Dr. Emma Jackson is originally from Treaty 6 territory in northeast Alberta and is the first veterinarian to graduate from Saddle Lake Cree Nation. Emma graduated from the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) and has a strong interest in Indigenous community outreach and shelter medicine. Her goal is to improve accessibility to veterinary medicine and to strive towards the day of no longer needing to "celebrate firsts" in Indigenous communities. 

 

Shawn Quick is the Public Works Manager for Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. For years, Shawn has helped manage many of his nation’s animal care and control duties including helping to organize M.A.S.H.-style vet clinics, managing disease outbreaks, and other dog & cat population control tactics. Shawn knows firsthand how critical improving access to animal service resources is – for the wellbeing of the animals (dogs, cats and wild animals around our communities), for the health and safety of members of the communities, and for the folks who are tasked with managing this difficult work. Shawn also brings his valuable experience in developing and managing community-scaled system solutions to the team.

 

Dr. Tara Atleo, hahuuła, is a stewardship economics researcher and Indigenous sustainable development practitioner from the Ahousaht First Nation, house of ƛaqišpiił. Grounded in her community roots, Tara is passionately committed to the principles of stewardship, dedicating her work to exploring innovative approaches to upholding and empowering Indigenous law and governance through the creation of opportunities that advance efforts towards intergenerational equity, interconnectivity, and balance between life and land within Indigenous territories.

 

Leah Arcand, from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation located in Treaty Six Territory, SK, is a Mother, High School Teacher and Founder of the grassroots movement "Save Rez Dogs”. Since August 2019, Save Rez Dogs has been one of the top Indigenous female-led, volunteer-run organizations focused on advocacy and improving animal welfare in First Nations communities. “In our work, we use anti-oppressive education and animal rights resources, with a mix of rez humour to spread our message and build community engagement. We started as a hub for local community members, then it grew provincially, and now has spread out on a national level. We raise money through our merch line to fund consented frontline work to help rescue missions such as spay and neuters, dog houses, and other emergency needs.” 

 

Alistair Schroff is a forester and cofounder of Lakes Animal Friendship Society.  Alistair has extensive experience with organizing in-community, non-profit vet clinics and the development of empathy building resources for children and youth. He also has valuable business experience, bookkeeping prowess, and solid proposal writing skills.