Conference Emcee, Speakers & Facilitators

Okimawahtihk Sqwew is my traditional name and my English name is Shannon Buffalo. I’m a First Nation Cree Woman from Nipsihkopahk (Samson Cree Nation) situated in Maskwacis, Alberta located in Treaty 6 Territory.
I’m a proud mother of 2 Boys, 3 daughters and 17 grandchildren and one great great grandson. My Parents were Late Frank Buffalo Sr. and Late Florence Buffalo. Both were former Chief’s and sat as long term Council Members for Nipsihkopahk.
My educational background consists of a Social Work Diploma from Maskwacis Cultural College which I received in 2013. I also completed a 1 year college certificates from Red Deer College in Secretarial Science and Administration.
I have had the opportunity to sit as a former Council Woman for Samson Cree Nation for 3 terms. I was elected in May 2014 until May 2023.
Some areas where I sat as a Board member include Peace Hills General Insurance, Peace Hills Trust, Kasohkwew Child Wellness Society, Indian Resource Council, Maskwacis Cultural College and Samson Recreation Bingo.
I continue to advocate for the needs of our People of Nipisihkopahk and Promote and Foster the Vision set out by the Nipisihkopahk leadership and Iyinawak.
Currently, I am attending Maskwacis Cultural College to complete my Social Work Degree and have started my Business Management Diploma.

Deanna J. Ledoux is a First Nations Child Advocate and therapist specializing in grief, recovery, hypnotherapy, and mental health. Her paternal roots are from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and her maternal roots are “Rock Cree” from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, both in Treaty Six Territory. Deanna is the CEO of 'iswewak asokana ecitahcik' Consulting, focusing on empowering women. She has successfully implemented 'Active Measures Initiatives' for First Nations and is recognized for her expertise in addressing intergenerational trauma from the Residential School Era. Deanna's innovative approaches prioritize cultural connections and traditional Indigenous family systems to support her clients.

Deanna J. Ledoux is a third-generation survivor of St. Michael's Indian Residential School who has emerged as a resilient advocate and expert in various fields. She is sought after locally, nationally, and internationally to share her insights on the impacts of Residential Schools, Indigenous Women's Issues, Income Support Implementation, and Child Welfare. Deanna's reputation as a First Nations child advocate is highly regarded in the prairies, and her expertise in suicide awareness and prevention is considered invaluable by First Nations leadership. She is frequently called upon to intervene in complex Child Welfare cases and has been tasked with ensuring the rights of First Nations children in Canada's child welfare system are upheld. Deanna's knowledge in child rights protection led to an invitation to present at the World Human Rights Forum in Morocco, Africa.

Esther Tailfeathers, born and raised on the Blood Reserve. Graduated from University of North Dakota School of Medicine, completed her Family Medicine Residency in Edmonton at the University of Alberta. Has worked in many Native communities including The Blackfeet Reservation in the Emergency Room, the Blood Reserve for almost 20 years, and served the remote northern community of Fort Chipewyan. She was the Medical Lead of the Indigenous Wellness Core for AHS until June of 2023.  She is most proud of organizing a relief mission to Haiti after the earthquake, a team made up of Blood Tribe paramedics, nurses and health care workers which took care of more than 2000 patients during their relief effort.

Most recently she has worked with her community in response to the fentanyl crisis which started in the fall of 2014. The opioid crisis and community strategies of Harm Reduction, Treatment and addressing upstream determinants in her home community has been where the concentration of her work over the last 10 years.

Esther is most proud of her 2 Children; Elle-Maija Tailfeathers who is an award-winning actor and filmmaker winning Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Night Raiders and most recently Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a dramatic series for Little Bird, Piinaakoyim Seen From Afar, who is a tribal council member for Blood Tribe and who recently won the heavyweight title in Boxing at a recent Tournament. 

 Steve Skakum has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Calgary.  He has a family if 4 and 11 grandchildren.  For the past 30 plus years, Steve has worked in a variety of roles for the Cree people of Maskwacis Territory.  He, along with a cultural team, designed and developed the Maskwacis Cultural College Social Work Diploma, which is transferable to university programs in Alberta.  In addition, Steve has managed the Maskwacis Health Services Counselling program and has been engaged in development, management, education, and public speaking.  He presently works for Maskwacis Ambulance Authority, where he oversees the Maskwacis Mobile Mental Health 24/7 crisis line and mobile response unit, which provides emergent mental health services to the Maskwacis population.  He also provides consultant services to the Federal Government mental health teams in Alberta. 

