jeff is emerging as a leader in the field of Human Development, having worked with thousands of people from a variety of backgrounds, circumstances and professional experiences. He is a sought after keynote speaker, coach and workshop facilitator for conferences and community engagements. Jeff currently operates Soaring Eagle Seminars Inc. (SESI), where he delivers thought provoking and transformational seminars, workshops, presentations and keynote addresses. His roots as a First Nations man from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation puts him in a unique position to aid in the efforts of reconciliation at home in Canada and abroad. 

Jeff is an innovative thinker, entrepreneur, community leader and loving family man to his children. He understands the power of life-long learning and growth and continuously seeks knowledge to improve himself and expand the breadth and depth of his presentations, seminars, workshops and coaching interactions. Jeff utilizes the over 25 years’ experience in the senior human resource development field to create lasting results in the lives of those he crosses paths with.

“The mind is very limited, compared to the vastness of your Spirit” – Jeff Hunter

Bobbie Racette is the Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus, a talent marketplace that leverages proprietary technology to match organizations and entrepreneurs with highly skilled Canadian and American fractional administrative workers. Forbes recently announced Virtual Gurus as one of the top 19 Innovative Tech Startups to watch. 

Bobbie is on a mission to create employment opportunities for underrepresented individuals, setting a mandate within her own company that 95% of her workers will identify as female, 65% a part of the BIPOC community, and 45% part of the LGBTQ+ community. An unstoppable force in the Canadian startup community, Bobbie acts as a mentor for eCommerce North and serves on the Board of the Telus Friendly Future Foundation, helping to build brighter futures for at-risk youth through the power of technology. She’s also a member of The51’s Community Council and Calgary’s CORE Working Group, ensuring the voices of underrepresented folx are included at both local and national levels. Named as one of 50 Changemakers for 2021 by Report on Business magazine, Bobbie was also recently honoured by Startup Canada as Indigenous Entrepreneur and Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. Bobbie is a Cree-Metis woman who prides herself on building an inclusivity-first company, championing indigenous people and the LGBTQ+ community.

Danita Strawberry is a fluent Cree/Anishinaabe woman from the O’Chiese First Nation and is a 35-year veteran in Social Work. 

Her desire to help her people has led her down many roads and has also worked in other fields always looking to empower her people in anyway she can. 

She spent many years researching Indigenous traumas and is one of the first in doing so. Her experience in traumas among Indigenous people is vast and her workshops in this area are very thorough beginning from pre-contact to post contact and the generational impacts.

Rob St Denis is a member of Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation in Treaty 6 by relation of his kookum,

Helen Yahyahkeekoot and great grandfather Edward Yahyahkeekoot. Rob’s mother’s side is from

Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan. He is happily married go his wife, Candace from Siksika

Nation for the past 22 years and together raise their two children Kovey & Audey who are registered in Siksika nation.

Rob has completed:Business Administration diploma from SAIT, Bachelor of Management degree with a major in Human Resources & Labour Relations from

the University of Lethbridge and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Saskatchewan.

Rob worked in labour market development programming targeting Treaty Status Indians for over 20 years with Treaty 7. During Rob’s time in labour market programming, he served on national

committees, was recognized for designing a best practice on how to employ post-secondary students

and has provided several presentations on how to recruit & retain First Nations employees.

In August 2023, Rob accepted a role with Prairies Economic Development Canada to provide supports

for Indigenous communities that are evaluating a transition to clean energy. In addition to working full

time with the federal government Rob is a sessional instructor with the University of Lethbridge

teaching Indigenous Governance and Business Management.