Thursday June 18, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am CDT
Giniwikwe, (Golden Eagle Woman), aka, Laura Horton is Tulita Dene Anishinaabekwe, and a community member of Manidoo Bawatigoong, Rainy River First Nations. She is bear clan, Mide’kwe, mom, kokum and great grandmother, born and raised in Treaty 3, Ontario, Canada. She retired from Seven Generations Education Institute in 2015 as Director of Post Secondary Education. She continues as to share teachings, mentor youth, and support traditional health practices as a Cedar Bath conductor, Water advocate, medicine harvester and lover of life.
Kookum, Grandmother Sherry Copenace Niizhoosake, Saagimaakwe of the Atik dodem (Elk Clan) is part of the Midewewin. Sherry was born and raised in the community of Ojibways of Onigaming in Northwestern, Ontario on the east side of Lake of the Woods. She is rooted in her Anishinaabe ways and fluent in Anishinaabemowin, her original language and has a great love for the Land, Waters and Peoples.
Since 2011, Sherry has led Makoosekawin- Anishinaabe young women coming of age teachings and ceremonies. She is part of a Knowledge Circle at Nanadawegamig (FMHSSM). Sherry helps at Anishinaabe Teaching and Sacred Lodges such as the Annual Nibi Gathering held in May of each year. She holds a MSW degree and is associated with several institutions and organizations who continually engage her for her knowledge and lived experience. Sherry is the Treaty 3 representative of the AMC Council of Elders, Grandmother’s Council and to the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba and has assisted with the Full moon & Water Ceremonies, Women’s Gathering and guidance to the Grand Chief’s office.
Phoenix Combe is a Policy Analyst with the Manitoba Métis Federation’s Energy, Infrastructure, and Resource Management Department. A proud Red River Métis woman born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Phoenix works to advance Red River Métis governance, data sovereignty, and environmental stewardship across the Nation’s Homeland. Her work focuses on Indigenous-led data practices, watershed and ecological monitoring, and supporting rights-based decision-making grounded in Métis knowledge systems. Phoenix is committed to ensuring that Red River Métis voices, knowledge, and responsibilities guide land and water decisions now and for future generations.
Danika Littlechild is a registered member of Ermineskin Cree Nation located in Treaty 6 territory in the province of Alberta. She joined the University of Winnipeg as an Associate Professor in Fall 2024. Before that, she was an Assistant Professor at Carleton University in the Department of Law and Legal Studies from 2020-2024. Danika practiced law from 2000-2020, working extensively on Indigenous and environmental matters in Canada and internationally. Danika participated in the negotiations of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Minimata Convention on Mercury and many United Nations special procedures, conference of the parties and related meetings to multilateral environmental agreements such as the Stockholm Convention on Toxics. Domestically, Danika developed a law practice and now, a research portfolio that is focused on conservation and protected areas, water, and climate change. She served as an advisor for many years to the Assembly of First Nations on water and environmental issues, she was a member of the Global Water Institute at Carleton University. Danika was the Co-Chair of the Indigenous Circle of Experts who developed the designation of IPCAs, or Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in Canada. She is co-author of the Indigenous Resilience Report on Climate Change (2025) a four year national academic study on the area. Currently, Danika is the Co-Principal Investigator of the Arramat Project, a NFRF Transformation $24M global project working on Biodiversity, Conservation and Indigenous Health & Well Being. Danika is a member of Manitoba’s Clean Environment Commission. Danika holds a UNESCO Chair in Collaboration for Biodiversity Conservation and Indigenous Health and Well-being.
