Minister's Advisory Council on Indigenous Women (MACIW) Members

Coreen Child (Chair)

Coreen Child, Yakawilas, is a proud member of the Kwakiutl (Kwagu’ł) First Nation, with strong ties to the nobility across Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw communities. She can trace her lineage to pre-contact times and embodies numerous ancestral lines among Kwak’wala-speaking Nations.

Coreen has held multiple terms as an elected Chief Councillor and has taken on various leadership roles advocating for Indigenous Rights and Title, the Rights of Indigenous women and girls, as well as language and cultural revitalization. With a decade of experience in the Indigenous-led non-profit sector, she has focused on solutions for Indigenous urban unhoused population.

Coreen is a traditional singer, dancer, and cultural educator, serving as a regional and national advocate for Indigenous communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education specializing in language revitalization and is currently pursuing her Master's in Indigenous Governance. Presently, she is the Executive Director of the Awi’nakola Foundation, which envisions a way of life that honours the air, land, sea, and spirit, encapsulated in the phrase: Maya'xa̱la x̱a̱n’s a̱wi'nakola.

Patricia Barkaskas (Vice-Chair)

Patricia Barkaskas is a Métis lawyer and educator. She is currently an Associate Professor at the Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia. She previously held the positions of Strategic Advisor to the Dean for the National Centre for Indigenous Laws and Associate Professor (limited term) in the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria from (2022-2024), as well as Academic Director of Indigenous Legal Studies (2021-2022) and Academic Director of the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic (2014-2022) at Allard Law. Her current and future teaching and research interests include Indigenous laws, access to justice for Indigenous peoples, and decolonizing and Indigenizing law.

Patricia has practiced in the areas of child protection (as parent's counsel), criminal, family, as well as civil litigation and prison law. She has worked closely with Indigenous peoples in their encounters with the justice system and has worked for Residential school survivors as a historical legal researcher for the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. In addition, Patricia has written Gladue reports for all levels of court in BC.

Patricia holds an M.A. in History, with a focus on Indigenous histories in North America, and a J.D., with a Law and Social Justice Specialization, both from the University of British Columbia.

Audrey Lundquist (Elder Representative)

Audrey Lundquist is from the Gitxsan Nation and is a member of the Fireweed Clan. She belongs to the Huwilp (Houses) of Haxbagwootxw and Yal and is a Hereditary Chief in Simoget Yals’ Wilp.

Audrey graduated from the University of British Columbia (UBC) with a Law degree. Early in her career, she worked at the BC Association of Non-Status Indians and the Battered Women's Support Services. Additionally, she was a training and employment counsellor for Skidegate Band Council. Audrey went on to work at the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) in two positions: firstly, as a Policy Analyst in Victoria and then as a Regional Aboriginal Community Services Manager for the Northwest region. She was in these positions for a combined total of just over 20 years.

More recently, Audrey was an Elder on the Create a Grandparent Advisory Committee with the University of Victoria School of Social Work. After retirement, she continues to be of service to MCFD as a contractor. She is a member of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) as Elder and looks at various Indigenous child welfare issues. She continues to support the work of uplifting Indigenous children and youth through advising the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth as an Elder advisor on the Missing Children project. Audrey is also passionate about addressing issues of spousal assault and dating violence, having worked in a battered women’s shelter, and currently is working with the Bridges program aboriginal stream.

Audrey resides on Lekwungen territory and is a proud mother of four children and three grandchildren. She stays connected to her community as she teaches younger ones about Gitxsan culture. Audrey takes her responsibilities for transmitting traditional knowledge seriously by modeling chieftainship values, sharing her Ayook (laws) and structure of feasting protocols and processes. She is an active community member who is committed to serving her community at large.

Taylor Behn-Tsakoza (Youth Representative)

Taylor Behn-Tsakoza is Dene and Dunne Zaa from the Fort Nelson First Nation with paternal roots in Prophet River First Nation. Both of her Nations’ territories cover northeast B.C. and are signatories to Treaty 8. Her mother is Sally Behn and her father is the late Kevin Tsakoza. Her grandparents are the late George and Mary Behn and Rosie Tsakoza.

