Our Team

Manager of Indigenous Education

Shawna Duncan

As an Indigenous academic from the Cree Nation, with Master’s research in revisiting successful relationship building between Indigenous peoples and new comers, Shawna’s passion in developing culturally safe systems, programs, and curriculum is evident.

Presently she uses her cultural safety skill set to inform the development of the Technology Council’s online and in-person curriculum development along with the expansion of the student administration, and support mapping. With research analysis positions in Indigenous education and thirty years in curriculum development /teaching she develops curriculum that braids together Indigenized content alongside Indigenous methodologies and Indigenous pedagogies to fully engage, and enrich the experience of Indigenous students.

Before coming to FNTC Shawna was at Vancouver Coastal Health as the Aboriginal Health Lead for Indigenous Cultural Safety. Prior employment experience in academia includes the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and the University of the Fraser Valley. For fun Shawna loves to train in jiu-jitsu, canoe, create graphic recordings and make art.

Manager of Curriculum

Robyn Grebliunas

obyn is known for her wealth of experience developing and delivering Indigenous curriculum across BC. She is grateful for her many years as an instructor with Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), delivering courses both on campus and in community education. Robyn’s education philosophy is of traditional grass roots learning, which is a belief in two-way learning where the teacher and the learner are both a teacher and learner. Robyn believes that planting a seed of knowledge in one mind can create generational change, and that planting seeds of knowledge in many minds can have a global impact.

Along with extensive experience in Indigenous education, Robyn is a successful entrepreneur with many years experience as a communications specialist. She is also a dreamer and a writer, currently co-writing a TV series and a creative coaching guide for change. Along with writing, Robyn loves fresh air, biking, kayaking and being a Mom (not in that order).

Robyn earned an MA in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University in 2018, where her research focused on relationship building in digital communications. Through a self-study of five of her business clients, Robyn’s research draws conclusion that traditional communication of face to face (F2F) and voice to voice (V2V), are required elements of building communication efficacy in the digital era. From this research she designed a communication framework.

While Robyn is proud of her achievements at university, she is most grateful for the teachings of Felix, Pearl, Margaret, and Bernice – the Elder’s Council who guided and shaped her work in Indigenous education.

Foundations in Innovation and Technology

Fabian Sparvier

Fabian is Cree/Saulteaux from Cowessess First Nation -Treaty Four- located in Saskatchewan. He currently resides in Prince George, BC with the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. Fabian received his Bachelors of Commerce – Marketing from University of Northern BC (UNBC) and a Graduate Certificate – Online Learning and Teaching from Thompson Rivers University (TRU).

Manager of Futures in Innovation and Technology

Jasmin Winter

As Programs Coordinator, Jasmin is supporting the planning and implementation of the Technology Council’s initiatives, including Foundations and Futures in Innovation and Technology and the Labour Market Project.

Jasmin was born in Vancouver and raised by a Chinese mother and European father. She received her undergraduate degree in International Development Studies at McGill University and spent the summer months working on early literacy support programs with James Bay Cree communities. Jasmin went on to complete the Masters in Development Practice program at the University of Winnipeg, where she focused her research on reorienting discourses surrounding the “digital divide” towards strength-based approaches that position Indigenous peoples as creators and influencers of technology. Jasmin is particularly interested in Indigenous participation in new media development (such as virtual reality, video games, and apps) and the potential of these platforms for increasing representation of Indigenous stories, worldviews, and visions of the future.

Jasmin hopes to bring all the learning and experiences that she has been fortunate enough to gain with her to this new role at the First Nations Technology Council.

Skills Coordinator

Kim Henderson

Kim is Inuit from her mother’s side and Scottish from her Father’s. She’s a lifelong Northerner from Yellowknife NWT who relocated to Vancouver BC in 2018.  She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Vancouver Island University and is currently enrolled with the Project Management Institute to gain PMP certification.

Before joining the FNTC, Kim worked with the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Health within the Project Management Services Division assisting with various information system deployment projects throughout the Territory.  Her interests with connecting remote communities to technology lead her to join the FNTC under the role of Skills Coordinator where she is assisting with the planning and deployment of the Foundations and Futures in Innovation and Technology program.

Program Coordinator

Tirzah Swampy

Tirzah Swampy is a Program Coordinator for the Skills Division, where she is tasked with recruiting students for the Foundations program. As one of the first people in contact with potential students, Tirzah has the privilege of interacting with Indigenous people across BC who are interested in developing their skills in technology and ensures that those selected are able to attend, participate and complete the training successfully.

Tirzah is a mix of Cree and Blackfoot, originally from Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alberta. Before relocating to British Columbia, Tirzah earned her Bachelor of Arts where she focused on Psychology, from Macewan University in Edmonton, Alberta. She is also a Certified Coach Practitioner.

Prior to her role with FNTC, Tirzah spent many years working with Indigenous families as a youth/family support worker, where she forged relationships as both a mentor and advocate. As the newest Program Coordinator, Tirzah hopes to combine her education and training to help her in her search for the next Indigenous Innovators (and the best bannock recipe that she can pass on to her daughter)

Skills Program Assistant

Mario Parent

Mario’s primary responsibilities include supporting front desk and assisting with skills development programs. Having the privilege to had grown up on the unceded territories of the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en peoples Mario identifies as Nisga’a from his mother and of European settler ancestry from his father.

Notably, Mario had successfully developed and lead the Landed Learning Indigenous Education Program, a partnership with χpey̓ Elementary operating at UBC Farm, to advance Indigenous perspectives in land-based elementary education. Mario’s commitments are to uphold anti-racist and decolonial values by way of Indigenous guiding principles and frameworks to uplift intergenerational healing.

Currently, Mario is studying Gender with experiences in Indigenous studies and expressed interest in critical race theory and social justice. In addition to education and work Mario has an interest in creating radio documentaries. His work has been featured on UBC’s CITR campus radio and has been syndicated across the country covering topics on Indigenous food sovereignty.

Program Coordinator, Futures

Adrienne Larocque

Adrienne is Nehiyaw (Plains Cree) from Maskwacis, Alberta in Treaty Six. Though she is not from British Columbia, she lives with gratitude and respect on the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. As the First Nations Technology Council’s Community Coordinator, Adrienne’s responsibilities are to oversee project administration and coordination in assigned short-term and long-term projects, ensuring deliverables meet quality standards. Adrienne serves as a liaison in the coordination efforts with Indigenous Peoples and communities, as well as community organizations as it pertains to the participation and engagement in programs and services.

Adrienne earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours from the University of Alberta where her research focused on Indigenous Governance. Adrienne brings with her over 5 years of experience at the provincial and non-profit sector in policy analysis, strategic initiatives and community relations. For the last several years her focus has been creating opportunities for Indigenous people to access post-secondary education and training opportunities. In addition to this work, Adrienne is also an Indigenous Artist who is reclaiming her cultural practices through her sewing and beadwork and is a strong believer in life-long learning.

Chief Morale Officer

Valentine

Valentine is an Assistance Puppy-In-Training from the Pacific Assistance Dog Society (PADS). She lives full time with her puppy raiser, Allison Beardsworth and is in the office every day. She takes her role as Chief Moral Officer very seriously and keep the teams’ spirits light through her joyful personality.