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OUR TEAM INCLUDES
STEERING COMMITTEE
YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
ELDER IN RESIDENCE
STAFF
STEERING COMMITTEE
YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
ELDER IN RESIDENCE
STAFF
OIYPP STEERING COMMITTEE
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OIYPP Steering Committee ChairNiiostoseraah Thompson
(She/Her) is a Mohawk fashion designer, artist, and entrepreneur from Akwesasne. She is the founder of Small Feather Empire, a luxury beadwork and fashion brand that celebrates Indigenous artistry through modern design. Her work blends traditional raised beadwork with contemporary style, empowering others to embrace culture, creativity, and self-expression. Niiostoseraah is passionate about community-driven art initiatives and youth mentorship, using her craft to inspire the next generation of Indigenous creators. |
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OIYPP Steering Committee MemberAmanda Bernard
(She/Her) is a member of the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation and the Director of Indigenous Programs at Laidlaw Foundation. She is also the Founder of Shawish Market, blending her business and fashion background to uplift Indigenous creators and communities. Amanda is passionate about helping Indigenous youth reconnect with their lands, languages, and cultures through meaningful community projects. Though based in Tkaronto, her roots remain strong in Ottawa and her home community of Edmundston, New Brunswick. |
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OIYPP Steering Committee MemberKrista Bissiallon
(She/Her) is a French/ settler and Anishinaabe kwe from Bawaating (Sault Ste. Marie, ON), with roots in Mississaugi First Nation. She is a graduate of the Community Economic and Social Development program out of Algoma University and continues to live in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She has filled many community development roles across her community, Ontario, and across Turtle Island. As a facilitator and dreamer, Krista has spent the last several years in various avenues of community development, with a strong focus on supporting young people to find the resources to fund their community-led work, particularly in BIPOC led spaces. Krista will bring a strong network, and in depth knowledge base of the philanthropic sector to this work. |
OIYPP YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
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OIYPP Youth Advisory Council MemberTreyson Wabanosse
(He/Him) currently is a highschool student, residing with his family on Mnidoo Mnis (Manitoulin Island). He is a member of Wiikwemkoong Unceeded Territory, and has also lived, gone to school, and/or has family ties with Bawaating (Algoma) and Nbiising (Nipissing). Treyson is an avid food connoisseur, and loves travelling to many different parts of Turtle Island with his family. He has plans to see the world and enjoy all the food, scenery, people, and has a bucket list goal to visit every NHL arena while enjoying a hockey game. His current passions and interests include hockey jersey designing, music, record and record player collecting, mocktail mixology, photography and photo editing. Treyson enjoys some down time to visit friends, play hockey with his fellow U15 teammates, designing maps on Fortnite, and enjoying time outdoors, especially at the farm. Treyson takes his roles and responsibilities as the first born child, grandchild and great grandchild seriously and does his best to visit and learn family stories, recipes, and family lineage, so that he can share with his younger sister, brother, and cousins as they get older. |
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OIYPP Youth Advisory Council MemberEmily Granville
(She/Her) is an Odawa-Cree classical musician from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island. Emily attended Cambrian College for Music Performance in piano, and has recently graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Music program at Laurier. Emily has an interest in composition, collaborative performance, and ethnomusicology from an Indigenous lens. Emily has participated and is involved in the Indigenous community and music; performing and composing their own piece at Paprika Theatre Festival, the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards, taking part in the Indigenous Classical Music Gathering at Banff Centre, as well as volunteering as a piano teacher for the Community Music School of Waterloo Region. Emily is currently furthering their education in the MA in Music, emphasis Ethnomusicology program at The University of British Columbia. |
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OIYPP Youth Advisory Council MemberAyla Link
(She/Her) is from Thessalon First Nation. She is 14 years old and in grade 9. She is a jingle dress dancer and spent the past summer on the powwow trail as a fancy shawl dancer. Ayla has been dancing since she was a wee ikwezens. She has been a Youth Head Dancer for her community’s powwow several times. One day she dreams of becoming a champion dancer. Ayla is known in her community for always lending a helping hand and having a big heart. She is very helpful when working with others, especially younger children who all look up to her. In her spare time she enjoys riding her ATV on the trails and along the waterfront. |
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OIYPP Youth Advisory Council MemberSyndel Thomas Kozar
(She/They) is a Two-Spirit, neurodivergent artist, storyteller, and youth advocate of mixed Plains Cree and settler descent from Treaty 6 Territory. She is a band member of One Arrow First Nation with familial ties in the Chakastaypasin Band in James Smith Cree Nation, but was born and raised in a the praire community Melfort, Saskatchewan. She is currently pursuing a Double Honours degree in Indigenous Studies and Women’s & Gender Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, with a Certificate in Indigenous Storytelling. Raised by her Granny and Papa, both residential school survivors, Syndel’s work is deeply rooted in intergenerational strength, cultural reclamation, and systems change led by youth. Syndel’s work lives at the intersection of art, culture, and systems change. She is the founder of the Turtle Island Wellness Network (via Their Collective), a growing initiative that supports Indigenous youth and families through arts-based programming, cultural reclamation, and community wellness. She recently co-facilitated Representing Our Spirit, a ribbon pants and skirt workshop for queer and Two-Spirit youth that explored the layered histories of regalia, gender expression, and cultural resistance. Her other projects include Just a Child in Canada, an interactive anti-racism exercise rooted in real youth experiences. Having received youth grants herself, Syndel is passionate about accessible, relationship-based funding that uplifts Indigenous youth as the leaders, knowledge holders, and visionaries they are. |
