Conference Emcees

Grace Phillips
Beausoleil First Nations
Region 6 Student Representative

Grace Phillips is a proud member of Beausoleil First Nation and Bear Clan, she grew up in the scenic landscapes of Georgian Bay, fostering a deep connection to her culture and environment. A third-year Health Science student at Queen’s University she is passionate about addressing healthcare disparities in Indigenous communities. Grace actively engages in initiatives promoting Indigenous representation and cultural preservation. She is excited to represent Region 6 as a Student Representative, bringing her unique perspective to support Indigenous health and environmental sustainability.
 

Hannah Kirdeikis
Beausoleil First Nations
Junior Canadian National Student Representative

Hannah is Anishinaabe Ojibwe from G’Chimnissing in Ontario. She is currently pursuing a BSC in Chemistry at the University of British Columbia. She is an active participant in the UBC AISES Chapter, helping to organize and run events on campus such as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as outreach events with youth from local reserves in the Vancouver area. She is planning on pursuing graduate school, to hopefully gain further expertise in inorganic chemistry. Eventually, she wants to go on to become a professor, teaching courses in catalysis and organometallic chemistry. Outside of school, she loves to go on long runs through campus and the Pacific Spirit National Park, as well as hiking in the valleys and mountains of British Columbia.
 

Jayson Pomfret
Métis Nation of Ontario
Senior Canadian National Student Representative

Jayson Pomfret is a student attending Queen’s University pursuing a Bachelor of Health Science degree while simultaneously pursuing a certificate in Law. Jayson hopes to pursue medical school after completing his undergraduate degree. Outside of his studies Jayson strives to be active in his school’s indigenous community. Jayson holds research positions in indigenous cancer policy and culturally safe communication. Jayson enjoys traveling and sampling cuisine all over the world.

Welcome Speakers

Join us for a warm cup of Identi-tea

Visit with us as we share a cup of identi-tea by the warmth of Nokom’s woodstove. Imagine a moment together, collectively soothed by the comfort of her fire as she warms the cedar tea. 

A cup of tea to sip over, as we listen to a good story, share a great belly laugh and discuss the responsibility of embracing our identities as First Peoples rooted in our cultures, while engaging in STEM professions. 
Some of us, are beginning to learn about who we are as original peoples and others have been privileged with community ties from birth. Join us as we share stories of how we culturally root ourselves in the fields of engineering, augmented reality, design and architecture. Listen to us acknowledge the power of who we are as original peoples who celebrate our languages, ceremonies, and traditions within our fields of work. 

We welcome you to the AISES conference and hope that our imagined visit by the fire encourages you to enjoy yourselves while proudly discovering or re-discovering who you are as First Peoples. Knowing that you can simultaneously weave together your traditional and contemporary truths and influence how science, engineering, technology, mathematics and so much more - are practiced from and with an Indigenous worldview.
Let your spirit be warmed by Nokom’s tea and the vivid dream she had of you dancing into the future, creating a brilliant trail of abundance for the next seven generations who are on their journey to us. 

Kinanaskomtin, Hiy Hiy, Marsi, and Masi Cho
Trina, Shak, Jason and James

Trina Moyan

Trina Moyan (Nehiyawak Nation) is an educator within the First Peoples office at the Daniels School of Architecture, Landscape and Design and a U of T alumna. She is an award winning Indigenous engagement specialist and has dedicated her career to the advancement of Indigenous peoples. She began her career as a producer for APTN and co-produced the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (now Indspire) for CBC television. As a multi-disciplinary artist she shares cosmic knowledge systems through Nehiyawak storytelling and performance. Trina is currently exploring Indigenous artificial intelligence and sits with the A Dish with One Spoon - Towards Generous AI collective, a sub project of the international Abundant Intelligences Network. Trina’s life and work is inspired by her mother Jeanne – a residential school survivor. 

Shak Gobert

Shadrak (Shak) Gobert is of Plains Cree (Nehiyawak) descent from Treaty 6, Frog Lake First Nation (Northern Alberta). With a background in Indigenous Studies and Extended Reality Development, Shak’s career focuses on integrating traditional knowledge with technological innovation.

Shak has assisted in negotiating Impact Benefit Agreements for First Nation’s, facilitated community consultations, and supported infrastructure projects on traditional territories. He has also worked with the Ontario Friendship Centre Network (OFIFC), engaging with 26+ Urban First Nations Communities.

Last year, he successfully exited a SaaS startup in the government technology, and First Nations development space, expanding its reach from Ontario to BC in the process.

