Taiaiake Alfred is a Mohawk philosopher, writer, political strategist and governance consultant. His work focuses on the institutions of Indigenous governance, Indigenous resurgence, the revitalization of Indigenous political systems, assessing the cultural impacts of environmental contamination, and the restoration of ancestral land-based cultural practices. Taiaiake coordinates governance reform and oral history initiatives for the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke and is a member of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada’s Circle of Experts. He is a former United States Marine and has been a supporter and participant in Indigenous nationhood movements since 1987. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Concordia University and a doctorate in political science from Cornell University. He founded the University of Victoria’s Indigenous Governance Program and Concordia University’s Native Student Centre, is the author three acclaimed scholarly books, has held a Canada Research Chair, and is a National Aboriginal Achievement/Indspire laureate. He is the father of three sons, who are all members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, and divides his time between Kahnawà:ke and Victoria, BC.

Daniel J. Bellegarde is a citizen of Little Black Bear’s Band of the Assiniboine-Cree in Treaty 4 Territory, southern Saskatchewan. 

He is an advisor and consultant to First Nations and Treaty area organizations on inherent and Treaty rights, community development, governance, and justice issues.

He is Chair of the File Hills Police Service Board of Police Commissioners, Chair of the First Nations Police Governance Council and a member of the Board of the Canadian Association on Police Governance. 

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 306-361-9600

Richard is an Adjunct Professor with the School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada.  Prior to joining Simon Fraser University Richard 35 years as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in a wide variety of diverse roles, ending his career in the executive ranks of the RCMP.   

Richard is currently the is the President of the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association (GLEPHA), and has been a member of the Board of GLEPHA since its inception in 2017.  

Richard has a Master of Arts (Criminal Justice) degree from the University of the Fraser Valley, Canada.   

Richard’s research interests include mental health calls for service, policing complexity, performance management for police organizations, national security, police governance, and public policy pertaining to justice and policing issues.  

Richard Bent

Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association, President. https://glepha.com 

Adjunct Professor, School of Criminology

Saywell Hall

Simon Fraser University 

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6  

Cellular Telephone: +1 778-384-1484

Beginning his musical career in honky-tonks and talent contests in Calgary, Canada, Paul Brandt’s journey eventually led him to Nashville, Tennessee where his music was first exposed to the entire world. A career highlight for him was being a co- writer on a song which was recorded by Johnny Cash.

He is a Multi-Platinum recording artist, Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame member, philanthropist, and 21-year serial entrepreneur in music. He is the most awarded male Canadian Country Music artist in history, and his song “My Heart Has A History” is the most played Canadian Country song ever.

As a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond and Platinum Jubilee awards and numerous other national and regional humanitarian nods, he is committed to serving those in need through various charitable endeavours including his Buckspring Foundation.

Married with two children, he is inspired by people with big vision to help others. He and his family live in Alberta in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

#NotInMyCity has become a leader in Canada centering its work around needs of victims and survivors of human trafficking. Paul uses his gift of storytelling, public speaking, and music to share the story of how #NotInMyCity is building trust, creating platforms for collective action, and unifying the community, in order to improve strategies to address and suppress human trafficking.

Paul Brandt is the former Chair of the Alberta Human Trafficking Task Force and a writer on The Reading Stone Report with its 5 primary recommendations being accepted by the Government of Alberta.  This past February 22, 2024, he was appointed as the Co-Chair for the Governing Board of The Alberta Office to Compat Trafficking in Persons.

www.paulbrandt.com

www.notinmycity.ca

Gerry Barrett is one of Canada’s favourite Indigenous Entertainers. He is a proud member of the Saugeen First Nation located in southern Ontario and is also a survivor of the Sixties Scoop. 

Gerry always promotes the importance of a good education to the youth. 

Gerry is an award-winning broadcaster, writer and a stand-up comedian. 

In 2013 he performed as Ojibwe ELVIS in Washington, DC at a black-tie event for President Barack Obama.

He has also performed several times at the Collingwood Elvis Festival and in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood and he is a member of the Elvis Tribute Artist Hall of Fame.

His TV comedy credits include “Welcome to Turtle Island” on CBC, “The Big Bear Comedy Show” and “The Laughing Drum” on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.  

A recent credit includes his original, CBC radio series titled, “The Adventures of The Big Bear”. 

From Treaty One Territory in Manitoba here comes—Ojibwe ELVIS.

Email: [email protected]

Leonard Redhorse III is the Deputy Chief of Police with the Navajo Police Department. He has been with the Navajo Division of Public Safety for twenty-one years—four years as a civilian evidence technician and seventeen as a police officer, a criminal investigator, and a police supervisor. He is assigned the oversight of Auxiliary Services Section and special projects for the Navajo Division of Public Safety under the Executive Director. Chief Redhorse has served seven years at NPD Headquarters.

Chief Redhorse is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, the Homeland Security Leadership Academy, and the Federal Office of Justice Services Command School. He is a trilogy award recipient of the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association.

