Kelly Janz
Coordinator
Kelly.Janz@umanitoba.ca
Kelly is Coordinator for Wa Ni Ska Tan and has been in this role since planning the first Gathering in 2014. Her work with Wa Ni Ska Tan involves communications, finance, event planning, management, and evaluation. Kelly has a MSc in Planning from the University of Guelph and a MA in International Development Studies from the University of Winnipeg. She has a long history working towards food security, food sovereignty and community development in Winnipeg and currently sits on the Winnipeg Food Council and on the board of the Farm Fresh Food Hub. Kelly loves cooking, reading, and is valiantly trying to learn the art of hula-hooping.
Michael Tyas
Documentarian
michael.tyas@umanitoba.ca
Michael is a senior videographer and jack-of-all-trades at the Environmental Conservation Lab. His work with Wa Ni Ska Tan involves professionally recording interviews with elders and land users so that the research can be disseminated to a wider audience. He co-directed and filmed the feature-length documentary One River, Many Relations (2014) about Fort Chipewyan, a community downstream from the Alberta oil sands and the B.C. Bennet Dam. The film explores entirely from a grassroots community perspective the impacts of industry and energy production on their territory. – Fun Fact: Michael learned video production skills in Cape Town, South Africa.
Becky Filopoulos
Communications Coordinator
filopour@myumanitoba.ca
Becky is the communications coordinator with Wa Ni Ska Tan. Her work involves creating content for running social media and managing the website. Becky’s background is in environmental studies and biology and past experiences include conservation and restoration in prairie and forest ecosystems, as well as community engagement and education. She loves learning about medicinal plants and hopes to promote a greater respect for the environment by guiding people to understand issues and finding sustainable solutions. Outside of work Becky participates in various art and photography projects around Winnipeg and is a singer/songwriter in a local band.
Ashley Wolfe
Project Coordinator for KisKinHaMaKiWin
evansa34@myumanitoba.ca
Tansi Boozhoo!
Wabishki Binaise Siik Ndizhnikaaz, Nimaamaa dash Ninookomis Peguis First Nation, Selkirk St. Peter’s Oonjii, Winnipeg Ndoonjii, Garson Brokenhead Ndaa, Ma’iingan Ndoodem.
My name is Ashley Wolfe, and my traditional name is White Thunderbird Woman. My maternal line comes from Peguis First Nation, (modern day Selkirk and St. Peter’s, Manitoba), I currently reside in the community of Garson, in the RM of Brokenhead, and I am Wolf Clan. I am also German, my maternal Grandfather was born in Dittersbach, Germany and came to Canada by ship, through Montreal, before resettling in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I am also a German language speaker. My father’s side is all Irish, briefly residing in Saint John, New Brunswick, from Belfast and County Cork, Ireland, before resettling in Winnipeg as well.
I am the acting Co-ordinator for KisKinHaMaKiWin, and I am currently in the last year of my Undergraduate Degree. Once complete, I will have my Advanced Bachelor of Arts Degree, Majoring in Indigenous Studies, Minoring in History. My focus with the program is working to decolonize education through Land-based learning, working with Youth and Elders, and bringing awareness of the importance of water through an Indigenous Knowledges perspective. Through the KisKinHaMaKiWin program, I am able to work with communities showing them how accessible water testing within the community is, and to encourage our next generation of land and water protectors through hands on experience.