Dr. Grace Dion is a member of the Samson Cree Nation. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Specialization in Psychology from Augustana University College, an After Degree in Adult Education from the University of Alberta, and a master’s degree in counselling psychology from Athabasca University. Grace recently completed her Doctoral Degree in the “Iyiniw Pimâtisiwin Kiskeyihtamowin” from Saddlelake, Alberta. 

In this session, Grace reflects on her own POST-COVID experience. As a person who has made the commitment to gain and nurture a deeper nêwoyaw (four-bodied) understanding; emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually she shares how she was pushed to learn more about the human body and the effects of an Auto Immune Disease. Grace draws on her own Nehiyaw culture and traditions as she shares background information and self-care strategies as ways of moving beyond the effects of COVID. 

John Crier is a Cree Elder from Treaty 6 Territory, Samson Cree Nation of Maskwacis, Alberta. He is a fluent Cree language speaker, traditional knowledge holder, traditional knowledge keeper, and ceremonialist. John spends much of his time working with individuals and groups to provide access and guidance to Indigenous knowledge, language, traditions, ceremony and land. John is passionate about studying, speaking, and sharing the Cree language.   John has offered cultural guidance and expertise to various organization and institutes such as University of Alberta, Maskwacis Cultural College, and University of Calgary. He currently sits as an Elder on the Indigenous Advisory Circle in the Office of the Provost at UCalgary supporting the ii’taa’poh’to’p strategy. 

He is the founding member of Ohma Kakisimo Aski, Indigenous Shadow Healing, which guides Maskwacis members and beyond in personal spiritual healing, cultural reclamation, and intercultural relationship building. He also mentors men and is the Elder in Residence at the minimum-security correctional facility Pê Sakâstêw Centre in Maskwacis Alberta.

Tsuutina/Cree, Social Work Degree from the University of Calgary. Professionally have worked in Income Support for 9 years with Louis Bull Tribe and Ermineskin Nation as Director. She then changed her profession in the are of Social Work and moved to Child and Welfare with Tsuutina

Child and Family Services in the capacity of Caseworker. Norma is the Tsuutina Band Designate. The role of Band Designate is very complex and supports not only the child but also the family and extended family while also advocating, negotiating, and mediating for the child/re/youth/families who have CFS involvement.

Presenter

Workshop Summary

Covid brought many challenges in all avenues of life. One of the areas impacted is essential services of Income Support. Income Support is a service to individuals/families who need the funds to sustain everyday living. With covid lock down it brought challenges to give support to the clientele in need. How does one do things differently of giving the right support to the clientele? Brainstorming together all ideas or opinions is one way to overcome the challenges of having the clientele to re-engage with Income Support. The facilitator will engage the group to brainstorm their own ideas on how to overcome the challenges of Income Support and clientele engagement where there can be an eventual win – win for both parties. 

“Communication is key to enriched client engagement.”

Dana Nepoose is a member of Samson Cree Nation. Her parents are is Sharon Nepoose and the late Victor Bruno. Her grandparents are Henry and Mary Nepoose, as well as Elizabeth Bruno and Tom Anderson, and Jonas and Mariam Bruno.

She has over two decades of dedication to social work, and has built a career deeply rooted in community engagement and systemic reform. Starting off in her home community of Samson Cree Nation, she began as a receptionist/file clerk, which allowed her to build strong relationships and a thorough understanding of the community's needs. As a single mom of four, with two children still at home and two who have started their own families—and has five grandchildren— she has personally experienced many of the same challenges faced by those she serves daily. In May 2023, she completed her Master of Social Work (MSW), specializing in trauma-informed 

 Conference Committee Member and Workshop Facilitator

Assistant Manager, Assessor, Case Worker Generalist Montana Integrated Services Department. Former Director of Social Development. Montana First Nation. Certified Career Development and Employment Counsellor. Certified Youth Crisis Intervention worker 

I have been working with the Montana First Nation since October 2010, extensively as a front-line staff and in management with our health and human services programs. My team and I work in an integrated system that promotes a client driven and client centered service delivery model. A paradigm shift from siloed stand alone program and service delivery approach; to one that interfaces across our program policies and funding parameters, ensuring wrap around care within all health and human services programs. These programs and services have been placed under one umbrella department that can be accessed by a member/client, with one support staff.

I have had the privilege of serving on various external agencies namely, The Maskwacis Employment Center Society, as the current Board President, the Montana HUB and represent the Montana First Nation at various Federal and Provincial committees and working groups as it pertains to my line of work. 

Crisis & Trauma - Resource Institute

Certified in De-escalating

Potentially Violent Situations

Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society

Certified in working with Indigenous People affected

by Intergenerational Trauma and Grief