Our Team
Shift Lab Stewards
Ben Weinlick
Executive Director,
Skills Society
Founder of Action Lab and Co-Founder of Edmonton Shift Lab, Ben was active in creating one of the first social innovation labs in western Canada. He is the founder of an innovation network called Think Jar Collective. One of the stewards of the Edmonton Shift Lab.
Sameer Singh
Co-founder
Edmonton Shift Lab
Sameer Singh is a social innovator and co-founder of the Edmonton Shift Lab. He melds journalism and design with public engagement. He holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Business and an MJ from Carleton University.
Shift Lab 2.0 Team
Avery Letendre
Core Team Member
Shift Lab 2.0
Avery, Native Studies Instructor at the U of A. She is working toward decolonization in Canada and is keen to build bridges, and share knowledge. Avery serves on the Board of Governors at the Bissell Centre and was a Core Team Member for Shift Lab 2.0.
Rabia Naseer
Project Manager
Rabia Naseer has over 15 years of experience working on community development, anti-racism, and human-centered design projects. Rabia holds a Master's degree in Educational Policy Studies with a focus on Social Justice and International Studies in Education.
Dr. Carla Hilario
Assistant Professor
University of BC
Dr. Carla Hilario is a Professor in the School of Nursing at UBC (Okanagan), which is located on Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory. Her research serves to improve young people's health by addressing health issues and access to care, among equity-deserving groups.
Rebecca Craver
Advocate
Rebecca is a pastor in the Moravian Church in North America. In her professional life, Rebecca has focused her attention on institutional transformation. She is also the co-host of the podcast, Create in Me, about Christian worship, creativity and spirituality.
Advisors/Consultants
Roberta Taylor
Award Winning
Game Designer
Roberta Taylor is the designer of multiple award-winning board games. She is passionate about using games to tell stories, awaken curiosity, and create empathy.
Ron J. Lameman
President International
Indian Treaty Council
Ronald [Ron] J. Lameman is a citizen of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation and the President of the International Indian Treaty Council. Ron was also active in each phase of the development of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Elliott Young
Indigenous
Engagement Advisor
Member of Ermineskin Cree Nation, and works to help Indigenous people. He talks to many organizations making sure that everyone's voice is heard and that no one is left behind. Elliott studied Native Studies and Community Engagement at the UofA to help communities.
Liam Burns
Director of Digitization
Liam Burns is an independent game designer from Edmonton Alberta. Working full time as a IT Specialist for the Armed Forces, Liam spends his time (when he's not chasing his three kids around the house) between board games, mixed martial arts, and 3d printing.
Ryan Janvier
Graphic Designer
Software Developer
Rooted in his deep connection to the land, Ryan's work is guided by a great belief in the role of technology in sharing Indigenous culture. In all his projects, he is dedicated to incorporating Indigenous perspectives and values, ensuring their authenticity.
Jayde Arcand
Nêhiyawiskwêw Artist
Jayde Arcand is a nêhiyawiskwêw artist and mother from Alexander First Nation. She has struggled with mental health from a young age and has used art as a way to heal from intergenerational traumas. She practices her art within many mediums such as painting, beading, graphic design, and sewing. Her impressionism in all mediums are a depiction of her innate femininity. She keeps Mother Earth in her thoughts as she creates. She comes from a long line of artists and acknowledges her privilege. Her dream is to share her gift with her children and with people who struggle with mental health, as art has healed and continues to heal her.
IKWC/YIEF personnel
James Knibb-Lamouche
Director of Innovation and Research
James is Cree/Métis from kapawe’no on Treaty 8. Is the Director of Innovation and Research at the IKWC, and was a Research Fellow at Harvard Medical, and a Research Officer with the National Aboriginal Health. His background in research, Indigenous Knowledge and in the making of educational resources, provides access to traditional teachings as the foundation of educational success.
Tiffany Smith
Program Director
Blossoming Flower
Tiffany Smith is the Program Director of the Yellowhead Indigenous Education Foundation’s Blossoming Flower Education program. “By building relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people we can learn about each other, which will lead to a less racist society in time.”
Shayna Arcand
Interim Communications Manager
Shayna Arcand, is a nêhiyaw-iskwêw (Cree woman) from Alexander First Nation. Receiving Bachelor’s Degree in Native Studies from the University of Alberta in 2019. Shayna works at the IKWC in Edmonton, Alberta, as the Interim Communications Manager & Special Projects Worker.
Megan Auger
Interviewer/Researcher
Megan Auger is an Interviewer/Researcher at the IKWC. She obtained her B.A. in Anthropology from MacEwan University in 2017 and is currently working towards a B.A in Sociology. Her interests include reading, photography, travelling, and learning about different cultures.
Rhonda Gladue
Senior Researcher
Rhonda Gladue is from Kito Sahkahikan in Treaty 8 Territory. She completed her formal education at U of A, graduating with her B.Ed. in Secondary Education and Native Studies Degree. The other form of education she received/s derives from Traditional Cree teachings and protocols taught by Elders and Knowledge Keepers of her community.
Brandon Alexis
Digital Archivist and Media
Brandon Alexis Is a Digital Archivist and Media for IKWC. He is from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. His position is to manage a storage system with all forms of Media Files and operate film equipment for research and interviews.
Shauntee Fryingpan
Researcher/Resource Developer
Shauntee Fryingpan is a Researcher/Resource Developer at the IKWC. She graduated from the University of Alberta with her B.Ed. Part of her role is to populate the IKWC Virtual Library with a specialized collection of resources for First Nation students and Educators.
Thank you to Our Sponsors
Exploring wâhkôhtowin is supported by the Skills Society, Action Lab, Edmonton Community Foundation, Government of Alberta and Edmonton Heritage Council. We acknowledge the support of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation with funding provided by the Government of Canada
