Click on the photos to meet the dedicated individuals driving RAVEN’s mission forward with their skill, heart, and vision.
People
Meet the passionate leaders and dedicated staff behind RAVEN. Our Board and team bring together a wealth of experience, knowledge, and commitment to drive our mission forward.
Meet The Board of Directors
Click photos to read bios and get to know what phenomenal experience, knowledge and care our Board of Directors bring to RAVEN.
Jeff Nicholls is a member of the Raven Clan of the Tsimshian Nation. He completed his law degree at the University of Victoria, having previously graduated with a B.A. (Hons.) in Political Science and Indigenous Studies. Jeff is very passionate about asserting and supporting Indigenous legal orders, having worked with the Indigenous Law Research Unit to articulate Tsimshian law. For Jeff, Indigenous law is inextricably linked to the land and waters of his ancestral homeland. Developing a deep connection with his territory is a life-long pursuit. Jeff is an active volunteer. In addition to his work with RAVEN, Jeff is a staff lawyer with Ratcliff, Vancouver.
Ana Simeon is dedicated to protecting the land and achieving justice for Indigenous Peoples, the land's ancestral guardians. Prior to RAVEN, she campaigned against the Site C dam project with Sierra Club BC, addressing Aboriginal and Treaty rights violations. With a background in journalism and communications, her experiences during the Croatian war led her to seek processes promoting understanding and reconciliation. Ana's diverse career includes roles as a legal translator, reviser, Peace Valley campaigner, and a mediator. Ana is currently pursuing a law degree at the University of Victoria. In her free time, Ana can be found outdoors, especially in the grasslands, with her birding binoculars.
Ronald [Ron] J. Lameman is a citizen of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Treaty No. 6 Territory, Alberta, Canada which is located 9 miles southeast of the town of Lac La Biche in east central Alberta, Canada. The Beaver Lake Cree Nation is one of the Treaty No. 6 Nations who entered into Treaty No. 6 in 1876 and Ron Lameman has been a lifetime proponent of the Treaty, focusing on upholding and enforcing the Rights of the Indigenous Nations of Treaty No. 6 in Alberta, Saskatchewan & Manitoba. Ron has been a former Executive Director of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations.
Ron was also active in each phase of the development of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and has also attended a majority of the sessions for the development of the OAS “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas”.
Ron was also a delegate to the four IITC International Corn Conferences/Food Sovereignty Conferences held in North and Central America and was also a delegate to the Taro/Food Sovereignty Conference in Hawaii in 2016.
In his current position as the Bilateral Treaty Coordinator, Ron is actively involved with the Elders and leadership of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and has spent over 40 years working diligently for Treaty Rights, Land and Natural Resource rights, environmental protection, traditional subsistence rights, cultural rights, children’s rights, health and Self-Determination for Indigenous Peoples in Canada and around the world.
Susan is a senior communications, issues management and development professional with over 20 years experience working in and for public sector and not for profit organizations. She holds a double major in Fine Arts, is an accredited public relations professional (APR) and is currently completing an Masters of Business Administration. Susan has a deep love for the natural world and is honoured to serve on the RAVEN board in support of First Nations communities across Canada.
Cliff is a Tsimshian (Kitselas/Kitsumkalum) and Nuu-chah-nulth (Ahousaht) scholar who researches Indigenous governance, community development and political economy. His doctoral research focuses on the political economy of the Ahousaht on the west coast of Vancouver Island, in both historical and contemporary contexts. Cliff is particularly interested in how Indigenous communities and leaders continue to assert agency within the confines of settler colonial law, politics and economics.
He is currently a tenure-track instructor in Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University. His postdoctoral research will look at Indigenous community development policy and the revival of traditional economic practices as well as the exploration of new practices rooted in traditional Indigenous principles and values.
Rachelle Loos in a member of Homalco First Nation and has close family connection to the Kwakwaka'wak Nation. She obtained a Criminology degree from Vancouver Island University and graduated from the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law, in 2018. Rachelle has been inspired by the leaders she observed in her family and her community to continue the work they started in creating positive change for future generations. She is passionate about using her legal education to work with and support Indigenous Nations in asserting their rights and laws. Rachelle finds joy in volunteering and along with RAVEN Trust, Rachelle has volunteered with the Indigenous Law Student Association, Gathering Our Voices and at community events.
Our Staff Team is Filled with Talented and Passionate Changemakers
Danielle (she/her) is a member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, located in the Nuu-chah-nulth territory of Vancouver Island, and is from the Masso and Frank families. She enters the role of Executive Director for Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs (RAVEN) with over 10 years in Indigenous leadership roles. She has worked for her First Nation community, Tribal Council, Provincial and Federal government, and for the past 8 years working in the non-profit sector. Over these years, Danielle has always had an element of her work that advocated for Indigenous rights. Danielle is grateful to be close to her home territory and family. She is a proud mother of three children and loves to play tennis and walk her dogs in her spare time. Danielle has a B.Sc. from the University of Victoria and a Master's Degree in Public Health from the University of Waterloo.
