Gaypaygw’m Ganauu Pansy Wright-Simms is the spokeswomen for Simogyet Luudkudziiwus, Charlie Wright; of the Gitxsan Nation. She is a volunteer teacher of Gitxsan song, dance, and drumming within the communities surrounding the nation, including at her traditional territories of MadiiLii. She is immersed in her Gitxsan culture and strives to be the voice of those who would not otherwise be heard. She is the Education Administrator for the office of Gitanmaax. She currently serves as a Board of director for the First Nations Education Steering Committee Society, First Nations Schools Association, and the Gitxsan Wet’suwet’en Education Society, and the BC Games Society.

Kugwi' sila' ogwa, Ellen Newman, is Kwaguilth, Haida, Salish, and of mixed European heritage. Her traditional name means the female version of a Chief’s seat, ``the person as one where one’s wealth is deposited``. Ellen has over 20 years’ experience with Indigenous nonprofits at frontline and board levels and understands that good governance practice enables organizations to do the work they are called to do. “We have inherited the Societies Act and so we are responsible to follow the rules. Strong Circle offers board training that fits for Indigenous nonprofits and with how Indigenous communities govern”.

Rosy is Scottish on her mother’s side and Cree on her father’s side from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta. She has 15 years experience working directly with Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada. Rosy has just joined the Indigenous Cancer Control team at BC Cancer as the Indigenous Design and Cultural Safety Lead. Prior to that Rosy was the Director of Operations for the Moose Hide Campaign, an Indigenous-led grassroots movement of men, boys and all Canadians standing up against violence towards women and children. Rosy has also acted as lead coordinator on many large-scale projects including the Witness Blanket, a large-scale art installation that recognizes the atrocities of the residential school era, honours the children and survivors, and symbolizes ongoing reconciliation. Rosy has a passion for travel and loves to spend as much time as possible in her garden. Born and raised in the Okanagan Valley, she now lives with her husband and young daughter on the beautiful traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples.

My name is Sierra Wells, my mother comes from the Wui’kinuxv Nation of Rivers Inlet and my father was Irish and English. My passion to support Indigenous children, youth and families has led me to work for Indigenous nonprofits for most of my adult life. It is my hope to continue to support the valuable work that Indigenous organizations continue to do. As a mediator I am skilled at supporting people to have tough conversations and at supporting people to build / repair and or strengthen relationships to move forward, and find new ways of working together.

Amy is a white settler with Jewish and European heritage, and lives as a guest in unceded Syilx Territory. Amy founded Strong Circle in 2020, and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2022, with an understanding that relationship and responsibility to the land, and inherent rights of Indigenous peoples and their territories, is the starting place to all work. She has worked as a guest in urban Indigenous communities and nonprofits for over 24 years in the capacity of frontline worker, manager, researcher, director, and board member. Amy supports Indigenous nonprofits through offering HR and governance policy support, organizational design and strategy, nonprofit board training, and operations management.

Sheldon is a white settler of Germanic heritage who lives in the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations. Sheldon is a business lawyer specializing in working with non-profits and charities. He helps clients with a wide variety of legal needs including starting and managing a non-profit, charitable status, contracts, and disputes. Before becoming a lawyer, Sheldon worked and led in the non-profit sector for about a decade. Sheldon particularly enjoys working with organizations serving Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ communities. As an advocate for access to justice, Sheldon works collaboratively with clients to find solutions that meet their needs regardless of means.

While he is a supporter and frequent collaborator of Strong Circle, Sheldon operates independently of Strong Circle. Sheldon provides independent and confidential legal representation through his firm, DoGood Law Corporation.

Janice Simcoe is an Ojibwe-kwe and a member of Chippewas of Rama First Nation. She has lived on Lekwungen territory, near Victoria, BC, for nearly 50 years. Janice recently retired from a long career of working in Indigenous post-secondary and educational leadership. Moreover, she carries with her many years of contributing to community, sitting on and often providing leadership to various boards, councils, and committees. Janice has supported the Friendship Centre movement for over 30 years and remains active in Indigenous community work. Janice is very knowledgeable of and interested in the theory and practice of Indigenous leadership, as well as Indigenization. She is supporting Strong Circle as a curriculum development and process advisor. She offers vision, experience, and love to this work.

Zofia Rogowski (they/she) is a two-spirit, urban Ojibwe artist living in Lekwungen Territory (Victoria, BC). She is from Rama First Nation on her mother’s side, and Poland on her father’s. Zofia is a multimedia artist, with ten years of experience in beadwork and drum making, along with a lifetime of illustration and painting practice. She views her art practice as an opportunity to learn, celebrate and educate about nature and Indigenous life.

Zofia also has a background in communications, specifically professional writing and public speaking. She worked for the Indigenous Education department at Camosun College for many years. Through this work, Zofia honed her skills in event coordination, hosting and cultural competency.

Zofia first connected with Strong Circle in 2023 as a communications helper, and continues to work with the collective as a creative consultant and artist.

Lisa Mercure is Mikisew Cree, K'ai Taile Dëne Sųłıné, and Wêmistikôsêw Iskwêw. She lives in Lekwungen territory and is the proud mother of three strong and beautiful Cree daughters. Lisa is honoured to support Strong Circle and hold space to bring together Indigenous leaders in BC. She has spent the past 20 years supporting Indigenous nonprofits in organizational management and governance throughout the province. Lisa also works at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre as the Indigenous Culture and Traditions Coordinator, and supports Elders and Old Ones to determine culturally relevant programming for their urban community.

Megan Boddy grew up on the traditional territories of the Nedut'en, Gitxsan, and Wet'suwet'en, and has been working in Indigenous community on Lekwungen territory in the Friendship Centre movement for the last decade. Her work includes a broad range of administration, program management, communications, and writing and editing everything from novels and scripts to grants and other technical documents. She combines a love of narrative and deep respect for different voices with a passion for clear, concise language.

Tanya is a nonprofit leader, collaborator, ally and coach. She has led nonprofits for over 30 years and currently serves as the Executive Director of OneSky Community Resources Society. Tanya's leadership style is grounded in collaboration and compassion, informed through her lens as an African woman who as a child escaped apartheid and moved to unceded Secwepemc territory, known as Kamloops. Tanya now resides as a guest in unceded Syilx territory, known as Summerland, and offers Strong Circle peer support and mentoring in executive leadership, board governance, and labour relations.