The whole RAVEN team is absolutely delighted to be welcoming Emily Cabrera as RAVEN’s new Executive Director. Emily is an experienced fundraiser who roots her work in relational ways of being. She is of Ojibway/Mexica ancestry and a member of Fort William First Nation, and mom to a very cool 15-year-old.
She has experience in nurturing partnerships, inviting major gifts grounded in trust, and supporting strategic and organizational growth in ways that centre Indigenous knowledge and leadership. Her work is guided by a deep responsibility to future generations and to restoring right relations within philanthropy. While only being at RAVEN for a couple of months, Emily has already brought a great deal of joy and groundedness in her leadership role — which is already having incredible ripple effects within the team and into the wider RAVEN community. Read on to learn more about Emily and what she is bringing to her role at RAVEN.
What drew you to working with RAVEN?
I was drawn to RAVEN because it represents something rare and powerful: a place where Indigenous leadership guides the way forward, and where long-term commitments to justice, sovereignty, and environmental protection are not just aspirations, they’re the everyday work. I’ve spent my career in spaces where communities push for systems change, and RAVEN’s mission felt deeply aligned with my own values. The opportunity to stand with Nations as they pursue their inherent rights is something I feel honoured to be part of.
What is your favorite part of the job so far?
My favourite part so far has been spending time with the team in our little office community, getting to know our Nation partners, and meeting with our donors, all of whom are part of the ecosystem and make RAVEN what it is. There’s such a shared sense of purpose and heart here. Every conversation reminds me that this work is relational first, grounded in trust, reciprocity, and respect.
Is there anything else that you are bringing to your position that you are excited to integrate into your work at RAVEN? Whether from your career experience or personal life experience?
I’m excited to bring my experience in Indigenous-led philanthropy into this role. I’ve spent time helping organizations shift away from transactional fundraising toward relational, community-rooted approaches. I also bring lived experience as someone who understands both the strengths in our communities and the barriers we continue to navigate. Integrating those perspectives, alongside a commitment to transparency, collaboration, and joyful leadership, is something I’m really looking forward to.
What does Indigenous sovereignty mean to you or look like to you?
To me, Indigenous sovereignty is the ability of Indigenous Nations to make decisions about their lands, waters, cultures, and futures without interference. It looks like communities having the resources they need to uphold their laws and govern in ways that honour their teachings, protocols and laws. It’s not symbolic, it’s lived. It shows up in language revitalization, land stewardship, legal challenges, ceremony, and everyday expressions of self-determination. Sovereignty is also relational: when Indigenous sovereignty is respected, everyone benefits, because the health of the land, water, and future generations is centred.
What makes you feel connected to the land or water? Do you have any practices that keep you grounded in the natural world?
I feel most connected when I’m near the water or walking in the forest. I find these are places where everything slows down, and it’s easier to listen and reflect. I try to spend time outside every day, even if it’s short, as a way to ground myself before stepping into the responsibility of this work. Gratitude is also a big part of my practice, taking moments to acknowledge the lands I’m on, those who cared for them (and continue to care for them), and the teachings they offer.
What’s something that brought you joy in the last year?
One of the biggest joys this past year has been spending time with my daughter. She is 15 and always makes me laugh, reminds me of what matters, and has kept me grounded. Watching her become this person who is engaged in her community, while also thriving in creative spaces, always fills me back up.
Is there anything else you want the RAVEN community to know or any message you want to share with our supporters?
I want the RAVEN community to know how grateful I am for the trust you place in this organization and in the partnerships we stand with. Your support is not just financial, it’s a declaration that Indigenous rights matter, that the land matters, and that justice is something worth investing in. I’m excited for everything we will build together in the years ahead, and I’m honoured to walk alongside you in this work.
