Crystal Bomberry
Crystal Bomberry is from the Mohawk Nation-Turtle Clan of the Haudenosaunee, and a proud community member of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nations Territory in Southern Ontario. She values her many family and community relationships in addition to her role with the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle since 2009 as a Community Knowledge and Partnership Worker. During this time and beyond, she has found great value and contentment in her work around diabetes prevention and holistic health promotion. With additional certifications in Personal Training, Healthy Eating, Yoga, and Mindfulness, she has a deep passion for promoting the profound benefits of a holistically balanced lifestyle. The Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle approach combines Western diabetes knowledge with traditional wisdom and Indigenous influences.
Edwin C. Taylor (Kaangaadese)
Edwin C. Taylor (Kaangaadese) is from Walpole Island via Curve Lake First Nation. He is an active learner and instructor of Ojibway language, with fluency. He is a member in good standing with Walpole Island- Anishinaabemowin Language Advisory Group (ALAG). He is actively teaching evening Ojibway language classes at Walpole Island and Algonac, Michigan and is presently employed at Bkejwanong Children’s Centre as their Cultural Enrichment Instructor.
Moses Lunham
MOSES LUNHAM is an Anishinaabe artist from Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. He studied graphic arts from Fanshawe College. Drawing inspiration from his Anishinaabe identity, Moses expresses his knowledge of his culture through art. He has received a lifetime achievement award from his community for his work in the arts and continues to inspire healing and learning of the arts across Turtle Island.
Nancy Antone
Shekoli Swakweku Kanaktano•lú ní: yukyáts ukwehuwé:néha’. Nancy yukyáts o’sluni• khéne. Othayú:ni niwaki’taló:tʌ̲. Onʌyota’a:ká niwakuhutsyó:tʌ̲.
Hello everyone, the name gifted to me in my language is Kanaktano•lú, meaning a precious place. Nancy is my name in English. I am wolf clan from Oneida Nation of the Thames.
As for a little bit about me, in my personal life I can often be found beading, sewing or visiting family. I have two younger sisters who double as my best friends, and a little hound dog named Drizzle that keeps me active every day.
Professionally, I am the Harm Reduction Care Coordinator at Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre. I provide harm reduction supports to Indigenous people who use injection drugs. I believe deeply that the teachings we have as Indigenous people truly align with the principles of main stream harm reduction and by finding a path for the two to work alongside one another, we can provide the best support to encourage healing with our relatives who are struggling.
Sophie Pheasant
Sophie is guided by clanship and identity as a Bode’wadmi Kwe of the Three Fires Confederacy. A mother of three children, Sophie is rooted in honouring Anishinaabe ways of being and knowing. Passionate about engagements that will contribute to collective wellness and healing for all Anishinaabek through Indigenous worldview and Education. Her experience includes over 20 Years of community program design, development and delivery. She shares enthusiastically, encourages lovingly and lives vividly, just as her Ancestors would expect!
Valarie King
Edebwed Ogichidaa Kwe-She who speaks the Truth Warrior woman leader. Mkwaa dodem. New Credit doonjibaa. English name is Valarie King. She has lived on Mississaugas of the Credit all of her life. She has been a skaabayis (helper) in the community and off reserve in various employment and volunteer or grass root positions. For the last 30 years, she strived to bring the sacred bundles of traditional teachings back to the people. Ceremonies and rites of passages such as Grandmother moon ceremonies, fastings, traditional teachings workshops, drumming, singing, and feasts. She has been working with the Traditional medicines and will be soon opening Dancing Moon Holistic centre offering traditional programs for healing and herbal products. She uses her spiritual sight to be a good helper utilizing energy work to do clearings, medicines, her medicine bundles, and sometimes Western methods. She has 7 children and 7 grandchildren in which they all sing and do traditional dancing around the big drum and hand drum. She does activism work for families of missing and murdered Aboriginal women, for the sacred water. She had worked at Juddah’s place as the holistic counsellor working collaboratively with a doctor and herbalist. She is a Chartered Herbalist, completed her ECE, Bachelor Arts in Health and Women Studies and A minor in Indigenous Studies. Completed her Masters in Indigenous Social Work.