Dr. CATHY RICHARDSON KINEWESKWÊW
Cathy is a Métis therapist, family therapist, researcher and academic working at Concordia University. Her maternal relatives come from Fort Chipewyan and have ties to Red River. She holds a research Chair in Indigenous Healing Knowledges. Cathy isalso interested in the broader and multi-dimensional aspects of healing, such as the person as whole being, a spirit in a body with emotions, intelligence, physicality and in relation to all beings in the natural world. She has taught in various counselling and social work programs and is the former director of the First Peoples Studies program at Concordia University. She explores various approaches to well- being on her substack podcast, where she speaks with healers, activists and response-based therapists. She is a student of shamanic practice and the mother of three amazing adult children.
MOE CLARK
âpihtawikosisâniskwêw (Métis/mixed-settler) multidisciplinary artist Moe Clark is a 2Spirit singing thunderbird. Moe was born and raised in Treaty 7, and they are a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Currently she resides as a guest in Tiotiá:ke/ Mooniyang/ Montréal (QC) where they work as an artist and educator. A dedicated nêhiyawêwin (Plains Cree language) and Michif language learner, Moe collaborates intimately with Elders and knowledge keepers to advance language resurgence through song-based practices. She works across disciplines of vocal improvisation, sound design, land-based oskapêw facilitation (ceremonial Elder apprenticeship), and performance creation, to create work that centres embodied knowledge, 2Spirit Indigenous resurgence, and creative kinship. Moe is a recipient of the National Gathering of Indigenous Students Master’s Certificate of Excellence Award.
DANI SHERWOOD (they/she)
Dani is a 31-year-old Two-Spirit, femme-presenting queer, neurodivergent Master of Social Work graduate of mixed white settler Irish, Franco-Manitoban, and Indigenous Red River Métis ancestry. Dani was born in the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish Nations, colonially known as Vancouver, British Columbia, and is grateful to be a guest here in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang, the traditional territories of the Kanien’kehá:ka and historic gathering place for many First Nations—including the Kanien’kehá:ka, Wendat, Abenaki, and Anishinaabe. Dani focused their Master of Social Work thesis on “Social Work for Land Back”, decolonizing environmental social work. Currently, Dani is the Executive Assistant for the Centre for Response-Based Practice, and a Collaborator with LIFE as Medicine: Circle of Indigenous Healing Arts, alongside their role as a Research Associate on our team. Dani is particularly focused on decolonization, settler solidarity, Indigenous resurgence, anti-violence, social and environmental justice, Spirit-Centeredness, and Healing for All Beings~All Our Relations.
Dr. ZEINA ISMAEL-ALLOUCHE
A decolonial scholar with a PhD in oral history, Dr. Ismail-Allouche draws connections between historical and ongoing colonial systems that target children through violence, erasure, and family separation. Her reflections emphasize the importance of memory, justice, and cultural survival, echoing her long-standing commitment to advocating for children’s rights globally — from Turtle Island to Lebanon, Palestine, and beyond. An activist, autoethnographer, performer, and storyteller with over 20 years of experience in designing, implementing and monitoring strategic, integrated, multidisciplinary, and participatory reform plans in support of preventing violence against children and youth with a special focus on gender-based violence and preventing forced separation.
ELIO KEPHART
Elio Kephart (he/they) started their involvement in the Indigenous Healing Knowledges project (IHK) in 2021 as a student working on the Genealogy journal special issue, Landin’ the Spirit: Indigenous Knowledge on Healing and Wellbeing. Since then, he has been a research assistant alongside Dr. Catherine Kineweskwêw Richardson in numerous projects related to IHK, response-based practice, and cultural safety. Following the completion of a BA in First Peoples Studies at Concordia, Elio plans to continue collaborating as a settler ally in the community sector of Tiohtià:ke/Montréal.
MAIA MANSHADI
Maia Manshadi is an Iranian/French settler artist and activist. Born in T’kemlups, so called British Columbia, they currently live and work in Tio’tia:ke/Mooniyang in so-called Quebec. They are currently in their last year of a BFA with a Minor in First Peoples Studies. In their research and writing, they explore the connections between gendered violence, racism and resource extractivism. They’ve shown artwork at Canopy (2023), Soil We Grow From and Return To (2024), From Turtle Island to Palestine, Occupation is a Crime Fundraiser (2024) and Amaana Palestine Fundraiser (2025). They also design graphics for merch and posters to fundraise for anti-colonial initiatives. They are currently a research assistant for Cathy Richardson, the chair of the Indigenous Healing Knowledges team.