He is responsible for the oversight of Public Safety’s $168 million budget allocations, is the project lead for creating the Navajo Nation’s first ever 9-1-1 program, steered NPD’s Organization Assessment and Strategic Plan, is the project lead for creating the Navajo Nation’s rural addressing, created Public Safety’s first leadership academy curriculum and he is the Chair of the Navajo Nation’s $201 million Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Branch planning group. He serves as a member of the Steering Committee for Tribal Transportation Safety Management System with the Federal Highway Administration, is a member of the Indian Country Law Enforcement Section, Midsize Agencies Division, and the Academy and College Training Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He serves as a board member for one of two domestic abuse shelters on the Navajo Nation and is a governing member of the Indian Country Law Enforcement Section.

The Chief is a recipient of Arizona State University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Award for Early Career Excellence, a 40 Under 40 Awardee of the IACP, an awardee of the Morris K. Udall Foundation’s career excellence, is a recipient of the Navajo Area Health and Service award for injury prevention, is a recipient of the United States Attorney’s office award for Victim Service, and he has been honored by M.A.D.D. for proactive reductions in DUI fatalities and offenses. 

He is a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University, he matriculated to Arizona State University’s College of Law and was awarded a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice with Arizona State University. He plans on pursuing admission into ASU’s Ph.D. program in Criminology and Criminal Justice. 

Chief Redhorse continues his support and assistance to Chief of Police Daryl Noon, in realizing a modern, respectful, and professional police force while focusing on developing our greatest resource – the officers and staff of the department. 

He is Tábąąhá, born for Tódích’íi’nii. His Cheii is Tsi’naajinii and his Nálí is Tł’ááshchí’í. His family is originally from Tiis Tsoh Sikaad Chapter. 

The Eagle Dance is about the Eagle. We believe that when we pray to the Eagle, it flies to the highest place in the sky and brings its prayers to the creator. We treat our feathers with great respect and never let them touch the ground, because we believe that if a feather hits the ground, it’s like one of our ancestors has fallen. This is how much respect we have for the Eagle.

We believe the Bear has the greatest medicine. The dancer gives thanks and raises his hands to the creator, giving him thanks for the salmon for the berries, the food that nurtures the bear. The bear is the body and we pray and sing with his hide. When people touch him, he dances by healing their hurts and sorrow, and asking for good prayers, that we believe is giving healing. 

Kukwstumc plays a flute which represents our love songs and we sing our songs  in honour of our ancestors. Kukwstumc and his brother have been performing for over 30 years, and he also is a three-time hoop dance world champion. His son is nine years old and has been training to dance with them as the bear, because of his pure child spirit, he brings good prayers.

Email:  [email protected]

Jeff is a is a proud member of the Membertou First Nation in Cape Breton, NS. and retired RCMP Staff Sergeant. 

He is known as a leader who advocates for transformational change within the Force, with an aim to encourage, improve and build the RCMP’s service to Indigenous people and communities. 

As a 33-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Jeff brings a wealth of policing experience with him, with strengths in Indigenous and Operational Policing. 

Jeff worked in an operational policing setting in Saskatchewan, policing in municipal, rural and remote First Nation communities. He provided 20 years of supervision to front-line police officers, as well as direction and oversight on complex investigations and high-level briefings at national headquarters. 

Jeff is a subject matter expert in Indigenous Policing, the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program and Band-By Law Enforcement. He has supported numerous police services and RCMP units across Canada with their work related to Indigenous policing and reconciliation. He has extensive experience building relationships with Elders, community leadership and Indigenous community members. He has advised all levels of the RCMP and government on Indigenous trust and relationship building.  

Since 2010, Jeff has served as the second in command of Indigenous Policing Services, a national unit at the RCMP National Headquarters in Ottawa.   He led a number of national initiatives in Indigenous policing and developed systemic improvement approaches for many diverse RCMP members to learn about and incorporate First Nations, Inuit and Metis culture and teachings in their work, and sometimes daily life.

In 2018, Jeff created the RCMP National Eagle Staff. Recognizing the importance of leading with cultural traditions, Jeff offered tobacco when he approached Algonquin Elders and First Nation Military Veterans for guidance, thus following First Nations protocols when bringing traditional culture into the RCMP. Jeff has received a Commissioners Commendation for Outstanding Service for his outstanding service, dedication and leadership in the creation of the RCMP National Eagle Staff.  

In September 2023, recognizing the need to support the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, he volunteered in an operational capacity to assist in front-line policing duties and supported cultural healing activities after the mass casualty event. 

In February 2023, Jeff oversaw and finalized the completion of one of his longstanding collaborative projects with the publication of a cultural awareness guide for all RCMP employees, Indigenous Insights: Building Relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Jeff Poulette a proud Mi’Kmaq, a courageous leader who advocates for transformational change within organizations with an aim to encourage, improve and build trusting relationships with Indigenous culture, people and communities. 

Born and raised in Kenora, Eric Melillo is proud to call northwestern Ontario home. Since being elected as a Member of Parliament in October of 2019 and having been re-elected in September of 2021, Eric has been honored to serve as the Kenora riding’s voice in the capital. In Ottawa, Eric has been appointed Conservative Shadow Minister for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. He has also been selected to serve on the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. 

