About the Facilitators

Brian St. Germain was born and raised in Red Deer and recently retired from Red Deer Public Schools after 42 years of teaching. For the last 12 years, he has served as a lead teacher with FNMI Learning Services. He is also an Indigenous Education PD Facilitator with the Alberta Teachers Association. Brian is Cree First Nations and Cree Metis. He is a descendant of the Alberta Papaschase First Nation Band. Brian has presented throughout the province on a variety of Indigenous topics with many school districts and organizations to increase the foundational knowledge, understanding, awareness and appreciation of First Nations and Metis history, culture and perspectives.

Carolynne Muncer has been a teacher and leader in the K - 12 system for 33 years. She is the Indigenous Education Coordinator for Chinook's Edge School Division and has taught Indigenous Education courses for preservice teachers for the University of Alberta and RDP for the past five years. She is committed to the work of reconcili-ACTION as an educator and to doing her part as a treaty person to listen, learn and build bridges and relationships for a better future for all. 

I am a member of the Samson Cree Nation. My paternal great-grandfather and paternal grandfather attended the Red Deer Industrial Residential School; my parents, Louis & Pauline Potts, attended the Saint Albert Residential School. An influence of their daily life in attending residential school was being taught to work as a family, working together and individually; we performed daily duties to help around the home. The examples and teachings I received from my parents became the influence and foundation of work and work ethics. I love to work, and I have had the joy of working for most of my life. 

Our home life was influenced by my father's family origin, Pigeon Lake, and my mother's family heritage. My paternal grandfather was a fisherman. His provision of fresh fish for anyone in need from the community of Pigeon Lake, as well as visitors and relatives from Maskwacis (formerly Hobbema) (who came specifically to Pigeon Lake for fish), is well remembered. My maternal grandmother, a mother of twelve children, cooked for crews of men who gathered in the fall on their farm to help with the harvest. For me, family heritage influenced my life. 

My parent's examples of family, community, and work affected me in many ways and have made me so proud of who they were and where I came from.

Theresa “Corky” Larsen Jonasson is a 63-year-old Cree Metis woman living in Red Deer, Alberta. Her grandmother Christine Fraser Joseph and great grandmother Mary Susan Potts Fraser lived and were schooled in Maskwacîs Cree Nation, Alberta.

Corky works alongside her husband of 43 years, Lynn, in the community of Red Deer, Central Alberta, and was called to work locally, nationally, and internationally. They live a life of traditional teachings and ceremonies and strive to pass those teachings on as best they can.

Corky acknowledges her “teachers“ who make it possible for her to bridge, build trust, strengthen relationships, and move toward true reconciliation.

Danielle Chamryk is a Cree Metis woman from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Danielle is a Red Pheasant First Nation of Saskatchewan member in Treaty 6 territory. As a Family School Enhancement Counsellor with the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, Danielle delivers educational and cultural support to students and families. Danielle has been working within the Red Deer Community for over 14 years.

Diane is Plains Cree from the Beardy's & Okemasis First Nation in Treaty 6 Territory and the Indigenous Education Consultant for the Indigenous Education Services Team for Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools. Prior to Diane entering the education profession, she worked as a Cultural Family Educator, facilitating Traditional Parenting programs. She models strong community-mindedness through a wide variety of volunteer commitments in the city. She currently serves on the Red Deer Indigenous Dance Troupe Society Board and the Red Feather Women Social Justice Group.  

Hayley Christen is a coordinator with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Learning Services with Red Deer Public Schools. She has been an Elementary school Vice-Principal and a teacher for 25 years. She has vast experience working with students with diverse learning needs and youth at risk. Hayley’s most recent work is with school administrators and teachers to build staff capacity to better meet the needs of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students, creating culturally inclusive schools and classrooms. Hayley is a member of Remembering the Children Society.  She has also served on the executive of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, and as a board member for the Red Deer Native Friendship Society. Hayley lives on Treaty Seven land and is a descendant of Scottish and Swedish settlers.

