Elder Profiles

Elder Wanda First Rider, whose Blackfoot name is Pukaki, meaning Little Woman, is from the Kainai Nation of the Siksikaitsitapi. She has lived in Moh’kinstsis for more than 50 years and has dedicated much of her life to Indigenous education, community, and supporting young people. She worked with the Calgary Catholic School District for 39 years, supporting Indigenous students and helping educators learn about Indigenous practices, and later served as the District Elder. A residential school Survivor, Elder Wanda continues to share her language, cultural teachings, and experiences with students and educators. In 2024, she received the Alberta Teachers’ Association Public Education Award for her contributions to Indigenous education and strengthening relationships between Indigenous and non Indigenous peoples (Alberta Teachers’ Association, 2024; Social Policy Collaborative, n.d.).

Grandmother Dr. Doreen Spence is a Cree Elder who was born and raised at Good Fish Lake and is a member of Saddle Lake Cree Nation. She was one of the first Indigenous women in Canada to earn a Practical Nursing Certificate and went on to a nursing career spanning more than 40 years. Her work extends beyond nursing into education, human rights, reconciliation, and advocacy for Indigenous peoples. She has contributed internationally through the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations and has spent decades advocating for Indigenous health and human rights. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of her contributions to reconciliation and Indigenous peoples (Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, n.d.; University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing, n.d.).

Elder Kerrie Moore is a Métis and Cree Elder originally from Saskatchewan, Treaty 6 territory, who has made her home in Treaty 7 territory for many years. She is a registered social worker, psychotherapist, educator, and Elder with the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work. For more than 50 years, she has supported individuals and families through culturally grounded approaches to trauma, grief, healing, and wellness. She also provides spiritual guidance, teaching, and mentorship across the university and community. In 2024, the University of Calgary awarded Elder Kerrie an Honorary Doctor of Laws in recognition of her lifelong contributions to Indigenous wellness, education, and community healing (University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work, 2024).

Elder Evelyn Good Striker is Lakota Dakota from Standing Buffalo First Nation in Saskatchewan and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. She grew up experiencing changing federal education policies, attending Day School, Residential School, and eventually public school in Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan. She earned a Bachelor of Education and Master of Education from the University of Lethbridge and spent many years as a classroom teacher, administrator, educator, and cultural advisor. She continues to work with students, families, and educators and shares her knowledge with those who want to engage in the excitement of learning (Calgary Public Library, n.d.).

Elder Maria Campbell is a Métis Elder, storyteller, author, playwright, filmmaker, educator, and community worker from Saskatchewan. She grew up in a Road Allowance community and has spent decades using storytelling, writing, theatre, film, teaching, and community work to support Indigenous peoples and share Métis stories and knowledge. Her groundbreaking 1973 memoir, Halfbreed, became an important work of Indigenous literature in Canada and opened doors for generations of Indigenous writers. Her work has also included advocacy and community work with Indigenous women, children, youth, and families, as well as teaching and mentorship (University of Saskatchewan, 2021).