The Indigenous Education Department


#ReconciliACTIONatKPR

Every day is a day for Indigenous education. Indigenous education is for everyone.

Who do I contact?

Rebekah Rego


Learn More About:

Indigenous Student Worker Program

Indigenous Grad Coach Program

Indigenous Youth Leadership Opportunities

Classroom teachers can contact Melody directly to schedule classroom visits. Her primary work is with students. 


Please be sure to use Elder protocols when making a request and preparing for the visit.


Trustee Sean Conway (Chair)

Curve Lake First Nation

Meets four times per year.

Our Team

James Brake

Superintendent of Education: Student Achievement

James is Ktaqmkuk Elmastukwekis Mi’kmaw  (Bay of Islands, NFLD) and settler. As Superintendent of Student Achievement, James supports the Cobourg Collegiate Institute and Thomas A Stewart Secondary School Family of Schools. He is also the Superintendent of Environment and Climate, as well as Student Leadership. His office is in the Education Centre, Peterborough.

TBD

System Principal of Program: Indigenous Education

Coming soon!

Melody Crowe

First Nation Education Liaison

Melody is a member of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation. She has worked in our schools and communities, sharing her gifts, for nearly 30 years.  

She contributes to all Indigenous Education Department initiatives. Melody reports to the Superintendent of Indigenous Education.

Her office is at Roseneath Centennial Public School. 

Colleen Honey

Executive Assistant to James Brake

Colleen is a valued member of our team. She supports all of our work and is the keeper of the Indigenous Education Department archives. 

Her office is in the Education Centre, Peterborough.

Marjolaine LaPointe

Indigenous Education Consultant, K-12

Marjolaine is an Anishinaabe educator, Deer clan, from Ardoch First Nation. Prior to becoming a consultant, Marjolaine worked as a Grade 1-8 Anishinaabemowin teacher at Roseneath Centennial Public School. Previously, she worked as a consultant for the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Department. 

She contributes to all Indigenous Education Department initiatives. Marjolaine reports to the Principal of Indigenous Education. Her office is currently in the Education Centre, Peterborough.

Brittiny Stephenson

Indigenous Education Consultant, K-12

Brittiny Stephenson is a K-12 educator with a global perspective. She self-identifies as an Indigenous educator, non-status, with Mohawk and settler roots. She was born in Tkaronto (Toronto), raised in Nogojiwanong (Peterborough) and has spent nearly 13 years teaching and living around the world. Brittiny studied at Trent University where she completed an Honours Degree in Indigenous Studies and a second Degree in Education. She has over a decade of experience as a teacher, teacher trainer and literacy curriculum developer. She holds educational certificates in different fields and considers herself a risk-taker and lifelong learner. Brittiny reports to the Principal of Indigenous Education. Her office is currently in the Education Centre, Peterborough.

Rebekah Rego

Indigenous Student Success Coordinator

Rebekah Rego is Moose Clan and a proud member of Lac Seul First Nation located in the Treaty 3 region in northwestern Ontario. She attended Wilfrid Laurier University and recently, Fleming College where she obtained her Social Service Worker Diploma with the Indigenous Perspectives Designation. Her education and experience have provided her with a passion to work with individuals from a range of ages and nations through services that can assist their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Rebekah has lived experience in the private and public school systems. She looks forward to working with Indigenous students and is honoured to be a part of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board team. Her office is in the Education Centre, Peterborough.

Autumn Sky Cooper

Waawiye Kinoomaagzijig Teacher

Autumn Sky Cooper is Anishinaabe from Wiikwemkoong First Nation. Growing up she was heavily influenced by her mother and grandmother’s fight for the rights and well being of Indigenous women, now following in their steps to through supporting Indigenous youth. Graduating from the Trent University School of Education and Professional Learning and the Indigenous Education program, her goal is to support Indigenous students on their learning journeys while fostering identity, cultural pride, and well being. 

Mikayla Kendrick

Indigenous Grad Coach

Mikayla Kendrick (she/her) is a proud member of Six Nations of the Grand River, a Haudenosaunee community in Ohsweken, ON. Mikayla has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto. Mikayla’s main goal as the Indigenous Student Worker is to support Indigenous students and their families in navigating the school system with a culture-based and holistic lens. She is passionate about making school a safe space for Indigenous students.

Jayme Nielson

Indigenous Grad Coach

Jayme Nielsen is a member of the Samson Cree Nation from Alberta, but she has lived in Wooler for the past ten years raising her five children.  She has dedicated her life to family, heritage and wellness and looks forward to this journey supporting Indigenous students. ay hay, Thank you!

Alexa Whetung-Bennett

Indigenous Grad Coach

Alexa Whetung/Bennett is a proud member of Curve Lake First Nation - Loon Clan. She identifies as Anishinaabekwe, with the pronouns she/her. Alexa is a Queen’s University graduate, with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.  One of her main objectives as the Indigenous Graduation Coach is to support Indigenous students and their families through a culturally based, holistic approach. Before starting her journey with KPR, she worked with the urban Indigenous community in Peterborough and the surrounding areas. Alexa supported these individuals based on their need for supports with employment, education and training. 