Investigative Solutions Network Inc. (ISN) is North America’s Investigative Services firm. Established in 2006,ISN is led by a seasoned executive team boasting diverse expertise in business, finance, police leadership,investigations, and corporate security.

With a network spanning Canada ISN’s elite team collectively holds hundreds of years of experience, ensuringa standard of professionalism, analytical thinking, and innovative problem- solving. Our 24/7 operation guaranteesclients a single point of contact for Investigations, Risk Management, Background Screening, Training, and Securityservices.

ISN takes pride in its track record, having served over 20 police services, offering expertise, professionalism, andinvaluable resource support. Our focus on specialized pre-employment screening services is tailored to elevateyour team, offering a comprehensive suite of background investigations including Social Media Search (OSINT),Applicant Interview (Home or Virtual), Psychological and Resiliency Assessment, Prior Work Attendance Review,Reference Interviews (Employment and Character), and Due Diligence Investigations.

At ISN, we believe in merging excellence with expertise, striving not just to meet but to exceed the expectations ofour clients. Join us and experience firsthand the ISN advantage, where dedication to quality and commitment toservice excellence are our guiding principles.

Sean Sparling

CEO

Investigative Solutions Network Inc. (ISN)

1340 Pickering Pkwy #602 Pickering, ON L1V0C4

[email protected] | 905-421-0046 | https://www.isninc.com/

Chris Moran joined Public Safety in 2021 as the ADM of the Indigenous Affairs Branch. Prior to this, she was the Director General of the Trade Strategy and Portfolio Coordination Bureau in the International Business Development Branch of Global Affairs Canada. Chris has extensive experience in strategic policy development and program policy including trade & trade promotion policy ( SPS, TBT, Responsible Business Conduct) and agricultural policy. She has served as a Canadian negotiator in multilateral and bilateral negotiations and led federal negotiations with provinces and territories to address cost overruns in statutory agricultural programming, as well as establishing  a performance measurement framework for the agricultural policy framework. She has served abroad as a trade commissioner and was the executive director of the Grain Growers of Canada.

Greg Kenney joined Public Safety in July 2022, to lead the design and implementation of the national Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program. Prior to this role, Greg worked with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in support of the Land Border Crossing Project and led the design of the three largest ports of entry. He joined CBSA after four years at the National Capital Commission (NCC), as the Vice-President of the Official Residences Branch. Before joining the NCC, Greg spent four years with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) in two different roles as Director General. From 2014 to 2017, Greg was posted to France and responsible for VAC’s operations overseas. He led significant commemorative events including the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge in France, which welcomed 25,000 people. He has also held various positions with Public Safety Canada, Treasury Board of Canada, the Solicitor General Canada, Industry Canada and Environment Canada. Greg has a master’s degree from Concordia University and a bachelor’s degree from Carleton University and is a Certified Project Management Professional. 

With a strong background in radio, journalism, and federal politics, Jamie has had the honour of representing Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock in Ottawa since 2015. Jamie started his career as News Anchor and later News Director for CHUM Media Kawarthas, covering news, municipal politics, and sports in Lindsay, Ontario. Raised in Bobcaygeon, he now calls Lindsay home. A professional, father, and volunteer, Jamie is actively involved in a number of local charities and not-for-profits. Most recently, Jamie serves as Shadow Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Indigenous Services, and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.

The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, PC, OBC, KC, was raised to be a leader. The daughter of ahereditary chief and Indigenous leader, she always knew that she would seek leadership roles and responsibilities. As a lawyer, an advocate, and a leader among Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, she’s built a strong reputation as a bridge builder and champion of good governance and accountability. She shares her unique perspective as both a community and political leader on topics such as Indigenous rights and reconciliation, democracy and governance, leadership, and justice.

Wilson-Raybould was first elected as a Member of Parliament for the new constituency of Vancouver Granville in 2015. She was then appointed the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canadamaking her the first Indigenous person to serve in this portfolio. In January 2019, she was appointed the Minister of Veterans Affairs of Canada and Associate Minister of National Defence, positions she held until her resignation from cabinet in February 2019.

During the 2019 election, Wilson-Raybould was re-elected as an Independent Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville, making her Canada’s first ever female Independent MP elected and the only elected Independent in the 43rd Parliament.

Prior to politics, Wilson-Raybould was a provincial crown prosecutor in Vancouver and served three terms as an elected Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission. She was also elected BC Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 2009, where she devoted herself to the advancement of First Nations governance, fair access to land and resources, as well as improved education and health care services. She served until 2015, holding responsibilities for governance and Nation building on the Assembly of First Nations Executive.

Wilson-Raybould is a descendant of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk and Laich-Kwil-Tach peoples, which are part of the Kwakwaka’wakw and also known as the Kwak’wala speaking peoples. She is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation with her traditional name, Puglaas, meaning “woman born to noble people.” She served two terms as an elected councillor for her Nation andwas also a director and chair of the First Nations Finance Authority and a director of the First Nations Lands Advisory Board.

Wilson-Raybould is the bestselling author of three books, the political memoir “Indian” in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power, which was a finalist for The Writers’ Trust Balsillie Prize for Public Policy and the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing; From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for a Stronger Canada; and, her most recent, True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force For Change.