Carly (she/her) is a settler with Swedish, Irish, Scottish, and English ancestry. She currently splits her time between Coast Salish territory and Lenapehoking, specifically what is now known as New York.
Carly previously worked as a Grant Writer at RAVEN after time spent volunteering on RAVEN's Development Committee. Other professional experiences include freelancing as a writer, editor, and researcher, primary and higher education administration, and positions in development and communications. Carly holds a BA in Sociology from Vancouver Island University and an MS in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University.
Leslie Anne St. Amour (she/her) is a member of the Bonnechere Algonquin First Nation, located in Eastern Ontario and of mixed Algonquin and settler heritage. Leslie Anne completed her BA at McGill University in Political Science and a minor in Indigenous Studies, before spending a year as an Pathy Foundation Fellow working in her home community. A lawyer by training, Leslie Anne completed her JD at the University of Toronto and worked in private practice for two years before moving to Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ Territories join RAVEN as Campaigns Director. When not working Leslie Anne can be found diving, camping, canoeing, or beading and scheming up her next trip.
Emma is of English, French, Scottish, and Metis decent raised on the north shores of Gichigami (Lake Superior), in the traditional territory of the Anishnaabe; the ancestral nesting place of the Thunder Bird. Now known as Thunder Bay or Robinson-Superior Treaty Territory. She is excited and grateful to be invited to explore the traditional territory of lək̓ʷəŋən as her new home.
Emma currently holds a BSC in Biology and minor in Psychology. Emma enters this role after recently working with the two Tsilhqot'in communities: Xeni Gwet'in and Yunesit'in to support the continued work of Dasiqox-Nexwagwez?an, an Indigenous Protected Area in the Caribou region of BC. This experience has provided her with a deep understanding of the importance of Indigenous sovereignty and the long term positive impacts of litigation efforts. Armed with years of non-profit administrative experience, she has spent her early career supporting capacity building efforts for small environmental non-profits across Canada in various roles from communications to program management. When she's not working or singing to herself incessantly, Emma enjoys spending time with her pets, laying on the beach, and attending concerts and festivals.
Jamie-Leigh is a Portuguese/Sḵwx̱wú7mesh writer, filmmaker, podcast creator, photographer, poet, and artist living on stolen land of W̱SÁNEĆ First Nation. She is a cofounder, codirector, and technical lead at Grounded Futures: a media and mentorship collaborative.
At RAVEN, Jamie-Leigh is the Communications Manager where she uses her technical skills to amplify Indigenous voices and movements.
With a passion for technology and storytelling, Jamie-Leigh has become dedicated to her multimedia practices; through the creation of engaging content, she hopes to stimulate meaningful dialogue that challenges the status quo and encourages systemic change.
Caitlyn is of Heiltsuk, Scottish and Finnish ancestry and lives on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Kwikwetlem First Nation. Currently, a student at BCIT studying Sustainable Event Management, Caitlyn's goals are to support and plan events that provide opportunities to highlight and amplify Indigenous creators while also focusing on reducing the event's environmental impact and focusing on sustainable practices.
Caitlyn is excited to be on the RAVEN team to support businesses and organizers in finding ways to raise funds to support Indigenous communities in protecting their land, history, and culture. She is very creative with too many hobbies to enjoy during her free time and is always learning more about her Heiltsuk heritage, culture, and language.
Levin (he/they) is a settler of Northern and Eastern European descent that is thrilled to be a part of the RAVEN team. After being raised in an old-growth cedar forest on the unceded territory of the Secwépemc Nation, he studied Environmental Studies and Canadian History at the University of Victoria where he developed a passion for Indigenous rights.
Levin draws upon years of non-profit experience to contribute to RAVEN. His work with Indigenous Quechua and Amazonian communities in Peru showed him how conservation and Indigenous relationships to their environments are deeply intertwined. This importance continues with Indigenous Nations across Canada, and Levin is grateful to be behind an organization that supports those Nations in their pursuit for justice.
Levin draws upon years of non-profit experience to contribute to RAVEN. His work with Indigenous Quechua and Amazonian communities in Peru showed him how conservation and Indigenous relationships to their environments are deeply intertwined. This importance continues with Indigenous Nations across Canada, and Levin is grateful to be behind an organization that supports those Nations in their pursuit for justice.
Now a guest on the unceded Quw'utsun territory, Levin spends most of his leisure time rock climbing, travelling on contested Sinixt territory, and being a dog parent with his partner.