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OIYPP Youth Advisory Council MemberSiera Hancharyk
(She/They) is a First Nations 2-spirit she/they Kwe/Nini from Wiikwemkoong who grew up in Sault Ste. Marie(Baawaating) but now resides in Toronto(Treaty 13, Dish With One Spoon). Siera is Migize indoodem (eagle clan). Siera is the founder of the Three Sisters Indigenous crafts market; the founding vision is to Indigenize urban spaces with authentic Indigenous representation of resilience and community. |
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OIYPP Youth Advisory Council MemberKrista Caspick-Roblin
(She/Her) is a proud Métis youth leader from Saskatchewan dedicated to protecting water and empowering Indigenous youth through land-based education. She is currently leading a community service project focused on cleaner drinking water in Saskatoon, blending Western science and Traditional Knowledge through the Two-Eyed Seeing approach. Krista is a member of the SCIC Youth Advisory Council, a mentor and mentee with Influence Mentoring Society, and a participant in programs such as Waterlution’s Y4RC (Youth 4 Resilient communities) and IFWY, International forum, We the Youth. She has also served as a Métis Land Guardian and facilitated youth environmental workshops that encourage hands-on water testing and environmental stewardship. Krista continues to use her voice to advocate for sustainability, reconciliation, and Indigenous youth representation in policy spaces. |
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OIYPP Youth Advisory Council MemberTaylor Jolin
(She/Her) is an Ojibwe visual artist, photographer, and graphic designer from Bawaating (Sault Ste. Marie, ON). Jolin partners with grassroots groups and non-profits to create community-focused design that fulfills real-world needs. She earned a BFA from Algoma University in 2016 and now serves as Studio Technician for Algoma’s Visual Arts program. Jolin has exhibited extensively locally and across Ontario and has contributed design and imagery to initiatives such as Youth Climate Corps Toronto, OIYPP, and other Indigenous youth-led projects. Recent recognition includes the 2024 Strive Arts & Culture Industry Award. Jolin sits on the Indigenous Advisory Committee for Thunderhead, the national 2SLGBTQIA+ monument slated for completion in August 2026 in Ottawa. She is a contributor to the forthcoming publication Watching Territory and the graphic designer of Lori Blondeau: Life & Work. Jolin previously served on the board of 180 Projects, an artist-run gallery and experimental project space in Sault Ste. Marie. |
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OIYPP Elder in ResidenceCarol Hermiston
(She/Her) is an Ojibway kwe from Batchewana First Nation. She sits on the Board of Directors for Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig and is also an Elder in the Classroom for both elementary and secondary schools. She is a Registered Nurse with a specialization in Psychiatric/Mental Health . She also currently works with the Medicine Men in her community as a Wiidookaagewkwe (helper). |
Our Staff
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OIYPP Operations Manager- Cultural KnowledgeMiisheen-Meegwun (Many Plumes)
is an Anishinaabe inini from Wiikwemkong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. He currently resides in Bawaating (Sault Ste Marie) with his growing family of 5. He enjoys spending his free time in the outdoors an on the land hunting and harvesting. Miish grew up with a lifetime of learning on the land and the importance of Anishinaabe bimaadiziwin (living a good life). He enjoys attending powwows in the summer as well as ceremonial doings all over Turtle Island. Coming from a family run business; Great Lakes Cultural Camps, he has created a life-long passion for Anishinaabe education and community service work. In collaboration, he helped start up the Garden River Elementary School and created the land-based program focusing on Anishinaabe Gikendaaswin (traditional knowledge) Miish is very excited to join the OIYPP team and bring his knowledge of Anishnaabe Bimaadiziwin (living a good life). |
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OIYPP DirectorCaceila Trahan
(She/They) is from Bawaating. They are a descendant of a rich mixed ancestry including: Anishinaabe from Goulais Bay and French-Canadian from Blind River on their mother’s side, and Irish, Acadian, Mi’kmaq from Nova Scotia, and British from Ardan, Ontario on their father’s side. Caceila is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment, community development, and grassroots organizing. Before joining OIYPP, they served as Program Manager for the Youth Opportunities Fund at the Ontario Trillium Foundation. They are also a co-founder of Bawaating Child Welfare Warriors and Youth Odena, two grassroots initiatives supporting Indigenous youth. They hold a Bachelor of Arts in Community Economic and Social Development from Algoma University, and a Diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies from Sault College. |
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OIYPP Associate DirectorBritney Wabigwan
(She/Her) is based in Bawaating, with family roots in Thessalon First Nation and Sault Ste. Marie. A proud mother of two, Britney temporarily relocated from her home territory to access specialized autism services for her youngest son. She brings to OIYPP a strong background in youth support, cultural facilitation, and trauma-informed care. Most recently, she worked as a House Manager and Residential Youth Worker at Larimar Homes Inc. Britney is widely recognized for her engaging workshops and creative practice, and has taught traditional and life skills at Central Algoma Secondary School, Thessalon First Nation Public School, and in virtual classrooms across Ontario. With training in Trauma-Informed Practice and Crisis Intervention, Britney brings both compassion and strength to every space she enters. |