All conference leaders who are not Panelists

Jasmyn Albert is a Plains Cree and Métis woman living in Treaty 6 territory. She convocated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor’s in Education in 2019. She is an educator, artist and Knowledge Keeper. She loves to sew and spend time with her family and Kokum. Jasmyn currently works with Connected North as a session host and facilitator. Sharing her love of culture and creativity is a vital part of Jasmyn’s success. 

Hi my name is Rev. Deb Anderson-Pratt; my Spirit name is O Kit Chee Tow Eskwe: "Warrior Woman Spirit.” I am a Cree/Saulteaux Woman from George Gordon First Nation.

I was raised in both the traditional and in the Christian faith teachings by my Nokumis (Great Grandmother) Mary Jane Anderson. From my early Christian teachings, I wanted nothing to do with God and Church thinking they were one and the same until God himself gave me a news flash: "They are Not"! Although I trained for Ministry in 88-89, it was not from God but from man. God's call came loud and clear in 2012. I graduated from SSSC in April 2017 after completing the 5-year program in 4 ½ years. It took 3 years for the church to understand that my call to ministry came from God and not from the church. I was ordained September 27, 2020. I've worked for UC for 9 years, with 7 of them for the Regina Native Outreach Ministry.

Lynn Caldwell is from Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.  Liberal arts education, theological studies, and community involvements led her into work as an educator first with an ecumenical anti-racist education project called AYAPSA (Alberta Youth Animation Project on Southern Africa) and then as a member of the Saskatchewan Conference program staff team of the United Church of Canada. In 2000, she returned to graduate studies and completed an MA and a PhD in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto with research focused on settler colonialism and nostalgia. 

Lynn has been living in Saskatoon since 2008, is a Professor of Theological Ethics for St. Andrew’s College, teaches through sessional appointments at the University of Saskatchewan in Education and in Gender Studies, and in the past has taught with St. Thomas More College in the Department of Sociology.  As a member of St. Andrew’s faculty and through other involvements, Lynn teaches and supervises student research in subjects and methods of anti-oppressive education, social ethics, community-engaged learning, qualitative research, gender diversity, and critical social justice education. 

Amanda Dodge is the Program Director for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Saskatchewan, overseeing its local programming. She does community work in decolonization and anti-racism; and co-facilitates in-prison programming. Prior to joining MCC in 2017, Amanda practiced poverty law. She has a B.A. in Psychology, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Master of Laws.

Cort Dogniez is a proud Métis man born and raised in Saskatoon. He was an educator for 41 years and is now happily retired. His first book, Road to La Prairie Ronde was published in 2020 and received two nominations from the Saskatchewan Book Awards. 

Elaine Enns has worked in the field of restorative justice since 1989, first focusing on victim-offender dialogue work in the Criminal Justice System, and more recently looking at how restorative justice applies to historical violations, including issues of intergenerational trauma and healing. She holds a Doctor of Ministry from St. Andrew’s College, and leads workshops throughout North America on restorative solidarity.

She most recently coauthored (with her partner activist theologian Ched Myers) Healing Haunted Histories: A Settler Discipleship of Decolonization (Cascade, 2021); in 2009 the two-volume Ambassadors of Reconciliation: A New Testament Theology and Diverse Christian Practices of Restorative Justice and Peacemaking (Orbis Books, 2009); and has published over a dozen articles. An ecumenical Mennonite, Elaine was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and lives in southern California where she co-directs Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries (www.bcm-net.org) on traditional Chumash land.  

Julie Graham (she/her) is the daughter of immigrants from the British Isles, born and raised on Coast Salish and Sto:lo territory. She lives on Treaty Six and Métis homeland in Saskatoon, is White and English-speaking, and queer. She fell into communications and social justice work as a young adult layperson active in the United Church and has kept at it, mostly in ecumenical and interfaith settings. She has served BC Conference of the United Church, Ten Days for Global Justice, KAIROS, and Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble, and taught English as an additional language at Sask Polytech. She currently works with the Regional Councils of the United Church that cover most of the Prairies and North, focusing on right relations with Indigenous peoples; 2SLGBTQIA+ dignity; anti racism; climate justice; inclusive communications/ storytelling, and more.

A member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Harry Lafond has served as the St. Thomas More College (STM) Scholar on Indigenous Education since 2019. In this role he provides the College guidance in academic and administrative matters. As priority lead for Authentic Indigenization initiatives within the STM College Plan 2025, he works with members of the STM community to build capacity, collaborate and consult, and honour Indigenous cultures. In doing so, he furthers STM’s ability to respond to the TRC Calls to Action and become  “a reconciled community” in which Indigenous students, scholars and staff find their place and flourish.

A deacon in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert and 2022 Saskatchewan Order of Merit recipient, Mr. Lafond previously served as the Executive Director of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner in Saskatchewan; Director of Education for Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, and as that Nation’s Chief for ten years.

Erica Violet Lee (BA, MEd) is a nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) author, poet, community organizer, artist, and scholar. Erica has worked with Idle No More, the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, and the David Suzuki Foundation, among others, in the pursuit of Indigenous feminist freedoms. She is from westside Saskatoon and Thunderchild Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. 

Erica’s debut collection of poetry entitled On The Prairies We Will Live Forever will be published next year with Penguin Random House Canada. 

