Associates

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Melania is Georgian Bay Métis and currently resides on the unceded territory of the Quw’utsun Hwulmuhw. Her familial roots are located around the northeastern shore of Lake Huron, particularly Penetanguishene and McKerrow, ON. 

She grew up in Calgary and attended post-secondary in Edmonton and holds a B.Sc. in Nutrition and Food Science and an M.A. in Indigenous Community Development, both from the University of Alberta. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Community Development from Royal Roads University, is a Certified Cultivating Safe Spaces Facilitator, and a Tul’ix/Arvigo® Abdominal Massage Therapist. Throughout her life Melaina has also been gifted with traditional knowledge around plants as food and medicines. Her teachers have included her paternal grandmother, Lillian Cormier, her father, Robert Patenaude, Elise Krohn, Rachel Beck, Micheline Boisvert, and Della Rice-Sylvester, among others.

Melaina has worked for fourteen years in the non-profit sector as a community developer. She has worked in food security, alongside Indigenous communities across Western Canada and the Territories, helping to strengthen local food systems and empower local knowledge keepers. She has also worked in the homelessness sector, influencing systems change using a decolonizing lens. More recently, she completed the Cultivating Safe Spaces Trainer-the-Trainer with Elaine Alec and has witnessed how impactful the framework can be for organizations seeking to decolonize their internal and external practices. 

Melaina connects deeply to the importance of fostering collective stewardship for the natural world and values cultivating meaningful relationships with people, animals, and Mother Earth. She is passionate about the preservation of ancestral skills and regularly facilitates herbal medicine workshops in Indigenous communities and organizations, connecting people with plants and sharing traditional knowledge that has been passed down to her.

Email: bluestonearvigo@searchandsocial

Website: bluestonehealing.ca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlueStoneArvigo; https://www.facebook.com/Landapothecary

Instagram: www.instagram.com/land_apothecary

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Sylvia Scow, Associate

Coming soon!

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Terry Poucette, Associate

Terry has a PhD in public administration from the University of Victoria, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Victoria, bachelor’s degree in First Nations studies from Vancouver Island University and a social work diploma from Mount Royal University. For her dissertation, Terry researched good First Nations governance. This gave her the opportunity to learn from First Nation leaders, administrators, Elders and community members about the challenges of First Nations governance under an Indian Act regime. What Terry learned informed the title of her dissertation report: Effective First Nations Governance: Navigating the Legacy of Colonization.

Terry has spent most of her career as a senior manager of on-reserve First Nations organizations in Alberta and BC.  After she got her doctorate, Terry was a limited term assistant teaching professor and manager of the Diploma in Indigenous Community Development and Governance at the University of Victoria. Following that, she led the Indigenous Relations Office at the City of Calgary for 4 years. Terry is currently an Associate Professor and Director of the Grandmother’s Lodge at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary.    

As a reserve resident, Terry sees firsthand the effects of colonization and is passionate about supporting First Nations people and communities with healing, decolonization, and rebuilding. She recognizes the difficulties of decolonizing under the Indian Act and is focused on ways that First Nations can implement their inherent right to self-government, thereby clearing the way for recovery, restoration, and prosperity.    

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Patricia Mcdougall, Associate

Patricia McDougall is Coast Salish from Klahoose First Nation (KFN) on Cortes Island. Patricia holds a BA in Professional Communication, a diploma in Business Administration and Administration of Aboriginal Governance.

Patricia holds a seat as Councillor for KFN, is the Chair of the KFN Finance Committee and sits on the Board of Directors for Qathen Wegus Management Corporation.

Patricia is skilled at relationship building, problem solving and solution oriented. She contributes significantly to forging partnerships with organizations, governments and groups. Her background in aboriginal governance, professional communication and facilitation fosters collaboration, nation building weaving indigenous perspective into focus and throughout the work she does.

Patricia resides in the unceded traditional territory of Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation in the village of Gold River, BC

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Charlene Everson, Associate

Charlene Everson was born and raised in Comox BC on Vancouver Island. She is of Sahtloot (K’omoks), Pentlatch, Kwakwaka’wakw, Carrier, French Canadian and Norwegian descent, and is a member of the K’omoks First Nation. Charlene carries the name Xanusa’mega from the Gigelgam Walas Kwakiutl. She and her family are active participants in the cultural traditions of the Kwakwaka’wakw or Kwakiutl speaking peoples.

Charlene worked for several years in the education and capacity building sector and has a passion for restoring Indigenous knowledge systems within Indigenous organizations. This passion began to germinate while attending the University of Victoria, Indigenous Community Development and Governance Diploma Program. This path has led her to working as the Cultural Capacity Coordinator at Nanwakolas Council Society, where she works to translate ancient knowledge into modern systems with the help of knowledge holders. Charlene also served one term as an elected Councillor at K’omoks First Nation. Charlene joined DHNB in 2019 as an associate where she supports logistics and provides administrative support, cultural and protocol integrity, and strategic facilitation.

