Our Staff

Teena Starlight

National Director

She/Her

Teena comes to us with an extensive list of experiences such as being a teacher for Kainai Board of Education for 14 years. During her teaching career, she obtained her Master’s Degree in the FNMI Curriculum and Leadership Development Master’s Program from the University of Lethbridge. She has worked for the Tsuut'ina Board of Education as a teacher, vice principal, and curriculum coordinator. As a curriculum developer, she has been in an administrative and managerial role, overseeing the Culture Program, managing employees, budgeting, offering training and professional development for Tsuut’ina Department of Education. Teena is…

READ FULL BIO

Teena Starlight

National Director

She/Her

Teena comes to us with an extensive list of experiences such as being a teacher for Kainai Board of Education for 14 years. During her teaching career, she obtained her Master’s Degree in the FNMI Curriculum and Leadership Development Master’s Program from the University of Lethbridge. She has worked for the Tsuut'ina Board of Education as a teacher, vice principal, and curriculum coordinator. As a curriculum developer, she has been in an administrative and managerial role, overseeing the Culture Program, managing employees, budgeting, offering training and professional development for Tsuut’ina Department of Education. Teena is an active participant in the culture and traditions of the Tsuut’ina and Kainai people having taught students and colleagues about Tsuut’ina and Kainai culture and traditions. She also has experience teaching at a post-secondary level, teaching at Mount Royal College. In addition, she is currently pursuing an EdD in Learning Sciences with Werklund University. Teena’s role includes implementing a national IYMP governance and communication structure which will support the maintenance and growth of IYMP across Canada. She will also be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships alongside Indigenous communities and coordinating national, regional and local networks of support for program communities.

Who Do You Stay Healthy For?

My grandchildren, I want to be around as long as I can for them.

CLOSE

Regional Manager

Regional Managers are responsible for overseeing the administration, personnel, funding, and promotion of IYMP within their respective regions.

Regional Coordinators

Regional Coordinators are representatives from provinces or regions across Canada where IYMP is operating. Regional coordinators include community members, research partners,and recreation managers. They are the program administrators that train and support program leaders and manage program budgets. 

Iehwatsirine Reed

Eastern Door Coordinator

She/Her

Hello/ Kwe my name is Iehwatsirine Reed or otherwise known as (Beans). I'm from a community right outside of Montreal called Kahnawa:ke I'm half Mohawk & Half Lakota Sioux from Montana. I love being around my family and friends or anyone with…

READ FULL BIO

Iehwatsirine Reed

Eastern Door Coordinator

She/Her

Hello/ Kwe my name is Iehwatsirine Reed or otherwise known as (Beans). I'm from a community right outside of Montreal called Kahnawa:ke I'm half Mohawk & Half Lakota Sioux from Montana. I love being around my family and friends or anyone with a great vibe. I am also very spontaneous and ready for an adventure when it comes my way.

Who Do You Stay Healthy For?

I stay for my loved ones and the youth that look up to me

Email

iehwatsirine.reed@kahnawakeyouthcenter.ca

CLOSE

Seneca Chartrand

Central Door Coordinator

She/Her

My name is Seneca Chartrand. I'm a two-spirited, Ojibwe individual born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I enjoy camping, making beadwork, medicine picking, and connecting with my culture. I am currently one of the two Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program Coordinators for Winnipeg….

READ FULL BIO

Seneca Chartrand

Central Door Coordinator

She/Her

My name is Seneca Chartrand. I'm a two-spirited, Ojibwe individual born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I enjoy camping, making beadwork, medicine picking, and connecting with my culture. I am currently one of the two Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program Coordinators for Winnipeg. I was an IYMP mentor in high school and graduated from the Child and Youth Care program at Red River College, alongside Lisa, who is the other IYMP Coordinator for Winnipeg!

