president's council on truth and reconciliation

dr. moira mcpherson became 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 ’s eighth president & vice-chancellor on september 1, 2018, after serving as interim president & vice-chancellor between january 2018 and september 2018. prior to that, she served as the institution’s provost & vice-president (academic) since 2012, where she provided strategic leadership for institutional visioning for academic and community connections, international recruitment and partnerships, as well as program development, accreditations, and resource allocations.

dr. mcpherson began her progressive career at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 in 1987 as an assistant professor in the department of physical education and athletics. after seven successful years as director of the school of kinesiology where she established a strong reputation as a dynamic applied scientist and coach facilitator, dr. mcpherson’s effective collaborative leadership approach led her to being named associate vice-president (academic), a position that saw her design and implement some pivotal new academic processes to achieve the university’s academic goals. after stepping in to serve as acting vice-president (academic) in 2010, she was appointed deputy provost in 2011, and subsequently appointed as provost & vice-president (academic) in 2013.

dr. mcpherson’s understanding of, and commitment to, 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 continues to be demonstrated through her capacity for strategic leadership, a purposeful dedication to 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , and her influence on several high impact projects. these projects include the 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 -georgian college partnership, a collaboration that is designed to meet the needs of 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 and employers in simcoe county; the gichi kendaasiwin centre, a capital project to support a vibrant indigenous student, faculty and staff presence and foster greater connections with communities; and lakehead’s immersive technology initiative, lakehead’s distance delivery experiences designed to connect learners in rural and remote communities, and now around the world.

dr. mcpherson led the development and implementation of 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 ’s 2012-2017 academic plan, the university’s transition to the institutional quality assurance process, and to a strategic enrolment management framework. she has led the development of the university’s strategic mandate agreements, and established and maintains oversight on the implementation of the integrated planning and budgeting process. her leadership continues to ensure the university’s strategic priorities are embraced and realized through its strategic and academic plans.

dr. mcpherson served two terms on the ontario universities council on quality assurance, was a member of the executive committee for the ontario council of academic vice-presidents, and served as the chair of the board of directors for the northern ontario school of medicine (nosm). she currently serves on the council of ontario universities’ executive heads committee, universities canada’s university women’s leadership advisory group and its international subcommittee, and is the vice-chair of nosm’s board of directors. dr. mcpherson’s active involvement in foundations and other organizations includes her work with the mcconnell foundation’s initiative on regional reconciliation and the northern ontario health innovation cluster.

dr. mcpherson holds a phd specializing in applied biomechanics from the university of alberta, and has been regularly sought out for her scholarly and professional expertise in applied kinematic and biomechanical skill analyses by both national and international organizations.

dr. cynthia wesley-esquimaux served as vice provost for indigenous initiatives at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 for three years. effective september2016 she was appointed as the 1^st indigenous chair for truth and reconciliation in canada for 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 and she continues to develop pathways forward to reconciliation across canada. cynthia is responsible for the development and implementation of the president’s council for the truth and reconciliation and the eight modules that have been designed to engage the staff, faculty and administration of the lakehead community.

cynthia was the inaugural nexen chair for indigenous leadership at the banff centre for arts and creativity and remains a faculty member in the indigenous learning program. she is a board member for the teach for canada non-profit which addresses the needs of indigenous schools in northern ontario. cynthia was inducted as a “honourary witness” by the truth and reconciliation commission of canada in 2014, and is the chair of the governing circle for the national centre for truth and reconciliation at the university of manitoba.

she is a member and resident of the chippewa of georgina island first nation in ontario and has dedicated her life to building bridges of understanding between peoples. she sees endless merit in bringing people from diverse cultures, ages, and backgrounds together to engage in practical dialogue and applied research initiatives. she is deeply committed to public education and active youth engagement from all cultures and backgrounds. 

cynthia co-founded a youth project out of the university of toronto, the university of saskatchewan and 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 . information on the canadian roots exchange (cre) can be found at: www.canadianroots.ca.