Julia Page

Itinerant Ojibwe Support

More Info coming soon

Meiyah Brooks-Whiteduck

Indigenous Student Worker

Meiyah Brooks-Whiteduck is a member of Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation and is Bear Clan. Meiyah is an advid pow wow dancer, beader and drummer.

She recently graduated from the Educational Support Worker program at Fleming College. She has spent most of her work experience supporting the youth in her home community as well as youth within the education system as a EA and as a First Nation, Metis, and Inuit tutor. Meiyah's drive comes from previously being supported by an Indigenous liaison whom assisted and advocated for her throughout her time in elementary and secondary school. Due to her experience, she is able to recognize the importance of Indigenous support workers within the school system. She strives to be a similar support to Indigenous students throughout her career and to positively impact Indigenous youth and their successes.

Meiyah enjoys spending her free time visiting her family and friends in her community where she indulges in her culture and continues to strengthen relations.

She will continue building her cultural knowledges in which she plans to share it with others, including through her work with KPRDSB students.

Christy Cannon

Indigenous Student Worker

Christy Cannon is Marten Clan, a proud Woman and member of Kijicho Manito Madaouskarini Algonquin First Nation.  She was born and raised in Nogojiwanong (Peterborough) and now lives just outside of town. She’s a loving and nurturing Mom of two young children who loves spending time outdoors connecting to the land. Christy has spent the last 12 years working as both an Educational Assistant and Early Childhood Educator with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. She has a passion for learning and strives to promote safe, positive, and fun learning environments for children and youth. Christy is very involved with sports in her community, playing sports herself as well as coaching children and youth. You will often find her at a hockey/lacrosse arena, baseball field or soccer pitch. As an Indigenous Student Worker her goal is to support Indigenous youth and students in their own journey, to help give students a voice and to honor them further by ensuring that physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual aspects are how we recognize student success.

Pauline Gill 

Indigenous Student Worker

Pauline Gill comes to this role with a diverse background in Indigenous studies and experience.  She started her journey as the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children’s worker and transitioned to the Community Health Representative for Curve Lake First Nation where her children are members.  She completed an Indigenous Health Diploma from (FNTI) First Nation Technical Institute.

Sage McKeown

Indigenous Student Worker


Sage McKeown is a proud Anishnaabe-kwe of Alderville First Nation. She is a graduate from Loyalist College, where she obtained a Social Service Worker Diploma. Prior to working at KPRDSB, Sage worked with at-risk youth in many different capacities from at home to educational support. 


Sage is deeply grounded in her community, attending ceremony and volunteering for various events and gatherings. She is a fancy shawl powwow dancer and crafter of regalia. She enjoys hand drumming with her sisters and is also a beginner level beader.  


In her position with KPRDSB she hopes to facilitate connection to self and culture, as well as support students as they navigate the education system. You will often find Sage spending time with her sisters and dog in Alderville. Sage is proud to bring her education back home, supporting Indigenous youth and students within the school board she grew up in. 

Celina Whetung

Indigenous Student Worker

Celina Whetung is a proud Ojibwe woman and Loon clan member of Curve Lake First Nation. Celina graduated in 2020 from Queen’s University with her bachelor's degree in art history. Celina is creative. She is passionate about art, nature, and design. In her spare time, Celina expresses herself through painting and artistic forms. Prior to joining KPRDSB, Celina was working as a Policy Advisor for Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks. Celina is experienced in human resources, administrative services, retail, and working with youth as a Child and Youth worker for Hand in Hand Children’s Services. 

Howard Woolley

Indigenous Student Worker

Howard is a graduate of the Indigenous Social Work program at Laurentian University.  He recently moved to the area and says it is a dream come true to finally be living in a forest surrounded by nature. Howard is a proud husband and father to a six-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. He is grateful of First Nation, Métis and Inuit people for preserving the knowledge, stories and traditions. Howard is excited to be apart of the Indigenous Education Department and is passionate about supporting Indigenous students throughout the board. Howard looks forward to sharing what he has gained with students at KPRDSB. 

Emily Shaughnessy 

(on leave)

Indigenous Student Worker

Emily Shaughnessy resides within her traditional territory of Curve Lake First Nation with her five-year-old son. She is a graduate of Trent University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Indigenous Studies. Prior to beginning her position with KPR, she was the Youth Support Worker for her community of Curve Lake, which granted the knowledge and tools necessary to identify potential needs, challenges, and supports needed to ensure success within Indigenous students, as well as their families. Lived experience within both public and private education systems has granted her the opportunity to use her own experiences as a head start in supporting Indigenous youth and students in their own journey of education and personal growth.

Indigenous Education Advisory Committee

Members of the Committee

We also have a number of Principals and Vice Principals who join IEAC meetings as non-voting participants.

Indigenous Education Department Priorities

2022-23 Indigenous Eduation Department Impact Stories