Satellite Stage Program

Kuna Gadwa is a Cree and Vietnamese woman from the Kehewin Cree Nation, in the heart of Treaty 6. Kuna is an inspiring educator and devoted mother to a three-year-old girl. She is attaining a Bachelor of Education through the esteemed Aboriginal Teacher Education Program. Her unwavering commitment to learning and sharing Indigenous knowledge systems has illuminated her path, allowing her to bridge the gap between generations and cultures. As a mother to an energetic three-year-old daughter, she seamlessly weaves her nurturing spirit into her educational pursuits, embodying the values of resilience, Indigenous Knowledge, and powwow dancing that she strives to impart to her child and community.

Jacqueline Gibbon is a Métis otipemisiwak, nehiyaw and mixed settler iskwew, born and raised in Edmonton, Treaty 6. Her mom’s family hails from Lac La Biche and Fort McMurray, and her fathers settled in Alberta five generations ago. Jacqueline has a degree from the Faculty of Native Studies and is beginning her Masters program this year. She is an artisan, the proud owner of Wildrose Beadwork, and is a jingle dress dancer, Métis jigger and has two dogs named Finn and Frank.

Marc Jr. Doire is a member of the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation and spent most of his life on its territory before pursuing post-secondary education at the University of Alberta in amiskwaciwâskahikan (ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ). Marc Jr. Doire is of French, Cree and Métis descent. Marc’s father is French from Quebec, and Marc’s mother is Cree through his grandmother, Mabel Wanyandie, and Métis through Marc’s late grandfather, William Belcourt. Marc earned admission to the competitive Field-Placement Stream of the Criminology program and recently transferred into the Native Studies Honors program. Marc is involved with student advocacy through various roles under the U of A umbrella but currently sits as Vice-President of Administration and Communications for the Native Studies Students' Association (NSSA), Member of the Aboriginal Relations & Reconciliation Committee (ARRC), and the Director of the miyo-wîcihtowin Program (mwP) through the Indigenous Students' Union (ISU).

Kiya Rose Pratt was Born in Edmonton on July 12, 2014, with roots of Plains Cree on her father’s side and Isanti Dakota on her mother’s side. Kiya has been raised in and around ceremony since the age of 5. She first took the initiative to want to dance girls' fancy after watching her dad Joshua dancing as a form of physical activity. Which later turned into a mentorship journey, and they both teamed up to teach dance lessons at her elementary school. Kiya has expressed much excitement when she can share her love for dancing with her peers. Outside of the powwow circle, Kiya has also found a passion for softball, playing fastpitch for the U9 JETS out of the city of Leduc, where her team in the 2023 season took silver in the Greater Edmonton Minor Softball Association city finals. Kiya loves to spend quiet time painting and creating art at home and has so much love and respect for animals. You can also find her in bed cuddling and speaking kindness to her two cats, Boo, and Zesty. And when she grows up, she wants to be a veterinarian.

Paige Cardinal is from Wabasca, Alberta. Paige is a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation, which is located in Treaty 8 Territory. Paige moved to Edmonton eleven years ago for the U of A in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and a minor in Women’s & Gender Studies. Paige is a queer, nehiyaw artist, poet, mother and business owner. Paige owns mîkisikah creations, which is a handmade jewelry and apparel business.

Darren Nanooch is Woodland Cree from Little Red River Cree Nation in Northern Alberta. Darren is doing his undergrad in the Faculty of Education at the Uof A. Darren has a certificate as a community linguist from the Faculty of Arts at the U of A. Darren was a Cree instructor in his reserve of Fox Lake, Alberta, before becoming a full-time student at the U of A. Darren is also passionate about Indigenous Language Revitalization for Indigenous communities and their youth on Turtle Island.

Danni Okemaw is Anishnaabe and Swampy Cree from Berens River First Nation and God’s River First Nation in Manitoba. Danni graduated from the Faculty of Native Studies at the U of A in spring 2022. Danni is the First Nation, Metis and Inuit Initiatives Specialist at the U of A Students’ Union. Danni is a dancer passionate about many dance styles such as Powwow, contemporary and hip-hop. Danni has co-founded a monthly Indigenous hip-hop dance workshop series, Nimihitotan, in Edmonton. Danni is also passionate about Indigenous Language Revitalization for Indigenous communities on Turtle Island.

Bethany Whitebear (she/they) is from Ermineskin Cree Nation, Alberta and Delaware Nation at Moraviantown, Ontario. They are from the Plains Cree and Lenape/Delaware nations. They currently live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Treaty 6 Territory. In 2020, they finished their Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the U of A. They are currently doing an after-degree in Native Studies. They will graduate in 2024.

Danielle Lapatack is a Cree woman from Saddle Lake First Nation and a prospective graduate with a BA degree in Arts. Danielle has always called Treaty 6 home, shifting from her reserve to amiskwacîwâskahikan as a young adult. Within the city, she unexpectedly found a link to her culture through fashion and self-expression. The local Indigenous fashion scene created a space where shame is nonexistent, and self-expression is valued. Danielle currently majors in English at the U of A. Danielle continues to develop a balance between writing and modelling. Danielle has learned to express herself through body language and written words. The diffusion of academia and creativity in her life reminds her that one’s journey doesn’t have to consist of one thing - one career, one path.