Erica has served as an Iris Marion Young scholar at Penn State University and a scholar of the inaugural Cornell University and Mellon Foundation Migrations Institute. She is also a two-time CBC Future 40 winner, a YWCA Youth Award Recipient, a previous member of the Canadian Youth Delegation to the United Nations COP 21 Climate Conference, as well as a board member of Indigenous Climate Action. Erica’s work has led to residencies with the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in Italy, along with hundreds of invited speaking engagements in communities and at universities worldwide over the past decade. Erica is the recipient of literary awards from the Canada Council for the Arts, Sask Arts, and The Writers Trust of Canada.

While she holds a BA in Political Theory from the University of Saskatchewan and an MEd in Social Justice Education from OISE at the University of Toronto, she works to always remain grounded in community and guided by art, poetry, and music as sensual, material pathways toward our shared liberation.

Her current project is a series of essays on music, travel, and the wonderful freedom of chasing desire in a capitalist, colonial society.

Iain Luke grew up in Porcupine Plain SK and is currently Principal of the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad, the Anglican partner in the Saskatoon Theological Union. As a priest since 1993, he served parishes in Nipawin, Humboldt, and Peace River, and directed programs for clergy and parish team training in Winnipeg. His doctoral work explored and challenged the role of self-interest as the foundation of contemporary economics. He is married with two daughters, and looks forward to summer because it means kayaking and berry-picking.

Darlene R. Okemaysim-Sicotte, is a Cree from Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation near the town of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, and was educated at Rivier Academy in Prince Albert and at the University of Saskatchewan.   She is a survivor of federal Indian Day School and daughter of two Indian Residential School Survivors.  Darlene has retired from the Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre, after 9 years, as of July 2022 due to health issues.  Darlene’s past experiences in the workplace include Executive Assistant at Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, and Departmental Secretary at U of S Native Studies (now INDST). Darlene is also an 18 year member of the Saskatoon Concerned Citizens group Iskwewuk Ewichiwitochik (Women Walking Together) whose focus is on missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, two spirit and diverse genders.  

Darlene received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in January 2013 and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal 2023 for this volunteerism, and was a national finalist and later a juror for the Samara.com “Every Day Political Citizen - Project”.  

Darlene has written published articles and engages in local, provincial, and national interviews with media outlets on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.  Darlene has also been the Non-Legal Advocate and co-chair for Iskwewuk E-wichitochik (Women Walking Together) who had Party With Standing status for the National Inquiry to MMIWG2S.  

She currently lives in Saskatoon, is focused on Reconciliation and is advisor to Mamohkamatowin with her husband Chris Sicotte and is mother to Christopher, Cory, Aren, Sunflower, and grandmother to Albert Jr., Dayshawn, Joseph, Samuel, and Desta—all of whom enjoy the local, provincial, and national arts scene.

Originally from Domrémy, SK, on Treaty 6 land and the Homeland of the Métis, Gertrude Rompré currently serves as the Director of Mission and Ministry at St. Thomas More College (STM) and the Co-Director of the Irene and Doug Schmeiser Centre for Faith, Reason, Peace, and Justice. She holds a BA (Hons) in Sociology and Philosophy from STM, a MA in Pastoral Ministry (social justice/social ministry concentration) from Boston College, and an EdD in Higher Education (organization and management) from the University of Liverpool. 

Her career has focused on pastoral ministry in parishes and within the university context, with a precious four years spent in the Dene community of Tache (Meander River), AB. In her current role, she is the priority lead for the Hospitable Catholicism Action Group at STM and also contributes to the work of the Authentic Indigenization Action Group. Her passions include travel, gardening, and spoiling her young adult nieces and nephew. Most recently, she has returned from a 250 km hike along the Portuguese Camino.

Tanishii kiyawow. Michele Rowe dishinikashoon. Ma famille en Johnston, Brazeau et Brabant. I am a Métis woman and tattooed Pastrix who has been on a journey of recovery for over 29 years.

I worked in community development and Indigenous and non-Indigenous post-secondary education for many years before Jesus ruined my life in the best possible way and I entered ministry. I am retiring this year and plan to continue my work in trauma-informed ministry and counselling in the wider community. 

Don Schweitzer was born in Montreal and grew up in Kingston, Ontario. He is an ordained minister in The United Church of Canada and has lived in Saskatchewan for several decades. He is currently McDougald Professor of Theology at St. Andrew’s college.

Becca Whitla is the professor of practical ministry and the Dr. Lydia E. Gruchy Chair in Pastoral Theology at St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where she teaches worship and liturgy, preaching, religious education, and practical theology. In her book Liberation, (De)Coloniality, and Liturgical Practices: Flipping the Song Bird (Palgrave McMillan: 2020), she examines, from her Euro-Canadian settler perspective, ways to decolonize liturgical practices, especially community singing. She worked in Toronto for many years as a music director in both Anglican and United Churches (Church of the Holy Trinity, and Trinity St Paul’s United Church). She also co-directed Echo, a 70 voice women’s choir, and worked in the trade union movement developing leadership through choral singing.

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Celeste spent a few years in Ottawa completing her degree in Theology at St. Paul University before returning home to live and work. She is an avid musician, absolutely loves to sing, and in consequence belongs to a few different choirs. Currently, Celeste serves as a Campus Minister at St. Thomas More College on the University of Saskatchewan campus and most enjoys the privilege of journeying with students as they discern God's will and call in their lives.