Email

seneca@everactive.org

CLOSE

Lisa Spence

Central Door Coordinator

She/Her

Hello! My name is Lisa Spence. I was born in Vancouver, BC. I moved to Winnipeg, MB when I was 9 years old and joined Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program as a mentor when I was in high school. I joined the staff…

READ FULL BIO

Lisa Spence

Central Door Coordinator

She/Her

Hello! My name is Lisa Spence. I was born in Vancouver, BC. I moved to Winnipeg, MB when I was 9 years old and joined Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program as a mentor when I was in high school. I joined the staff team after I graduated and I am currently one of the IYMP Coordinators for Winnipeg. I graduated from Red River College. I enjoy reading, traveling, and cross-stitching.

Who Do You Stay Healthy For?

I stay healthy for myself and for my Family/ loved ones.

Email

lisa@everactive.org

CLOSE

Kevin Mageto

Western Door Coordinator – Saskatchewan

He/Him

Kevin is passionate about promoting youth health. In addition to being the Saskatchewan IYMP coordinator, he is involved with the Building Vibrant Youth Team in Saskatchewan; a group that works to empower northern Saskatchewan communities to respectfully engage, mentor, and build relationships…

READ FULL BIO

Kevin Mageto

Western Door Coordinator – Saskatchewan

He/Him

Kevin is passionate about promoting youth health. In addition to being the Saskatchewan IYMP coordinator, he is involved with the Building Vibrant Youth Team in Saskatchewan; a group that works to empower northern Saskatchewan communities to respectfully engage, mentor, and build relationships with their youth. Kevin spends most of his free time playing rugby and soccer. Additionally, he has been a volunteer coach with the Prince Albert Youth Soccer Association and Saskatchewan Rookie Rugby for the last 7 years.

Who Do You Stay Healthy For?

Myself, my family, and my community

Email

mageto.kevin@usask.ca

CLOSE

Kayla Gale

Western Door Coordinator – Alberta

They/She/He

My name is Kayla Gale. I'm Cree Métis, born and raised in Moh-kíns-tsis / Wîchîspa / Guts’ists’i / Calgary. I was raised in a Dene Métis family. I'm a practicing artist though I typically call myself an art jeweller as I'm trained…

READ FULL BIO

Kayla Gale

Western Door Coordinator – Alberta

They/She/He

My name is Kayla Gale. I'm Cree Métis, born and raised in Moh-kíns-tsis / Wîchîspa / Guts’ists’i / Calgary. I was raised in a Dene Métis family. I'm a practicing artist though I typically call myself an art jeweller as I'm trained in jewellery and metalsmithing. I love spending time outside by the river, it's my therapy as well as a core component of my art practice. I also love games! Of all kinds. Aaaaand. I'm really interested in researching mental health and neurodiversity.

Who Do You Stay Healthy For?

I stay healthy for my whole self; All the cell systems and atoms in my body that are working together to keep me going. For my sisters, and for my nieces, nephews and niblings so I can take them out and do cool things with them. And probably for my pup Kramer so he can go to the big park instead of the boring one.

Email

gale@everactive.org

CLOSE

Program Leaders

Program Leaders are community members who work directly with and provide support to high school mentors in the delivery of programming. Program leaders maintain program logs, make arrangements for food/snacks for sessions, develop programming budgets with mentors, facilitate weekly session planning meetings with mentors, and maintain communication between regional coordinators and community representatives. 

Marriane Okemow

Program Leader

She/Her

My name is Marianne Okemow I’m from Winnipeg Manitoba and I have been involved with IYMP since 2014 when I was a student at John Taylor Collegiate and i have been a program facilitator for IYMP for 8 years now! I love…

READ FULL BIO

Marriane Okemow

Program Leader

She/Her

My name is Marianne Okemow I’m from Winnipeg Manitoba and I have been involved with IYMP since 2014 when I was a student at John Taylor Collegiate and i have been a program facilitator for IYMP for 8 years now! I love working with students and youth , I enjoy teaching the knowledge I have on indigenous games, gym games/activities & In class activities or stem activities. I feel comfortable and safe when doing this job that it just feels like home. The program makes me feel like I’m doing something good and making a difference for the youth in our community by giving them so much opportunity and skills for the future!

CLOSE