dr rita shelton deverell, edd oise/ut, dissertation on arts policy, is a theatre and media artist. she is a co-founder of vision tv, former news director at aptn where she mentored her indigenous successor, and a member of the order of canada. in 2019 deverell’s book american refugees: turning to canada for freedom was published by university of regina press and her play who you callin black eh? garnered two ontario arts council theatre recommender grants. she is a trustee of the royal ontario museum, makes her home near the   orilllia campus, and in 2017 was gratified to receive an honorary doctorate from lakehead.

dr. sonja grover graduated in 1976 from o.i.s.e./university of toronto with a phd in applied psychology and has taught and conducted research at several canadian universities. in addition she has worked as a psychologist in applied clinical settings in canada and new zealand.  dr. grover is a full professor with 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 who joined the faculty of education in 2001 and was named 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 (sshrc area) 2012 distinguished researcher in recognition of excellence in research.  she is an associate editor of the international journal of human rights. since joining lakehead, dr. grover has published extensively in the field of international law including peer reviewed law articles and to date fourteen single authored books with major international academic law publishers. her work has focused primarily on accountability for international atrocity crimes committed against children.

dr. kaitlyn watson has dedicated her research, teaching, and community engagement to indigenous/non-indigenous relations as a settler canadian. she recently completed her doctorate in western university’s faculty of education in which her dissertation research investigated how educators and community members understand and actualize reconciliation in their personal and professional lives. completing her master of arts at trent university in canadian studies and indigenous studies, and undergraduate degree at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 in interdisciplinary studies, kaitlyn has explored indigenous-colonizer issues from historical, geographic, and literary dimensions. kaitlyn also has a bachelor of education with teachable subjects in english and geography from 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 . while kaitlyn has learned immensely from her academic studies, community-based education is where she has learned most deeply about indigenous peoples and perspectives.

sandra jeppesen researches and is an activist in autonomous media and social movements from an intersectional feminist, queer, trans, anti-racist, anti-capitalist & decolonizing perspective. co-founder of the media action research group (marg), she is professor in media, film, and communications at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 orillia, where she held the 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 research chair in transformative media and social movements (2016-2019).

gary pluim, phd is an assistant professor in the faculty of education, orillia. his academic work focuses on educational programming and pedagogies in diverse, international, and intercultural contexts. his publications have addressed intersections, opportunities, and tensions between critical global citizenship education, and education that is place-based, reflexive, and intensely local. gary is originally from ottawa, but he and his family now live on treaty 16 territory in simcoe county. before coming to lakehead, gary was a teacher in tuktoyaktuk, nwt and a community development worker in several indigenous communities in south america. his teaching at lakehead has included courses in social difference, human rights, and a travelling, experiential course on the histories of indigenous and settler relations in simcoe county, one that will now be offered as a place-based education course in the faculty of education.

阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 has named denise baxter as its new vice-provost, indigenous initiatives effective october 30, 2017. denise previously held the position of the principal of adult and continuing education at lakehead district school board. she is completing her phd in equity and indigenous education at york university. as an established education leader, denise has worked in multiple contexts including public school boards, ministry of education, 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 and first nations private schools. within each of these contexts, she has built capacity and partnerships with multiple community stakeholders. her work with the community has involved education conferences, workshop presentations, and capacity building with educators in first nations schools.

denise’s current doctoral research and professional writing support her educational experiences and are focused on decolonizing educational systems. she is a marten falls first nation member, and maintains that preserving and practicing cultural traditions and ceremony keeps her connected to the community, aboriginal cultures, traditions, and protocol. all of this has allowed her to establish networks, strengthen relationships with indigenous communities and governments, as well as, build capacity between first nations and public and private partners. this includes partnerships that have supported multiple initiatives that advance educational outcomes for aboriginal 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 .