John Sinclair’s roots are associated with the Good Fish Lake First Nations and Ermineskin First Nations. John identifies as a non-status Cree person, and he is a second-generation survivor of residential school. Growing up in Edmonton, John experienced discrimination from other school kids early in life. This led him to believe violence was the only thing that could keep him safe, and through this, violence and substance abuse became his safety net as he grew older. When John was incarcerated, he was reintroduced to his culture and turned his life around. Today, he continues to learn about the ceremonial way of life and spends his time working with children and adults, sharing his knowledge, stories, and culture with the surrounding communities!

Jordan Galloway is a Central Albertan local. From 2010-2014 they worked on completing their Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting through Red Deer College and have since worked as an Educational Assistant as well as a private music teacher. Now they have returned to studies at Red Deer Polytechnic, in pursuit of their education degree.

My name is Michelle Soto. My Cree given name is Mihkwâ Osâwâw Kihew Iskwew (Red Yellow Eagle Woman).  I am a Woodland Cree/Dene First Nation woman from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Alberta but my maternal home community is Dene Tha First Nation near High Level, Alberta. Both my parents are residential school survivors. My educational background consists of: traditional mentorship starting at the age of four, social work, child care, traditional artist/knowledge keeper, youth worker, and foster parent experience. Currently, Michelle is attending the Maskwacis Cultural College Indigenous Social Work Degree program 2023-2025.

Paige Sly holds a Master of Arts in History from the University of Calgary, specializing in local commemorations of the First World War. Her ongoing research interests continue to be local history, particularly Indigenous history and early 20th-century settlement and development. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, making friends with any cat who crosses her path, and crocheting.

Pietra Banks, is a Denesųłiné woman from the K’ai Tailé Dené (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation). She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Education at Red Deer Polytechnic. Pietra is passionate about Indigenous issues and has collaborated with various organizations to examine reconciliation, youth mental health, and Indigenous education. She is an Ambassador of Hope with We Matter, an Indigenous youth-led and nationally registered organization dedicated to Indigenous youth support, hope and life promotion. 

At Red Deer Polytechnic, she is the President of the Indigenous Student Group, working to enhance the experience of Indigenous students while they pursue post-secondary education. Overall, Pietra believes it is never too late to be a changemaker or a positive role model within the community.

Sona Macnaughton is the Education and Makerspace Librarian at Red Deer Polytechnic. She has been at RDP Library since 2001. Sona specializes in information and digital literacy and open educational resources (OER). Her varied professional interests include the intersection of artificial intelligence and academic integrity and enhancing user experience in learning spaces. She finds tremendous joy in data visualization and maker culture.

Tracey McBeth Kachor is a Cree Metis from the Red River settlement; she was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and has lived in Alberta for most of her life. Tracey focuses her art mainly on canvas, but she is also known for murals in several local businesses, as well as “The Furniture Project” in Victoria in the late 1900’s to early 2000’s. She creates all types of styles, and is always growing. 

Tracy Meneen is from the northern community of Fort Vermilion, Alberta, located along the Peace River on Treaty 8 territory, and has called Red Deer home for the last 21 years. She has worked in Indigenous Education in Central Alberta for the last 13 years, initially as an Indigenous Liaison, working with students and families and providing support as needed, and then moving into the role of an Indigenous Education Consultant. She is also a Board Member of the Red Deer Indigenous Dance Troupe and has actively volunteered in the community for the last five years. Tracy believes in the importance of lifelong learning and is grateful for the opportunity to continue to learn from Elders and Knowledge Keepers in various Indigenous communities and share teachings she has learned on her own journey.

Terry Lakey is currently working with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Learning Services in Red Deer Public Schools. Prior to joining Red Deer Public Schools in 1999, he taught with Northlands School Division. Since joining Red Deer Public Schools, he has taken on several roles. As well as being a classroom teacher, Terry has been involved with the development of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit curriculum resources for many years. He has used the resources for his own classroom, as well as enjoys sharing his ideas with others. He has a passion for making classroom learning engaging, hands on, and covering a wide variety of learning styles.