Tara Preissl (She/Her) is Scottish, Austrian, Hungarian, Stó:lō, and has ancestral roots in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation. She is a member of Leq’á:mel First Nation but was raised in a suburban environment on the stolen lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, xʷməθkʷəjˀəm, and səlilwətaɬ Nations. Since 2022, she has resided on Wet’suwet’en Yintah, specifically that of Gitdumden Clan.
Guided by her values as an Indigenous and Settler woman, Tara has a background in writing and editing and experience as a board member and community organizer with Indigenous and BIPOC-led Collectives. Through both her volunteer and professional work, she is motivated by the inspiring work of grassroots community movements and remains on a continual journey of learning what it means to create an equitable and just society for all.
Joining the RAVEN team as Development Coordinator in July 2024, Tara will support the Development Director, Development Manager, and wider RAVEN team with grants, fundraising, and donor relations efforts.
Karissa is a first generation Indo-Trinidadian immigrant of Indian and Portuguese ancestry. She was born in Trinidad and Tobago and currently resides on the stolen lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nation where she enjoys spending time by the ocean. She is a photographer, videographer and illustrator passionate about amplifying stories that reconnects us to the Earth and to each other, and challenges social and cultural narratives. When she is not content creating for RAVEN she enjoys spending time in community and with friends, fostering relationships that allow her to grow and connect to people with shared values of Indigenous sovereignty and care for the land.
Sarah Danks (she/her) is a settler who lives on the unceded traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking People. She feels incredibly lucky to have been raised around beautiful mountains, lush forests, and vast seas, which have been and continue to be taken care of by the Indigenous Peoples who have lived on the Land since time immemorial and nourished sustainable and reciprocal relationships with it. Sarah is of English, French, Irish, Scottish, Swedish, and Welsh descent. Sarah’s family has lived for three generations on lək̓ʷəŋən territory, but before that, they occupied the land of the Nisga’a and Tsimshian First Nations (Anyox), the Coast Salish, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (Vancouver), the Kanien’kehà:ka Nation (Montreal), the Algonquin Anishinaabe First Nations (Gatineau), and the Blackfoot and Metis Nations (Lethbridge).
Sarah has a BSc in Psychology with a Minor in Professional Communication from the University of Victoria and an MA in Communication from Carleton University. Sarah has worked in the non-profit sector for seven years in fundraising and communication. She loves being out in nature, reading, photography, and dogs. She is passionate about disrupting systems of oppression, connecting with people, and making inclusive and welcoming spaces.
Julia (she/her) is a settler who grew up on the unceded traditional territories of the Secwepemc nation. She grew up hiking with dogs, canoeing through local lakes and rivers, and photographing the wildlife around her. With a camera and backpack in hand, Julia has travelled across six of the world’s seven continents to learn as much as she can about different cultures and their connections to nature.
Julia completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph in Animal Biology and later pursued a Master’s degree in Conservation Research at Oxford Brookes University. She has conducted research on mountain gorillas in Uganda, studying the links between disease prevalence and wildlife encounters in Indigenous communities. She also completed a journal article discussing Bear Safe protocols in Kamloops, British Columbia, and their compliance in relation to socioeconomic factors.
Julia is passionate about environmental protection, Indigenous governance, and equitable practices. On her days off, you can often find Julia surfing in Tofino, hiking with her dog Phoebe, or kayaking around the coast of Vancouver Island.
Our Advisory Panel
RAVEN’s volunteer advisory panel is charged with reviewing the applications for fundraising support that RAVEN receives from Indigenous Peoples across Canada. The panel provides its legal perspective to RAVEN’s Board of Directors. The Board makes the final decisions in conjunction with the Executive Director about any new cases RAVEN will support.
Dr. Borrows is Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Victoria Law School. John is Anishinaabe/Ojibway and a member of the Chippewa of the Nawash First Nation in Ontario, Canada.
Brenda L. Gunn is an Associate Professor at Robson Hall Faculty of Law. As a proud Metis woman she continues to combine her academic research with her activism pushing for greater recognition of Indigenous peoples’ inherent rights as determined by Indigenous peoples’ own legal traditions.
Karen Drake is a member of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation who researches and teaches in the areas of Canadian law as it affects Indigenous peoples, Anishinaabe constitutionalism, Indigenous pedagogy within legal education and Indigenous dispute resolution. She joined the Osgoode faculty in July 2017.
Dr. Hanna is an Assistant Professor at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law. His teaching focuses on Indigenous laws and governance and their relationship with the Canadian state. Alan is of mixed ancestry, Blackfoot and European, and is connected to northern Secwepemc te qelmucw through marriage.