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Cheryl Stone, Associate

Cheryl is of mixed heritage and is a member of the Wauzhushk Onigum Nation with ancestral ties to Norway House Cree Nation, as well as Irish and English ancestry. Her greatest joy is in being a sister, aunty, mother and grandmother.

Cheryl has 15 years of Leadership experience, including working for three years as Manager of Indigenous Development at Vancouver Island University in the Office of Indigenous Education and Engagement, where she supported decolonial approaches to education and training, bridging relationships and facilitated systems change initiatives within the University. She is passionate about advancing Indigenous voice in all areas and works diligently to advance systems change in academia and to promote the infusion of Indigenous Knowledge.

She has worked extensively with First Nations across BC therefore brings an indepth understanding of diverse Indigenous cultures, worldviews, issues and priorities. Prior to entering academia, Cheryl has 10 years’ experience working in the non-profit sector and brought about significant change in her role as Executive Director. Cheryl is the newest member of Marcia’s team and joined Daxgedim Haanak’ Nation Building this year as an associate.

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Danielle Mitchell, Associate

Danielle was born and raised on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl ̓ ílwətaʔ/ Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She continues to be a guest within the homelands of the Qayqayt Nation and Halq’eméylem speaking peoples. Danielle is Nehiyaw/Métis and of mixed European descent with her ancestral connections to maskêko-sâkahikan (Muskeg Lake Cree Nation) and sisip-sâkahikan (Duck Lake), Saskatchewan.

Danielle is a facilitator and consultant with close to 15 years of leadership supporting complex systems transformation and design. She works with communities, all sectors and levels of leadership, governance and governments to co-design meaningful, sustainable change. This includes uplifting Indigenous ways of knowing, advancing rights and Indigenous-specific anti-racism through strategy, practice, and policy. She walks with and draws on her Indigenous and western ways of doing and being, and specializations in human resources, organizational/ecosystem design, project management, and Indigenous health.  Danielle holds a Master of Arts in Leadership degree from Royal Roads University (Victoria, B.C.).

To most, Danielle is auntie, sister, daughter, niece, grand-daughter, cousin, and friend. She is passionate about Indigenous self-determination, and co-creating futures that honor those who have walked before us, and all generations following. 

Danielle joined Daxgedim Haanak’ Nation Building in 2019 as an associate supporting projects involving research, writing, and strategic facilitation. Detailed bio information can be found on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daniellemitchel1

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Cody Turner, Associate: Video Services

Cody Turner is Gitxsan and Kwakwaka’wakw.  Cody is a young Indigenous entrepreneur, establishing his videography and photography business after completing his Diploma in Visual Arts at Camosun College in 2014.  Cody has had the honor of creating videos for the BC Government, the University of Victoria, Island Marine Aquatic Working Group, the Royal BC Museum, the Breakfast Club of Canada, Groundswell / Tahltan First Nation, and assisted with the Comox Valley Art Gallery / Kumugwe exhibit Potlatch 6767 filming of the grand opening and feast.  Cody joined Daxgedim Haanak’ Nation Consulting as an associate in 2016, where he supported the Provincial Gathering for the Families of Murdered and Missing Women and Girls to document their voices. 

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Shannon Marshall, Associate

Shannon was born, raised, and continues to be a grateful guest on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish people. Today she lives in the beautiful traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən people of the Esquimalt First Nation, Songhees First Nation, and the W̱SÁNEĆ people. She is a member of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation whose territory extends from Prince George east to the border of what is now known as Alberta. She honours her Indigenous heritage, including native Hawaiian, from her mother’s lineage, and British ancestry from her father.

An experienced Communications professional whose career has spanned over 4 decades, Shannon’s experience includes strategic communications planning, media relations, issues management, community relations, and community and economic development. 

Shannon is the proud mom of three children and two beautiful grandchildren and is honoured to be an Auntie to a host of nieces, nephews, and other extended family members and friends.

In 2002 Shannon was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for outstanding and exemplary contributions to her community.  Shannon has been an associate with Daxgedim Haanak’ Nation Building since 2019, where she has supported work in report development, strategic facilitation, and communications. 

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Morrie Dawson, Associate: Graphic Recorder

Morrie Dawson is a graphic recorder based out of the beautiful traditional territory of the Lekwungen peoples. He is Kwakwaka’wakw on his fathers’ side and Gitxsan on his mothers’.
Ever since he was a boy, Morrie showed a burning passion for illustration and creativity. For the better part of two decades, he has directed his passion towards professional cooking, working alongside some of the best chefs in the country.

He has received graphic recording training from Shift-It Coach Christina Merkley, and has been mentored by Kelly Foxcroft-Poirier of White Raven Consulting. Visual Communication has been an essential part of his peoples’ way of living for generations. With his artistic eye, indigenous values, and a mind as sharp as his chef knives, He aims to provide his clients with a unique graphic recording experience.

Morrie’s clients include various Ministries in the BC Government, BC Aboriginal Housing Management Association, Royal Roads University, Hiiye Yu Lelum Friendship Centre, BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres and others. He joined Daxgedim Haanak’ Consulting as an associate in 2021, visit www.modawsoncreative.com for more information.