The Team

PROGRAM LEAD (She/Her)

Kianna is a Métis & Ukrainian woman from Red River with roots to St. Andrews. She Resides in Winnipeg (Treaty 1) where she received her B.Sc in Environment with a focus in water stewardship. She is a water quality scientist, artist and organizer.

Kianna grew up on Lake Winnipeg and has spent her life experiencing the changes and deterioration to the health of the lake. These experiences shaped her calling to advocate for the health of our sacred lake. Over the last 5 years she has worked within various water quality monitoring projects related to the health of Lake Winnipeg & its surrounding rivers, as well as co-creating land-based education programs with Elders that foster knowledge exchange of land-based skills, Indigenous knowledge and technical environmental monitoring skills for Indigenous youth.

She is a proud member of Red River Echoes where she organizes with other Métis/Michif folks for Land Back, the strengthening of our relations, and reclaiming our sovereignty across the homelands.

DIRECTOR (He/Him)

Daniel is an Anishinaabe, Irish and Métis man from Animakee Wa Zhing First Nation on Lake of the Woods. He moved to Winnipeg, but his heart is in the lakes and red pine forests of his home out of the Treaty Three Territory. He was first called to help the land and waters while canoeing on Kakagi lake.

He pursued a biology degree out of the University of Winnipeg. With the knowledge and tools, he has worked the last 17 years to assist Indigenous peoples all around Turtle Island to strengthen their food, land and water self-determination, and has received many humbling teachings about the ways of living and knowing of his ancestors.

He currently lives in Winnipeg with his family, where he taps maple trees and attempts to learn Anishinaabemowin.

COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR (He/They/She)

Quinton is a Cree, Two-Spirit & Indigiqueer person from Winnipeg, MB (Treaty 1). A band member of Cowessess First Nation, they have familial roots in both Treaty 4 and Treaty 5.

Having grown up in Winnipeg’s North End & Elmwood neighbourhoods, Quinton identifies as a self-proclaimed Urban Neechi. Their love for community is rooted in Urban Indigenous community organizing and harm reduction. They credit their Indigenous and Two-Spirit elders, knowledge keepers and kin for their active roles in community and paving the way for current and future generations. They are committed to sustainable and equitable futures, which include but are not limited to abolition, Land Back and liberation of all marginalized peoples.

Quinton is a helper, organizer, singer, artist, DJ and performer. They are currently a co-chair of Winnipeg’s Two-Spirit Powwow and a member of local Indigenous drag collective The Bannock Babes. Ekosi!