A passionate advocate for Indigenous economic sustainability, he explores Augmented Reality for Indigenous art and design and holds an XR design certificate from UBC. Shak is dedicated to bridging Indigenous heritage and contemporary opportunities with deep respect for the territories he serves.

Jason Bazylak

Jason Bazylak is a Metis (Duck Lake) Professional Engineer, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering (FASE) Dean’s Advisor on Indigenous Initiatives, and Professor Teaching Stream. He has taught engineering design for 20 years, researches the under-representation of women and Indigenous people in engineering, and is raising three “future engineers.” He was the co-chair of the Eagles’ Longhouse who jointly wrote, with Indigenous partners, the Blueprint for Action. A plan for the FASE to address the Calls to Action from the TRC. In the Metis tradition he bridges the cultures of the Education and Engineering for the betterment of his students.

James K. Bird, OMS., MRAIC., ITC

James is a proud member of the Dënesųłiné Nation and affiliated with the Northwest Territories Métis Nation. He is also a residential survivor. James is a knowledge keeper and a Chapel Royal Tobacco keeper for Massey College; appointed by Chief and council of the Mississauga’s of the New Credit First Nations.

He holds an Honors B.A. in Indigenous studies and a master’s degree in architecture. He is currently a PhD candidate in Architecture, Landscape and Design at the John H. Daniels faculty of Architecture here at University of Toronto. 

His current work examines the intersection between Indigenous languages and shape forming – using parametrics and algorithms using ideas generated from Linguistic theory.

James has received several academic awards and national awards – The Prideaux Award for Science and Architecture, University College Merit Award, the Gordon Cressy Award, the Dr. Lillian McGregor Indigenous Award for Excellence, and the President’s Award. He also recently won the Irving Grossman prize for his thesis work. He was recently named the 2022 Clarkson Laureate. 

James has been equally active outside academia. He is a Member of The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Indigenous Task Force on Architecture; and sits on the Governing Board here at Massey College. 

Entertainment

The Eddie Thomas Troupe
Smoke Dancers
Welcome Banquet Entertainment

Eddie Thomas is a Cayuga Nation and resides on the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Ogwehoweh languages. He is a highly respected knowledge keeper. Eddie has surrounded himself with knowledge holders who helped guide and teach him the ways of the Haudenosaunee people. 

Siqiniup Qilauta (SUNSDRUM)
Inuit Throat Singers
Closing Banquet Entertainment

Siqiniup Qilauta, also known as SUNSDRUM, is a group that showcases Inuit cultural performances such as throat singing. The name Siqiniup Qilauta is derived from an Inuit legend about the sun, where a complete halo around the sun symbolizes good luck and represents a drum. Lynda Brown and her daughter, Papatsie, are connected to Pangnirtung, Nunavut, and reside in Ottawa, Ontario.

Lynda Brown is an accomplished performer, Royal Canadian Geographic Society Fellow, and works for Students on Ice. Her daughter, Papatsie, or Keely, is a High School Student who works at an Inuit after-school program in Ottawa. Both are proud to share their cultures with others.

Fiddler and Jiggers
Métis
Closing Banquet Entertainment

Alicia Blore 
Born and raised in Toronto, Alicia has never forgotten her Manitoba Métis roots – her great grandfather (pepère) Phillip Zastre was a well-known Métis fiddler from Manitoba. Alicia is an award-winning Métis fiddler who loves to pass down the traditional knowledge learned from her Métis ancestors and Indigenous Elders through music, dance, and the arts. 

Megan Southwell
Raised in Hampton, Ontario, Megan Southwell is Métis with historic roots from Drummond Island and Penetanguishene. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and continues to reside on Dish with One Spoon and Treaty 13 territory. Megan has a passion for learning about her culture and history and sharing it with others through Métis jigging, decorative arts, and being on the land. She currently works as a Program Developer for the Métis Nation of Ontario. 

Teagan de Laronde
Teagan de Laronde (she/her) is Métis with historic roots/routes from Northern Lake Superior. She currently attends Trent University enrolled in the Indigenous Bachelor of Education program. Teagan previously graduated from the University of Toronto where she completed a specialization in Indigenous Studies and a double minor in Political Science and Religion. Teagan is passionate about Indigenous Studies and incorporating Indigenous Knowledges into all facets of life and levels of education. Teagan is an avid jigger, facilitating workshops on music and dance, as well as a Métis beadwork artist.