Speakers and Themes

Aboriginal Strategies 2009 will feature 6 keynote speakers and over 40 presenters, organized into five themes.

Confirmed speakers to date include:

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Evan Adams, Aboriginal Health Physician Advisor, Office of the Provincial Health Officer, Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, Government of British Columbia
Mr. Anil Arora, Assistant Chief Statistician, Social, Health and Labour Statistics, Statistics Canada
Ms. Pamela McCurry, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Strategic Direction, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Dr. Doug Norris, Senior Vice-President and Chief Demographer, Environics Analytics
Ms. Audrey Poitras, President, Métis Nation of Alberta
Mr. Daniel Watson, Deputy Minister, Western Economic Diversification Canada
The Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Aboriginal Relations, Government of Alberta

Presenters for Breakout Sessions

Children, Families and Youth

• Ms. Emily Brascoupe, Policy Analyst, Gender Issues Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Ms. Rachel Eni, Research Associate, Centre for Aboriginal Health Research
• Ms. Jo-Ann Greene , Senior Policy Analyst, Gender Issues Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Ms. Angela Matheson, Aboriginal Head Start Association of British Columbia
• Dr. Lana Potts , Aboriginal Family Medicine Residency UBC
• Ms. Jacqueline Quinless, Research Director, Quintessential Research Group
• Dr. Judith Soon, Assistant Professor; Director, Community Pharmacist Research Network
• Ms. Nancy Zukewich, Manager, Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division, Statistics Canada

Economic Development and Labour Market

• Mr. Geoff Bowlby, Director, Labour Statistics, Statistics Canada
• Ms. Jeannie Cranmer, Aboriginal Education and Employment Strategy Coordinator, BC Hydro
• Mr. Robert Diaz, DMCS Cultural Services
• Mr. Dan Martel, Four Winds and Associates
• Ms. Cathy Stock, Director, Labour and Social Statistics, BC Stats
• Dr. Cora Voyageur, Associate Professor, University of Calgary

Health and Well-Being

• Mr. Erik Anderson, Senior Research Manager, Research and Analysis Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Mr. Nick Hossack, Senior Advisor, Policy and Strategic Planning, Health Canada
• Dr. Peter Hutchinson, Manager, Chronic Disease Surveillance Program, Métis Nation British Columbia
• Dr. Kathi Avery Kinew, Manager, Research and Social Development Initiatives, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
• Ms. Nathalie Lachance, Manager, Aboriginal Health Transition Fund, Health Canada
• Mr. Eric McGregor, Senior Analyst, Socio-Economic and Demographic Statistics Section, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Ms. Amanda Meawasige, Health Policy Analyst, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
• Mr. Jean-Pierre Morin, Historian, Treaty Relations Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Ms. Emma Palmantier, Chairperson, Northern B.C. Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Task Force
• Ms. Jeanette Steffler, Research Manager, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Dr. Noreen Willows, Associate Professor, Community Nutrition, University of Alberta

The North

• Ms. Ellen Bobet, Confluence Research
• Ms. Cathy Connors, Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division, Statistics Canada
• Mr. Carmen Kardoes, Acting Executive Director, Labour Market and Social Development Programs, Service Canada
• Ms. Cathleen Knotsch, Senior Research Officer, Inuit Tuttarvingat of National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)
• Mr. Kevin Kowalchuk, Director, Citizen Services North, Service Canada
• Ms. Crystal Lennie, Health Policy Coordinator, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
• Mr. Christopher Penney, Strategic Research Manager, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Mr. James Ross, President, Kaatodh Inc.

Urban Aboriginal Population

• Mr. Robert Barrett, Director, Western Management Consultants
• Mr. Calvin Hanselmann, Research Director, National Association of Friendship Centres
• Mr. Wayne Helgason, Executive Director, Social Planning Council of Winnipeg
• Mr. Charles Hill, Executive Director, National Aboriginal Housing Association
• Ms. Amber Potts, Senior Development Officer, Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Mr. Gord Stewart, Aboriginal Relations Officer, City of Edmonton
• Mr. Dave Ward, Director Aboriginal Relations, Edmonton Homeward Trust