Elders & Traditional Teachers Gathering

10th Annual Elders and Traditional Teachers Gathering: Fire & Water
Speakers' Bios

Florence Paynter is also one of the Elders-in-Residence at the University of Manitoba's Aboriginal Student Centre where she is available for cultural guidance. She works at the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre as a Research & Development Coordinator. She has also been a member of the Reconnecting with the Land program for Aboriginal youth, led by the Fur Institute of Canada and the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre and she is an Editorial Advisory Board member of First Nations Perspectives: The Journal of MFNERC. Florence is a busy woman who just arrived back from a different event yesterday and was unable to be reached for more biographical information. We are looking forward to hearing her speak.

Garry Robson, an Ojibway from the Peguis First Nation, has been an Aboriginal Awareness Consultant with the Aboriginal Education Directorate for the past 28 years. A member of the Turtle Clan, Garry presents and provides teachings on traditional culture and history to schools, teachers, administrators, parents, community agencies and government departments within the province of Manitoba. Garry is also a poet and storyteller, who speaks about stories of the traditional life of his people as well as the Clan System, Prophecies, 7 Stages of Life and Cradle Board to name a few. Garry Robson is one of the Elders in residence at the University of Manitoba and also the spiritual advisor for the Elders Gathering planning committee.

Dave Courchene - Nii Gaani Aki Innini (Leading Earth Man) has travelled internationally, carrying a message of hope and peace. Dave shares ancient Indigenous knowledge that he believes can act as the foundation in supporting the New Life that Mother Earth is now entering, and that the Elders have confirmed has arrived.

He has created a special place for sharing ancient Indigenous knowledge - the Turtle Lodge - built based on a vision he received many years ago. Indigenous people have always relied on visions and dreams to give guidance and direction in life.

Dave was recently honoured by Indigenous leaders and Elders at the 2010 International Indigenous Leadership Gathering for the work associated with his message and vision, including the work he has done inspiring young people. His recent work has involved initiating International Roundtables

Supporting Ancient Indigenous Knowledge at the Turtle Lodge (May 2010) and the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC (September 2010), which have been co-led by US Congressman Dennis Kucinich. He delivered the Opening Keynote and conducted the Opening Ceremonies at the 2010 G8 Summit on World Religions. In the Spring of 2011, Dave will be initiating Makoose Ka Win and the Vision Quest rites of passage to take young people of all cultures entering adulthood back to the land and the Elders to find their uniqueness and promote peace.

Terry is Dakota from the Birdtail Sioux First Nation near Virden, Manitoba. He lives a traditional lifestyle and is a respected pipe maker, which he has been doing for over half his life. He is almost fifty-five years old and has been married since 1977 to his "significant other/better half/most cherished partner/principal helper and wife" Cherie aka Mon Cherie. Together they share the joys of one child and many grandchildren (including nieces, nephews, etc) as is the Dakota tradition. Terry has known and worked with Arvol Looking Horse since 1985. In his spare time Terry makes a living in the construction industry.

William Dumas was natural born in South Indian Lake, Manitoba. He received his education initially from hanging out with the Elders in that community. Mr. Dumas went to Residential School and is proud to call himself a survivor – a survivor by his own measurements and not by someone else's.
Even though Mr. Dumas has been traditionally trained, he is also considered an academic and scholar, particularly in the field of education. He has thirty years experience as a teacher, vice-principal and principal, aboriginal education consultant and director of education. He also has experience working on reserves and in urban centres. Mr. Dumas has over ten years experience in administration including working with numerous First Nation education authorities and has served on a number of upper education councils in Manitoba, most recently as Executive Director of the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council (NNEC) in Ontario and as the Language and Culture Developer with the Frontier School Division in Manitoba.

Mr Dumas states that he lives close to the earth and strives to fully understand the teachings of his people. By his own admission, Mr Dumas is a seeker of knowledge and a supporter of all good causes.

