Elder Dr. Joe Michael

Mi’kmaw Elder Joe Michael is a highly regarded inspirational and spiritual leader from the community of Sipekekatik, formerly known as Indian Brook. As the Elder in Residence at Acadia University, Elder Joe Michael is a mentor to Indigenous as well as to non-Indigenous students. He believes that young people are the future and that their education benefits from many elders’ teachings, of all ethnicities and from different walks of life. Elder Joe Michael has long record of service. He was the first Mi’kmaw member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. During his 25-year RCMP career, he earned respect from Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. He combined his traditional knowledge with contemporary policing practices to increase cross-cultural awareness and develop the RCMP’s Aboriginal Community Policing model that remains part of the force’s cadet training program in Regina. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Acadia University, been appointed to serve as Keptin on the Mi’kmaq Grand Council and was awarded a Knighthood in Spring 2024.

Elder Dr. Lorraine Peters-Whitman

Lorraine Whitman, Grand Mother White Sea turtle and President of Native Women Association of Canada. Grand Daughter of the late Chief Louis Peters and daughter of late Chief Joseph Peters and Elder Doris nee Brooks. Lorraine is one of fourteen children, seven brothers and six sisters. Born and raised in Middleton, Nova Scotia and graduated from Grant MacEwan  Community  College and University of Alberta as a Rehabilitation Practitioner. She is married to husband Thomas and have a daughter Zabrina.

Lorraine had worked on her First Nation community of Glooscap for a total of 30 years, 17 years as an elected councillor, Social Development Officer, Education Councillor, and continued her education at Yellowquill College as a Diabetes Initiative Worker.

In 2017 Lorraine was elected as the President of Nova Scotia Native Womens Association and in 2019 Lorraine was elected as the President for Native Women Association of Canada.

Throughout her working career she has advocated and defending the rights for the Indigenous people and the women, girls and gender diverse community. Over the past 5 years she has concentrated on the Missing Murdered indigenous Women and Girls. Lorraine's advocacy work and volunteerism has also been recognized by receiving her Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Acadia University.

I feel very compassionate about the work I do for equality and to STOP the violence and this can only be done through working together in being part of the solution.

Elder Dr. Piita Irniq

Peter T. Irniq, born in 1947, is an Inuit cultural teacher and consultant, who has lived most of his life in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. He has also lived in the Northwest Territories, Manitoba and presently lives in Ottawa, Ontario. Mr. Irniq served two terms in the Territorial Council of the N.W.T. representing the Keewatin Region riding (1975-79) where he held portfolios of Social Development, Economic Development and Tourism and Natural and Cultural Affairs and the riding of Aivilik (1987-91), as regular member he fought to have Inuit represented at higher levels of the Civil Service, pursue higher education and have a greater presence in business. Mr. Irniq has worked for the Public Service of Northwest Territories and Nunavut in various capacities. Mr. Irniq became Deputy Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth in the new government of Nunavut in 1998 with a mandate of guardianship of traditional Inuit culture and language. His next challenge was to set up the offices of the Official Languages, Access to Information and the Conflict of Interest Commissioners. In April 2000 Mr. Irniq was appointed the Commissioner of Nunavut and served the five-year term. He remained active in the promotion of, preservation of culture and language through Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Inuit Traditional Knowledge) and to work with elders and youth to promote the pride and commitment of our unique culture and language. Mr. Irniq presently sits on The Museum of History on aboriginal advisory committee; as a consultant he has participated in Conferences such as Inuit Studies in Paris; traveled to China and Mongolia at the invitation of the Embassy; writes and counsels on Inuit language and culture; entertains through drum dancing and building Inuksu.

Taylor Baker

Taylor Baker is an Executive Councillor and Legislator for Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN). She is Indigenous with both Coast Salish and Gitxsan ancestry. Taylor was elected in 2022 at 26 years old for a 4 year term, also serving as Co-Chair for TFN’s Housing Advisory Committee. Taylor also worked on the Speaker’s Indigenous Reconciliation Advisory Committee that assisted in the development of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia’s Reconciliation Action Plan release in May 2024. In 2019, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Acadia University.

Lara Hartman

Lara Hartman grew up on a cattle ranch with her parents and brother in Fraser Lake, British Columbia. She is a member of Nak’azdli Whut’en, a First Nation located in Fort St. James, BC. Lara moved to Wolfville to attend Acadia in 2017 and graduated in 2021 with her degree in Politics. After Acadia, Lara moved to Victoria to pursue her Masters’ degree in Political Science. After her education, Lara worked with the Village of Fraser Lake as an Intern working on everything in local government. Lara is very excited to be back at Acadia for this event and is looking forward to being a participant as much as being a speaker.