additionally, her cultural competency allowed her to serve as co-chair of the ministry of education, literacy and numeracy secretariat's first nations, metis and inuit provincial committee. her extensive educational experience has included opportunities to lead and teach across multiple educational environments including public schools k-12, first nations schools and first nations private schools, and the university. as a public-school educator and leader, she has had the opportunity to work within high-need inner-city schools, french immersion schools, and adult and continuing education. denise has been recognized for achieving the highest provincial assessment scores in the school board in a significantly marginalized community school, building a collaborative inquiry project between english and french immersion 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 and teachers in conjunction with 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 , as well as, fostering a collaborative inquiry within adult and continuing education to decolonize our learning environment. her work with first nations schools has included building capacity with leaders and teachers, supporting school improvement, as well as, opening matawa learning centre private secondary school.

as a part of the paul martin initiative, denise had the opportunity to be a mentor in two first nations communities in southwestern ontario. through her mentorship, the communities achieved well above the provincial standard of 75% in the eqao provincial assessment. her recent experience with adult and continuing education has required her to manage a budget in excess of one million dollars that is solely grant and community partner funded. these community partnerships are built and maintained on her own, as the adult and continuing education principal. these efforts have led to opening four new sites this year and an expansion of 600k annually. most recently, she developed and co-instructed 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 's principal qualification program part i and ii. denise’s masters work focused on building relationships with indigenous parents and caregivers as a critical entry point for indigenous families into the public school system. this research led to the creation of aboriginal presence in our schools – a cultural resource for staff which was adopted and adapted by several public and catholic school boards across the province.

jerri-lynn is the indigenous curriculum specialist at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 . she is cree/metis and originally from winnipeg, where she received her aboriginal languages (diploma)/bachelor of arts (geography)/bachelor of education through a joint program with the university of winnipeg and red river college, and most recently, a master of education in education for change: specialization in indigenous education from 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 . 

she has worked at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 for 7 years and comes to this position from the office of indigenous initiatives as the former indigenous transition year program coordinator. she has extensive experience in curriculum development focused on indigenous ways of knowing and being, and has taught in high school, adult education, and post-secondary and has had the opportunity of facilitating many workshops inside and outside the university community.     

her research interests include indigenous education, access programs for indigenous 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 and indigenous research approaches.

robin sutherland, a mushkego innino (swampy cree) and proud member of fort albany first nation (fafn), obtained his b.a./b.ed. (english and history) from 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 and went on to become a secondary school teacher in his home community (fafn).  after moving back to thunder bay in 2016, he returned to lakehead in the capacity of aboriginal transitions advisor, assisting the 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 indigenous community with recruitment, retention, program development, and outreach.  together, these experiences have helped robin in his role as the director of indigenous relations for the bora laskin faculty of law since 2018.  as part of his portfolio at the law school, robin facilitates the mandatory first-year indigenous perspectives course.  in addition to spending time on the land when he can, robin enjoys supporting 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , especially indigenous 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , in realizing their potential and achieving their goals.

allysha wassegijig, indigenous initiatives coordinator brings over 8 years of experience working in post-secondary student services. a proud odawa from wiikwemkoong, allysha is passionate about learning anishnaabemowin and supporting others who work to preserve indigenous languages around the world. allysha has gathered traditional knowledge through helping with family and community ceremonies, as well as attending teachings with respected elders. allysha's academic background is in kinesiology and health promotion with research in a holistic approach to healthy living centred on the family unit. she aspires to connect her volunteer work with multiple organizations across simcoe-muskoka region to address major themes of the truth and reconciliation commission's calls to action: education, language and culture, health and justice, and child welfare.

mercedes jacko (she/they) is bear clan and her family is from birch island in whitefish river first nation. she is proudly both first nation ojibwe and canadian with an urban indigenous perspective. mercedes has been working in postsecondary student services since 2015, and is currently the indigenous initiatives coordinator at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 ’s orillia campus. 

mercedes is passionate about advocacy of indigenous peoples and 2slgbtq+ communities. her academic background is in psychology and women studies and has gathered traditional knowledge through traditional teachings with elders and community ceremonies. mercedes aspires to utilize her knowledge while embedding the truth and reconciliation commission of canada's calls to action, along with the missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and 2slgbtq+ communities (mmiwg2s)’s calls to justice, in her work in the simcoe county region.