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

Barb Ward-Burkitt

Fort McKay First Nation

Chair

2014 - Present

Monique Gray Smith

Barbara M. Ward-Burkitt (Chair)

Barbara Ward-Burkitt, Wahiyow Cawapata Scoo, is a member of the Fort McKay First Nation and is currently the Executive Director of the Prince George Native Friendship Centre. She has been actively connected in many capacities in the Friendship Centre movement since 1972. In the past she was a Faculty Staff Mentor in Field Programs for northern BC at Simon Fraser University and was a Child Care Worker with Indigenous students and with Special Needs students for the Quesnel School District. Active in her community, Ms. Ward-Burkitt has been the President of Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association for many years, and also sits on many local, regional and provincial working groups and committees. She completed her Masters of Education degree from Simon Fraser University and her First Nations Design and Technology course from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. Ms. Ward-Burkitt also holds her Provincial Instructor’s Diploma from the Vancouver Community College, her Native Adult Instructor’s Diploma from the B.C. Ministry of Education, Skills and Training and is a certified True Colors facilitator. Ms. Ward-Burkitt and her husband Jim have been proudly raising five of their grandchildren since 2003. Ms. Ward-Burkitt was invested into the Order of British Columbia in 2010.

Dr. Lorna Williams (Elder Representative)

Lorna Wanosts’a7 Williams is a member of the Lil’wat First Nation of Mount Currie. She is Professor Emerita University of Victoria (retired 2014). She was the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous knowledge and learning, an associate professor in Indigenous Education, Curriculum and Instruction and Linguistics. Dr. Williams also worked at the Ministry of Education as Director of the Aboriginal Education Enhancement Branch. Prior to this appointment, she worked as the First Nations education specialist with the Vancouver School Board. She was also the Program Director of Aboriginal Education at the University of Victoria. While there, she designed courses and degrees that included an Indigenous worldview and a focus on decolonization. Dr. Williams received her Doctorate in Education at the University of Tennessee in Educational Psychology. She co-directed a documentary film series called First Nations: The Circle Unbroken and has written children’s books, teachers’ guides and developed Lil’wat language curriculum to teach people to read and write the Lil’wat language. Dr. Williams was invested into the Order of British Columbia in 1993 and an Officer in the Order of Canada in 2019, both in recognition for her work in education and Indigenous languages. She is currently Chair of First Peoples Cultural Foundation; Special Advisor to Dean of Education at the University of Victoria and Indigenous Language Commission and UNESCO Research chair on Community based education; she serves on International Decade of Indigenous Languages for CCUNESCO.

Coreen Child (Vice-Chair)

Coreen Child carries the ancestral Kwak’wala name ‘Yakawilas, the place where property is given’. She is from the Kwakiutl (Kwagiulth) First Nation and lives with her husband and three daughters in their home community of Tsaxis, near Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island. Yakawilas is a descendant of many high ranking Kwakiutl chiefs and their families, and can trace her lineage back 14 generations to the origin places of her ancestors. She carries a diploma in Indigenous child and youth care, a diploma in language revitalization, as well as a Bachelor of Education degree with a specialization in Kwak’wala language learning. She has recently completed her third consecutive term in service to her nation, most recently as Chief Councillor. Coreen continues to advocate and serve on many boards and committees that include the First Nations Technology Council of B.C. Board of Directors, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs’ All Chiefs Task Force on Children and Families, and the First Nations Education Council for School District 85, Vancouver Island North. She has also served as a representative to the BCAFN women's council. Coreen has worked at Camosun College as an instructional assistant to employment readiness preparation programs, at the University of Victoria as an Aboriginal service plan coordinator, at the Sacred Wolf Friendship Centre as a roots practitioner, and for the Kwakiutl Nation as a cultural researcher. Coreen is renowned for her many gifts of traditional dancing, singing and teaching, and she continues to play an active role as a cultural leader and educator amongst the Kwakwaka’wakw communities.

Raven Lacerte (Member)

Raven Lacerte is a proud member of the Lake Babine First Nation in North-Central BC and belongs to the Bear Clan. She is the Co-Founder and National Ambassador for the Moose Hide Campaign since 2011- an Indigenous-led grassroots movement of men and boys - and all Canadians - who are standing up against violence towards women and children and all those along the gender continuum.

Raven is also a proud mother of daughters Cedar Sus and Chas Yaz, and partner to Dominic Paul, a member of the Tsartlip Nation. Raven and her family gratefully live on the Lands of the Lekwungen Speaking peoples’ territories, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

Patricia Barkaskas (Member)

Patricia Barkaskas is 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. She previously held the positions of Academic Director of Indigenous Legal Studies (2021-2022) and Academic Director of the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic (2014-2022) at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia. Her current and future teaching and research interests include Indigenous laws, access to justice, clinical legal education, and decolonizing and Indigenizing law, particularly examining the value of Indigenous pedagogies in experiential and clinical learning for legal education. Patricia is Métis from Alberta.

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.

Monique Gray Smith (On leave of absence)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Barb Ward-Burkitt

Chair

$5,300.00

Lauren Brown

Member

6.5

$1,625.00

Dr. Lorna Williams

Elder Rep

6

$1,500.00

Raven Lacerte

Youth Rep

7.5

$1,875.00

Patricia Barkaskas

Member

10

$2,605.00

Monique Gray Smith

Member (On leave of absence)

10

$2,500.00