Kayla Mansfield (Amalkay Lentuk)

Kayla Mansfield/Amalkay Lentuk has called Gaspereau and surrounding communities home for the past 13 years. She is a longtime member of the Native Council of Nova Scotia, a Mom of four and a partner of 13 years. Kayla has dedicated much of her life to ending systemic barriers related to Indigenous peoples, environmental justice and gender equity.  Kayla is currently a Doctoral student within the Nova Scotia Inter-University Doctoral Program, where she has dedicated her efforts to implementing Indigenous storywork to amplify stories of self-determination.

Ana Martin Alvarez

Ana Martin Alvarez is a Policy Officer at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) within the Indigenous and Stakeholder Relations Division. In her role, Ana engages with Indigenous Nations across Canada, ensuring that the impacts on Indigenous and Treaty rights are properly mitigated and that the Duty to Consult and responsibility to engage are respected by proponents in the nuclear sector. Ana is currently leading the development of a new national policy on Indigenous Engagement for the Nuclear Sector. Previously, as a Research Coordinator at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, she authored the guiding principles for research in collaboration with the center. Ana has presented her work at various forums, including the Human Rights Symposium at the Canadian Human Rights Museum in January 2024, where she discussed the right to health and Jordan’s Principle. Ana is passionate about human rights, preserving human dignity, and advocating for Indigenous and Treaty rights. She holds a bachelor's degree in Politics from Acadia University, a Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Policy and Administration, and a Master's in Human Rights.

Holly Meuse (Qali)

Kwe' my name is Holly (Qali) and I am a Mi'kmaw community member from L'sitkuk First Nation. I have three awesome sons and the privilege of raising a beautiful little girl. I am currently teaching Indigenous Knowledge at Mount Saint Vincent University while working on my PhD degree. I am also a Mi'kmaw artist, a Civil Justice of the Peace, and a registered social worker for the province of Nova Scotia. I enjoy gardening, softball, hiking, beekeeping, and chilling with family and friends.  

Mary Nicholas

My name is Mary Nicholas, Elder born in 1956 and live in Pictou Landing First Nation, NS. Graduated Acadia University, Wolfville, in 2000 with a BA in Political Science and minor Psychology. Currently working part-time at Nova Scotia Community College as an Elder advisor. I feel passionate about food security. I plant, grow, harvest and preserve vegetables and fruits. My other activities include gathering and harvesting many other foods with includes wild berries and mushroom. I hold workshops in the community on handling produce safely and readied produce for storing by freezing, and preserving by canning and making jam or jelly. I also have workshop on using produce to daily meals.

G Saleski

G Saleski is an Acadia Alumni, former ASU President, Kinesiology student and Wolfville community member. Since graduating, they have moved to Kjipuktuk and currently work as the Executive Director of Students Nova Scotia, a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group representing postsecondary students all across the province. In their role, they serve as the primary spokesperson for the organization, meeting with government officials and stakeholders to advocate for accessible, affordable, high-quality education that includes the student voice in all decision making. When they're not in the office, G enjoys watching films, playing hockey and adventuring. G looks forward to being back on campus for their second Mawio'mi, the first serving as their favorite memory from their time as an Acadia student.

Sherri Springle

Sherri Springle is a two-spirit Indigenous person whose family is originally from the Cree Nation of Lac La Ronge, Treaty 6. While Sherri was born and raised in BC, she has lived in various places across the country, including the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia.

Sherri is a graduate from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business and is currently working for the Federal Government. Sherri’s pastimes include kayaking, camping and anything else that gets her back to nature.  

Sherri has presented on Indigenous issues at Universities in BC, NS, and for audiences across the country through her involvement in the Federal Government. For the last three years, she has educated and shared lived experience about two-spirit, LGBTQ2S+ and transgender issues - Sherri often uses the pronoun he, but not exclusively, it depends on context. Additionally, Sherri speaks on how the history of colonialism has impacted her family through the death of her grandmother in an Indian Hospital in North Battleford, SK.

As a First Nations person, she has experienced racism and inter-generational trauma, and as the parent of 6 grown kids, and now a two-year old grandchild who lives in the home, she is a champion in her spare time to help enlighten people on these complicated issues. After all, acceptance and celebration of people’s differences will not only strengthen society today, but through ongoing efforts, will strengthen it more so for the next seven generations. As we have all heard, Every Child Matters, and Sherri believes the dream of a better future for all our grandchildren can become reality if everyone makes an effort.