It is with great excitement that we announce the appointment of four new members to the Indigenous Advisory Committee to IRSI. Advisory committee members provide culturally-relevant advice, leadership and support to IRSI's leadership and team, thus contributing to IRSI's overall strategic direction. Members, who are elected to serve staggered two and three year terms, are chosen to bring to the table expertise in a variety of relevant disciplines.
We had an overwhelming response to the Call for Expressions for new members this year, and with only a few seats to fill and several exceptional candidates, the selection process was difficult. Now that selections have been made, we are thrilled to have on board four individuals who bring such varied perspectives and a breadth of wisdom and experience that will inform IRSI's activities and development over the next few years. New members to the Committee are as follows:
Chief Michelle Edwards is the elected Chief of Cayoose Creek Indian Band (Sekw'el'was) and has been elected to the Business/Economic Development community seat. Previous to her two terms as Chief, Edwards served as Councillor for two years, and brings to the IAC extensive experience balancing community wellness and traditional values, with increasing modernization of infrastructure and economy. Chief Edwards also brings a wealth of experience in climate leadership, natural resources management, and founding and developing an award-winning environmental business.
Avery Newman-Simmons is a current Master of Science candidate in Medical Genetics at UBC, passionate about enhancing ethical research, building capacity in community, and ensuring reciprocity in research with Indigenous communities. Newman-Simmons is Anishnaabe, and his family is from the Antoine First Nation (Algonquin Territory). Newman-Simmons brings a wealth of experience working in Indigenous genomics, contributing to closing the genomic information gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. He also brings to the IAC years of experience in student-led organizing, advising, and advocacy and will fill one of two Graduate Student seats on the committee.
Robbie Knott is a cis-male Red River Métis and recent graduate of the UBC’s Masters of Community and Regional Planning Program with a specialization in Indigenous Community Planning. The centerpiece of the practicum-based degree involves co-developing and implementing a phase of the Comprehensive Community Planning process, which Robbie successfully completed in 2019 in partnership with Sq’éwlets First Nation. Currently, Robbie works as a Junior Researcher at the Firelight Group, and for the First Nations Health Authority as a contract facilitator and writer. Robbie believes in an ethos of emotionally engaged planning and brings advanced and informed communication skills, decolonizing research and engagement methodologies, along with diverse experience in community planning, advocacy, and mentorship (at the Urban Native Youth Association, the Xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Indigenous Health Research & Education Garden at the UBC Farm, Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, Parks Canada, and more). Robbie fills the committee's Community Planning seat.
Corrina Sparrow is a current PhD candidate with the Institute of Gender, Race, Sexuality & Social Justice at UBC, whose research investigates contemporary Coast Salish Two Spirit identities, resiliency, and the use of traditional nation-specific, land-based values and knowledge in strengthening Two Spirit/Indigenous queer health and wellness. Sparrow's ancestors come from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nation, the Qualicum Nation of the Pentlatch People, and the Netherlands. A recent MA graduate (University of Victoria 2018), Sparrow also brings to the IAC extensive community-based experience - from their current role as Social Development manager at Musqueam, to many years of strong advocacy and helping work in Indigenous child and family safety, cultural programming, community development, and social planning. Corrina will fill the second Graduate Student seat on the committee.
As new members begin their roles, we want to acknowledge the contributions of two outgoing members, both of whom served the committee for the past three years. Our sincere gratitude is extended to Adina Williams, who served the committee as a student representative and is now a staff member of the IRSI team, acting in the role of Indigenous Community Liaison, and Salia Joseph, who served in the committee's Language, Education & Culture seat.
We invite you to join us in welcoming these incredible new members as they begin their roles in contributing to the important work of the Indigenous Advisory Committee!
Visit the People section of our site to read about all Indigenous Advisory Committee members.