Growing up in his indigenous nation located in Canada, Colby noticed repetitions and patterns of issues that small first nation communities face. At the early age of 12 Colby noticed his passion to serve and aid in these communities' liberation. At the age of 18 Colby started working in the front lines of communities concentrating on youth empowerment. Since that time Colby has continued to invite the courage to work with ending the legacy of unhealthy cycles and behaviours within many communities.

Colby graduated from Chief Poundmaker School located on the Poundmaker Cree Nation. He continued his education in the areas of Psychology and Philosophy at the University of Saskatchewan. During the later course of his study, Colby felt the need to focus on his own personal growth through the direct experience of self-reflection and self-evaluation. During this time of personal empowerment he has had the opportunity to complete The Journey Practitioner Program and The Visionary Leadership Program. Colby is also a Life Skills Coach and Grief and Recovery Specialist. The skills Colby acquired during this time has lead Colby to the position of team leader on Crisis Response teams in service to first nation's communities and a vibrant speaker in the area of youth empowerment.

In recent years, Colby was appointed the Saskatchewan regional youth representative on the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council. He later was elected to as co-chair to the National Youth Council, which is also responsible for sitting alongside the Assembly of First Nations Executive board which includes Elected Chiefs from each Provincial Region in Canada. In completion of this service at the national level, Colby has been sharing the Visionary Leadership Intensive with emerging young people.

Colby's passion is to embrace the development of a new generation of leadership, which is vital for the continuing wellbeing of children who have yet to arrive. He sees the solutions to the crisis nations face through the hearts and minds of the young people and he is looking forward to assisting in the awakening of what is dormant inside.

Mary Morin is from Belcourt, North Dakota otherwise known as Turtle Mountain.
Mary and her husband Terry have 3 children and are grandparents to one. Mary and Terry are the spiritual leaders, keepers and providers of the traditional knowledge for their community.

Mary has been instrumental in bringing the Michif language into the school system as well as promoting the Chippewa language and culture for several years.

She has 26 years of teaching experience and has taught at all levels. Mary currently teaches the language and culture at the Middle School in Turtle Mountain.

Charlene Belleau of the Esketemc First Nation is from the Interior of British Columbia. She is a former Chief of her First Nation, Alkali Lake Band of Indians, and is currently the Director of the Residential Schools Unit of the Assembly of First Nations.
She was recently appointed to the new Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women in British Colombia who will provide advice to government through the minister on how to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal women in B.C.

Lavinia Brown was born in Dawson Inlet - just south of Whale Cove, in 1947. At a time when there were no nurses, doctors, or government services in that area, she was delivered by her father.
After completing her early education at schools in Chesterfield Inlet and Churchill, Manitoba, Ms. Brown became the first teaching aid in Rankin Inlet. A graduate of St. Anthony Hospital in La Pas, Manitoba, Ms. Brown has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and Alberta.

In 1978, Lavinia Brown received her certification as a Northwest Territories Classroom Assistant and was instrumental in establishing an eastern board program (EATEP) in Iqaluit, and in 1980 she became the first chairperson of the Keewatin Regional Education Authority.
After serving as an information officer, chairperson of the local housing authority, and deputy mayor, Lavinia Brown became the first woman mayor of Rankin Inlet. Establishing working relationships between government agencies and community governments was a high priority during her term.

A successful career in municipal politics provided a natural step to territorial politics for Ms. Brown.
Elected Member for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove on February 16, 2004, the Honourable Lavinia Brown was selected by MLAs to sit on the Executive Council. On March 9, 2004, Premier Paul Okalik named Ms. Brown Deputy Premier.

The Honourable Lavinia Brown is a role model and leader for Nunavut's youth. Dedicating her life to the development and promotion of community capacity building for health and social services, she projects a positive outlook on life. Her belief that life is a precious opportunity that should not be wasted is clearly expressed in her thirst for education, strength in leadership, and compassion for social issues.

Lavinia Brown is married to Ron Brown. Together, they have 7 children and 3 custom adopted children.