Taylor holds a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education from Mount Royal University and is currently pursuing a masters in Indigenous Land Based Education at the University of Saskatchewan. Taylor has dedicated her young academic and professional career to advancing Indigenous rights, title, and treaty rights through youth participation in decision making and policy development. From the United Nations to the Senate of Canada, to local governments, Taylor is passionate about elevating youth voices at all levels of influence. From 2020 to 2023 Taylor served as the Female Youth Representative for the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations and was Co-Chair of the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council for a term. As an intergenerational survivor and advocate, her biggest honour was being selected as the Youth Representative for the First Nations delegation that met with Pope Francis at the Vatican to discuss Indian Residential Schools.

Currently, Taylor works for Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal, her Nation’s renewable energy plant, as the Community Liaison and serves as a Youth Advisor on the TELUS Indigenous Advisory Council. Her special interests are life promotion, climate change and land-based wellness.

Michelle Cameron (Member)

Michelle Cameron (she/her) is a practicing lawyer, with a deep background in anti-oppressive, trauma informed, culturally safe workplace investigations and alternative resolution practices. She has conducted investigations, workplace assessments, and mediations in a variety of employment contexts including health care, public service agencies, policing agencies, non-government organizations, school boards, and First Nations governments. On her mother’s side, she is Dakelh, Frog Clan, and a registered member of Ts’il Kaz Koh First Nation in Northern B.C. Her father’s side is English and Irish.

Michelle is currently the Associate Director of Investigations with the UBC Investigations office, which handles allegations of sexual misconduct, discrimination, retaliation, bullying and harassment, and the Public Interest Disclosure Policy for UBC Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. Michelle has extensive knowledge and experience in working with folks who have experienced sexual harm and discrimination. Michelle is responsible for leading the development of alternative resolution options at the UBC Investigations Office and has designed and implemented an innovative peacemaking circle option for students, staff, and faculty. In 2022, Michelle was awarded the Envisioning Equity award in the staff category, which recognized and celebrated exceptional women and gender-diverse faculty and staff at UBC.

Prior to this, Michelle articled and worked as an associate for a law firm that specializes in neutral workplace investigations, workplace assessments, and mediations. Michelle previously worked investigating public allegations of police misconduct with the Civilian Review Complaints Commission. She also worked for over eight years as a civilian member intelligence analyst in several units with the RCMP and received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal in 2017 for exemplary service.

Michelle holds Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work, and Juris Doctor degree from UBC. She also holds a certificate in conflict resolution from JIBC and is trained in a wide array of resolution approaches such as mediation, negotiation, conflict coaching, restorative justice, circle facilitation, intercultural dispute resolution, and Indigenous peacemaking circles.

Wenona Hall (Member)

Dr. Wenona Hall is Stó:lō and a member of the Sq'ewqéyl First Nation located in the unceded territory of the Ts’elxwéyeqw. She carries the ancestral name Ts’qwelemót as well as the gifted name Qwi:qwelstom. Her ancestral name reminds her to stand on her own two feet and always speak her truth. Her gifted name Qwi:qwelstom has to do with being balanced, caring and sharing and to learn to resolve conflict in a good way. She carries these names with honor and does her best to meet these responsibilities in her everyday life as well as in her work-related responsibilities.

Kristy Joe (Member)

Kristy Joe is a strong, passionate, independent, Dakelh (Carrier) woman from Tl’azt’en Nation which is located in the Central Interior of British Columbia (B.C.). She was raised within the Lusilyoo (Frog) Clan. Kristy spent her childhood years in the Tl’azt’en and Nak’azdli Nation near Fort St. James with a large family that immersed itself in the harvesting and cultural activities within the family’s Keyoh (territory). Today she calls Merritt, B.C. home and is married to her husband Lennard Joe, who is from the Shackan Band within the Nlaka’pamux Nation; together they raise five children.

Kristy’s healing journey has given her the strength and perspective to live life in a good way and to fulfill her purpose, which is to lead others to reach their full potential so they will find peace, love and happiness within. Her positive attitude is contagious and is reflected in the many organizations where she contributes through her professional and free time. Kristy has over 25 years’ experience in administration with First Nation organizations on a business level, Band level, Nation level and Provincial level. She has assisted in funding program development and implementation, managed many programs and services in organizations that focused on emergency management, forest management and children and families. Kristy is a co-author of two best-selling books of the Woman of Worth series with topics on Emotional Intelligence: Mental Health Matters & Women's Wellness: Aging at Any Age with Moxie.

