Darlene Kaboni is from the Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island; her first language is Ojibway and she is knowledgeable in her culture. Darlene has worked for the Attorney General, Ontario Human Rights Commission. Darlene has represented labour on the Boards of the United Way Sudbury & Nipissing Districts and for the Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Centre (SWEAC) and has served as an Executive Member on the Sudbury & District Labour Council. Darlene is currently the Board Chair for Photographers Without Borders (Canada & United States) and is a member of the PWB’s Indigenous Advisory Group whose mandate is to assist in bringing awareness of Indigenous issues internationally through pictures and a collective network of artists and photographers. She was a founding member of OPSEU’s Indigenous Mobilization Team and was the lead for the campaign for justice for those caught up in the 60’s Scoop.

Darlene is also the Board Chair for Weengushk Film Institute’s board of Directors. She is currently working on the Federal Indian Day School Day Class Action file with the Gowlings Law Firm in Ottawa, Ontario.

In her work with labour, Darlene has dealt with bullying and harassment in the workforce and has been subjected to it, and she now looks forward to sharing and helping others. Today Darlene is certified as a trauma-informed training facilitator with CIWBR specializing in the area of Indigenous Workplace and Community Bullying, harassment, and Lateral Violence.

Elaine Alec is a distinguished author and Indigenous leader celebrated for her profound contributions to reconciliation and cultural education. As CEO of Naqsmist Storytellers Inc., she leads innovative educational initiatives that blend Indigenous wisdom with modern practices. Her acclaimed book, “Calling My Spirit Back”, shares her journey of overcoming personal and systemic challenges, establishing her as a thought leader in reconciliation, cultural education, and trauma ­informed practices.

Elaine’s life and career highlight her steadfast commitment to social justice and community empowerment. Raised in a culturally rich environment, she draws inspiration &om her ancestors’ teachings. Elaine is a direct descendant of hereditary chiefs &om both her mother’s and father’s sides; her maternal grandmother was the daughter of Soorimpt and Pelkamulaxw, and her paternal great-grandfather was Chief Basil David.

Throughout her career, Elaine has held diverse roles, including political advisor, Chief of Staff for the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, and Community Planner for her own First Nation. She has also served in various capacities within provincial governments and Indigenous Services Canada, focusing on promoting healing and wellness across over 150 First Nations communities in Canada.

From 2015 to 2023, Elaine was the founder and CEO of Alderhill Planning Inc., where she led efforts to integrate Indigenous Knowledges into community planning. Under her leadership, Alderhill Planning Inc. initiated significant projects such as the Path Forward Women & Girls Safety Community Sessions, responding to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ National Inquiry’s Calls for Justice.

In 2020, Elaine developed the Cultivating Safe Spaces
(CSS) framework, an educational initiative fostering inclusive, respectful, and safe environments through training, workshops, and resources. CSS promotes emotional safety and empowerment, contributing to systemic change in policy, governance, and planning.

In February 2023, Elaine founded Elaine Alec DBA Naqsmist, focusing on training and facilitation. By January 2024, she expanded her vision to establish Naqsmist Storytellers Inc., where she now serves as CEO.

Driven by respect, integrity, and the power of vulnerability, Elaine advocates for deep listening, open sharing, and creating environments where diverse voices are valued. Her advocacy spans policy development, public speaking, and bridging gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

KAYSSPAKI, Clinical MSW, RSW, Certified EMDR Therapist, EMDRIA Consultant, Hypnotherapist, Clinical Trauma Professional

Healing Pathways EMDR Counselling and Consulting

psychologicalsafetyfirst@gmail.com

Shelley works with First Nation Individuals with complex historical and ongoing traumatic experiences within her private practice. She has supported First Nation Schools, Women Shelters, and Children Services by providing group counselling, art therapy, and a variety of kinship and/or parent capacity assessments. Shelley has been affiliated faculty for University of Calgary and Red Crow College teaching and infusing Indigenous framework into university transfer courses. In her clinical practice, she uses EMDR and Somatic approaches, as well as traditional psychotherapy, mindfulness, and hypnotherapy within the cultural understanding of the client. Shelley is a First Nations Dakota Woman who prioritizes the client’s spiritual needs and strengths, with a cultural frame of understanding. She is knowledgeable of the challenges faced by First Nations people. She is married on the Kainai Nation to Moses Spear Chief. They have five grandchildren members of the Kainai Nation. She is an accomplished Women’s Traditional Dancer along with her spouse who is a champion Men’s Traditional Dancer. They have been part of their sacred societies on the Nation. She has presented a variety of topics in the past on First Nation Trauma in surrounding Indigenous communities within Alberta.

Business – 7 years in private practice – client population First Nations, cultural holistic practices. Shelley has worked within schools since 1990 supporting students on/off reserve. She is a facilitator/presenter on topics educating teachers, parents, community members, anxiety, attachment, family violence, grief and loss, suicide and more. Shelley has presenter within Women Shelters facilitating workshops on a variety of topics e.g., addictions, family violence, attachment disruption, art therapy, intergeneration trauma, and its impact on present familial systems. In her private practice she is an advanced certified EMDR therapist and consultant.  She is an EMDR coach for facilitating workshops.  She works with trauma related challenges, pre-verbal trauma, first responders, addictions, dissociation and more.

Sharna M. Sugarman is a proud member of the Blood Band Kainai Nation and a seasoned Indigenous Clinical Counsellor, Behavioralist, and Social Justice Advocate with over 30 years of experience addressing the most complex layers of mental health, trauma, addictions, violence, and systemic inequity. She holds a Master’s in Abnormal Psychology and Clinical Counselling, a BA in Behavioural Psychology-Biology, and decades of frontline experience working with survivors of sexual assault, residential schools, intergenerational trauma, and incarceration. Her approach blends trauma-informed clinical practices with cultural traditions, Elder wisdom, and a relentless commitment to truth, healing, and human rights. Sharna has held roles in federal institutions, women’s shelters, Indigenous health organizations, and correctional facilities, providing direct counselling, crisis intervention, advocacy, and leadership.

Known for her unwavering voice in the face of injustice, Sharna is a CUPE and BCGEU member, an equine therapy practitioner, and a long-standing SPCA volunteer. She has provided support to families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and her deep understanding of the impacts of colonization, oppression, and systemic failure informs every aspect of her work. Whether testifying through advocacy or walking beside a client in pain, Sharna brings strength, truth-telling, and cultural integrity to every role she takes on. She operates from a foundation of lived experience, extensive professional training, and a lifelong dedication to lifting up Indigenous voices and restoring wellness to individuals and communities.

Sharna is located in British Columbia.

Swampy Cree Métis, a Sixties Scoop Survivor and deeply involved in cultural and community activities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brock University and has served as Director of Photographers Without Borders and Treasurer of Weengushk Film Institute.

Alan is also a CIWBR certified trauma-informed trainer and facilitator specializing in Indigenous Workplace or Community Bullying and Lateral Violence.

To compliment his skill set he brings robust background in mediation, investigation, and auditing, having over 30 years of experience in the Ontario Public Service. His career includes roles with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Labour, and the Toronto District School Board.

Alan’s innovative spirit led to the creation of a Voluntary Automated Resolution Communication System (VARCS) to streamline wage claim resolutions, reflecting his forward-thinking approach. His work in payroll audits and testimony in Superior Court has been pivotal in enforcing employment standards.

Residing in St. Catharines, Ontario, Alan is a father of eight. Since retiring in 2022, he enjoys winters on a sailboat in North Miami Beach, Florida, and summers on Manitoulin Island. His passions include golf, sailing, swimming, hockey, and motorcycles.