Jacie (she/her) is nehiyaw iskwew, from Wabasca, Alberta. She is a member of Bigstone Cree Nation, of Treaty 8. Jacie joined the Program Management team with experience supporting collaborative approaches, development of sustainable partnerships and coordination of coalition initiatives. Previously, she worked at the organizational level coordinating reconciliation and decolonization efforts, as well, participating in research and data mobilization for system change. She graduated from the University of Calgary with a BA in International Indigenous Studies, with a minor in Geography.  

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Her involvement in community building began when she entered university as a single parent. Participating in student leadership opportunities and volunteerism, often with her children, opened a world of learning and growth potential – from travels to Peru, connection through ceremony and land-based learning, and sharing her story on campus. Her passion is rooted in creating and deepening relationships for unity, wellness, and sense of belonging. Her greatest teachers are now teenagers, she raises with her partner - instilling purpose and curiosity for life.

Jacie is excited to work alongside youth and the Canada Bridges team to help utilize story to empower and identify strength in diverse communities and embrace collective potential toward transformational change for future generations.

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Hi, my name is Rachel (she/her) and I was raised on the land known as Mohkinstsis. From a young age I was pulled into positions of leadership, wishing to create safe and inclusive spaces. This took me to Xixi'ai, Chengdu to collaboratively create a framework for running youth summer camps. Locally, I am a founding member of Empirical Freedom, and have used my experience in the wellness sector to run youth programs at the Mustard Seed's Neighbour Centre. I'm driven by a desire to help people feel better in their day-to-day lives and believe that starts with being seen and heard. As the program assistant for Canada Bridge's social enterprise development, I hope to leverage the knowledge gained from my General Studies BA from Athabasca University to inform the discourse surrounding structural and systemic inequality as we work toward sustainable and equitable social development. Outside of work, I enjoy travelling, movement, concerts, video games, and being by the river or under the stars.

Spirit River Striped Wolf (He/Him) is from the Piikani Nation which helps make up the Blackfoot Confederacy in Treaty 7 Territory. His Blackfoot name is Makoyiomahka which describes an enduring running wolf. Spirit River, in his own journey, has learned from his own experience of intergenerational trauma as a second-generation survivor of the Indian Residential Schools, 60s scoop and the Indian Day Schools.

Spirit River has dedicated his life to improving the conditions of Indigenous Peoples through advocacy, volunteering, and leadership initiatives since his adolescence. He finished his degree at Mount Royal University, achieving a BA in Policy Studies. From 2016 to 2020, Spirit River and a professor created a social enterprise called Otahpiaaki which focused on supporting and promoting the work of Indigenous artistic based entrepreneurs. Spirit River’s role was to research barriers to Indigenous economic success, and so he wrote his award-winning paper “Indigenous Genocide: A Path to Indigenous Self Determination and Success” and now does workshops based on this research for businesses, nonprofits and all other groups and organizations.

From May 2020 to April 2022, Spirit River was the first Indigenous elected President for the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University (re-elected in 2021). In this role he helped secure $5 million for Indigenous student academic centres from the Alberta Government, integrated policy development processes that ensure that marginalized students are prioritized and helped with the rebuilding and shifting that COVID-19 brought to the post-secondary educational system.

Tyra was born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta and represents the Kainai Nation. Tyra is our summer student and works alongside Alison in Siksika as a program assistant. Tyra primarily works with the Meaningful Futures Program, and Girls group at the high school. She enjoys guitar, music, films, and reading. Tyra attends the University of Calgary and recently finished her first year in the Aboriginal Student Access Program. In the future, Tyra hopes to pursue a career in social work and work in Siksika Nation. Tyra loves to engage with her community and with youth. Upon working with Canada Bridges, she hopes to gain knowledge on facilitating and being a role model for youth.

Hey, my name is Vincent, I am in my second year at MRU currently enrolled in Athletic therapy . I have a passion for sports and basketball specifically, I also enjoy listening to music and playing video games in my free time. I looked at SOS Congo and Canada Bridges as an opportunity to reach out, support/be a part of something that the community has been looking for since forever. It's great to be an active leader in our community and lend a helping hand where it's needed!