Our Team

Wachiya! My name is Karen Sutherland, Omushkegowuk Cree, from Kattawapiskak (Attawapiskat) First Nation. I am the Project Coordinator on the team. I am passionate about working towards healing, health, and wellness, to support a holistic way of life. I strongly believe in connection to identity, culture, and language. I hope to contribute and promote wellness within my community and to increase wellness outcomes. I look forward to the journey ahead. Chi Miigwetch.

Watchay, My name is Kara Shisheesh, a proud grassroots member of the Treaty 9 Territory, Attawapiskat First Nation. I am a Omushkegowuk Iskwew.

I love working with our youth, community, culture, and people of Attawapiskat First Nation. I am the Community Development Coordinator with the AFNEA Wellness Initiatives Team. I am honoured to take on such a role and passionate about working with our people. I love connecting and collaborating with all beings that strive to work with our Indigenous youth and communities. I have graduated in Indigenous Studies in 2017 and the Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention program at Canadore College in 2020. I truly believe that my life experience and traditional knowledge lead me to where I am today, without it I would not be in this role today. Meegweetch.

Allana was born and raised in Barrie, Ontario. She completed her undergraduate degree in Child,Youth and Family Studies in Guelph, Ontario. Before starting her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Toronto, Allana worked on a First Nation in Southern Ontario as a Family Well-Being Coordinator, Jordan’s Principle Navigator, and a Band Representative for child welfare on the Territory. She believes that working alongside community members in these capacities was a privilege, and a gift, shaping her subsequent educational and career paths.

Allana has a wide range of experiences she pulls from when working with service users, such as experiential learning, horticultural therapy, forensic mental health and crisis support. Allana will soon be a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and looks forward to growing relationships and capacity with the NAN community through holistic, culturally safe, and trauma-informed support and service navigation.

Joan is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who work with children and youth diagnosed with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Joan’s background is also in education and she previously taught elementary and middle school students while completing her graduate degree. Joan has been a part of the AFNEA Wellness Team providing behaviour support to children and youth at the Kattawapiskak Elementary School and Vezina Secondary School, including providing training and support to teachers and school staff.

Robin is a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist in good standing with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). He was studying to become a child psychologist when he decided to change career path a year and two months into his Doctorate of Clinical Psychology, in Moncton, and went into speech-language pathology. Prior to becoming an SLP, Robin worked in education (both in the child care and school settings) as well as in emergency medical services (as Operations Manager, Medical First Responder and Dispatcher with Laurentian University Campus Emergency Response Team).

Robin has worked with preschool and school age children, in clinics, isolated communities (e.g., Hornepayne, ON, Haines Junction, Yukon), child care centres & public schools and prides himself in getting to know each child and their family with whom he is working to offer personalized and child/family-centred services. He strongly believes that parents, as the driving force of progress, have the biggest impact on their child’s development. By including parents in the decision-making process (to choose therapy goals, for example), Robin ensures that services are being rendered to address their concerns and priorities.

Volunteering is close to Robin’s heart. He is currently an active member with the Canadian Red Cross in their Personal Disaster Assistance Team and their Emergency Response Team. In his spare time, you might find Robin taking a walk, listening to (crime) podcasts, travelling or spending quality time with his beloved goddaughter. He also has a special interest in photography, the paranormal and emergency communications.

Robin is excited to provide speech and language services in Attawapiskat.

Wachay, my name is Catherine Wesley (Cathy) and I am from Attawapiskat, Ontario. I have been hired as a Cultural Coordinator for the Attawapiskat First Nation Education Authority Wellness Initiative, a Jordan’s Principle group-funded program.

My duties as a Cultural Coordinator are to promote and deliver services within the community of Attawapiskat by planning culturally-based activities that can also be requested by the youth and adults.

I am interested in providing services for camping, and educational, cultural and creativity tools to teach groups, for the wellbeing of young individuals, groups or families.

My educational and work background consists of the Social Work/Drug & Alcohol Program Field, and Police Foundations. I am also currently a Canadian Ranger with the Canadian Armed Forces. In my spare time I have volunteered as an Attawapiskat Minor Hockey Coach for the young players, the Tykes and Novice Division.

I love to explore the James Bay lowlands, enjoying seasonal trips by harvesting traditional foods like waterfowl, game birds, moose/caribou, fish and berries by conservation and preparation. Learning as I go with other experienced hunters, my strong belief is to teach the young about harvesting and exploring the James Bay.Being connected from our roots is very important for myself it brings healing; it makes you feel different as a person.