She has played an integral part in the healing journey of many Indigenous youth, Elders, women, men and organizations throughout B.C. Her innovative and dynamic attitude, along with her strong administrative background, has allowed her to excel as an orchestrator and implementer of many programs which has resulted in stronger, healthier, and safer communities.

Jenny Morgan (Member)

Dr. Jenny Morgan is from the Gitxsan First Nation. Lax Gibuu (Wolf clan) from the House of Wii Muk'willixw. She resides on the lands of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations and has been an Assistant Teaching Professor with the University of Victoria School of Social Work since 2021.

Her past work experience included working directly with community in employment and health services, as well as leadership work with housing organizations and within health authorities. Jenny's previous role in healthcare was with the BC Women's and Children's Hospitals as the Director for Indigenous Health. She holds a BSW (2003, UBC), an MSW with an Indigenous Specialization (UVic, 2014), and a Doctor in Education (2019, UWO). Her research and teaching interests include addressing anti-Indigenous racism, Indigenous Health, and Evaluation.

Some of Jenny's favorite activities include walking, hiking, and traveling. 2022 was personally a difficult year being diagnosed with breast cancer. She completed all the treatments and is excited to share with others she is in the remission stage of the illness. This personal experience has provided Jenny even greater care and insights into the wellness for women's health and wellbeing.

Lauren Petersen (Member)

Lauren Petersen is a Two-Spirit Métis woman with maternal roots run deep in the Red River, descending from the Gagne, Ducharme, Gladue, Laframboise, Richot, Blondeau, Bedard, Berriault, Trottier, and Ross families. Her grandmother Rose Gagne was born in the historic Métis community of Ste. Rita, Manitoba. Her ancestors lived in St. Anne de Chenes, Fort Carlton, St. Boniface, St. Vital, Cross Lake, Fort Augustus and St. Francis Xavier prior to taking scrip.

Lauren is a proud citizen of Métis Nation BC (MNBC), and a member of Surrey Delta Métis Association. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in Humanities, a Graduate Diploma in Cultural Resource Management, and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Victoria. Her research focuses on Indigenous leadership, anti-racism, power, privilege, and Métis pedagogy and governance.

Lauren has held various roles within the K-12 and post-secondary education systems in British Columbia for the past decade, currently serving as the manager of K-12 education for MNBC. She has also taught English in both South Korea and Vietnam. She is a director at large for Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society and is passionate about equity-building, systems change, and relationship building.

Wendy Simon (Member)

Wendy Simon (Haida/Hotinonshonni, she/her) brings the unique experience of being from the remote, northern islands of Haida Gwaii as well as from the demographically largest reserve of Six Nations of the Grand River. She currently lives on the traditional and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh and works as a facilitator, social worker, and planner. She has extensive training in counselling practice (Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Therapy & Complex Trauma Certification) and social work (MSW, earning the faculty’s top Medal of Excellence award). In 2021, Wendy completed further certification in end-of-life care in recognition of the impacts and prevalence of grief in the communities she serves.

Wendy holds the work of advising and shaping professional practices as one of her most important responsibilities. She is a skilled facilitator, communicator, problem-solver, and leader having taught over forty courses and twenty cohorts of Indigenous counselling students in areas such as: community capacity building, interpersonal communications, and trauma counselling. Passionate about Indigenous-led education, Wendy loved working in Native Education College’s Longhouse campus as the Dean of Student Services and Registrar. She is registered with the BC College of Social Workers and has served as the Chair of the college’s Indigenous Committee.

Wendy is currently a professional planner with a focus on dignified Indigenous engagement, housing and homelessness, emergency and climate preparedness, strategic planning, JEDDI/organizational auditing, and drafting reconciliation action plans. She completed a multi-year contract with the BC Ombudsperson’s Office which investigates complaints of unfair treatment when accessing provincial/Crown services as an Indigenous Engagement specialist. She has also served several terms as the Vice-President of the Pacific Association of First Nations Women, is an inaugural member of the Canadian Institute of Planners’ Indigenous Advisory Committee and a proud Pipe-Carrier & Sundancer.