Caceila Trahan
Director, OIYPP 

Caceila Trahan (she/they) or Zhaabwezhaagan (Magical Being) is from Bawaating. Their mother’s family is Anishinaabe from Goulais Mission and French-Canadian from Blind River, and their father’s family is Irish, Acadian and Mi'kmaq from Nova Scotia; and British from Ardan, Ontario. 

Caceila was formerly a Program Manager for Youth Opportunities Fund at the Ontario Trillium Foundation. They are also the co-founder of two grassroots organizations; The Bawaating Child Welfare Warriors and Youth Odena. Caceila is on the Board of Directors at the Indigenous Friendship Centre in Sault Ste Marie. Caceila has earned a BA in Community Economic and Social Development from Algoma University, and a Diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies from Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology. Caceila was hired in April 2024 and will lead the relaunch of OIYPP in 2025, including our granting streams and annual gathering! 

Britney Wabigwan
Associate Director, OIYPP 

​Britney Wabigwan or First Star in the Morning Sky (she/her) is living in Bawaating. Her family is from Thessalon First Nation and  Sault Ste Marie. The proud mother of two, left her territory to accommodate her youngest son’s needs to access Autism services. Britney was most recently a House Manager, Residential Youth Worker at Larimar Homes Inc. and has co-managed the grassroots group, Youth Odena for five years.

​Britney is known as a Workshop Facilitator and is a talented and successful artist. Britney has worked teaching youth traditional and life skills at Central Algoma Secondary School, Thessalon First Nation Public School, and other schools and organizations virtually across Ontario. Britney is well versed in Trauma Informed Work, and Crisis Intervention.
 
Britney was hired in October 2024 as the Associate Director and will work closely with the Youth Advisory Committee in the relaunch of OIYPP 2025 and our new Grant Cycle to be announced soon! 

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

​The Steering Committee consists of 3 members, under the guidance of the Director and Associate Director, and Chair of the committee.
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Quinn Meawasige
OIYPP Steering Committee Chair
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Quinn Meawasige is an Ojibwe from Serpent River First Nation. His community is a signatory of the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850. Quinn recently graduated from Algoma University with a Bachelor of Arts in Community Economic and Social Development (Honours) and a Certificate in Anishinaabemowin from Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig.

Upon graduating, Quinn became a founding member of the Nimkii Youth Collective, a grassroots Indigenous youth led language, arts and culture initiative. The Nimkii Youth Collective received a 2-year grant from the Test Innovation Steam of the Youth Opportunities Fund under the Ontario Trillium Foundation to carry out a two-year lands-based language project at Nimkii Aazhibikoong; a year-round lands-based language and culture camp located in his traditional territory. 

Quinn was a youth advisor for the Ontario Indigenous Youth Partnership Project (OIYPP) - an Indigenous youth led and designed grant/partnership project that helps to support Indigenous youth explore and execute ideas to transform their communities -  from 2015 to 2019 and just recently transitioned into the role of Chair of the OIYPP Steering Committee.

Kris Archie
Executive Director
The Circle

Kris Archie, a Secwepemc and Seme7 woman from the Ts’qescen First Nation, is passionate about heart-based community work and facilitating positive change. In her own words: “My lived experiences as a mixed blood woman, mother and community member informs my desire for inclusion, accessibility, and justice”. Kris is the Executive Director of  “The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada”, an open network to promote giving, sharing, and philanthropy in Aboriginal communities across the country. In all of her roles, Kris works to transform philanthropy and contribute to positive change by creating spaces of learning, relationship-building and activation.

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Jocelyn Formsma
Executive Director
National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC)

Ms. Formsma is a member of the Moose Cree First Nation, Ontario. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Ottawa. Jocelyn brings to the NAFC many years of work and volunteer experience building strong relationships and advocacy on behalf of Indigenous peoples. Most recently, she was Called to the Bar of Ontario and has been working as a lawyer for a First Nations-owned law firm. Prior to this, she worked for numerous national Aboriginal organizations and First Nations organizations. In addition, Jocelyn serves as the Chairperson of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Board Member of the National Indian Child Welfare Association, is a Champion of the Feathers of Hope, Founder of the Morningstar Fund and is an Advisor to the Ontario Indigenous Youth Partnership Project.

PAST CORE TEAM MEMBERS

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​​Thea Belanger
​Sara Hsiao
​Amasena Delormier
Lyndsay Taibossigai
Wendy Cooper
Amanda Mitchell
​Arti Freeman
Wanda Brascoupé Peters