Algonquins of Ontario Consultation Office

Tom Barradas, Senior Communications Strategist
Haleigh Cox, Project Consultation Advisor
Chanelle Davidson, Meeting and Office Coordinator
Ethan Huner, Natural & Cultural Resource Strategist

Tom Barradas grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. From his early teens, Tom was able to parlay his love of comic books into a colourful and creative career as both a dynamic writer and an even more dynamic graphic designer. In recent years, he has chosen to take his guitar-playing aspirations to a higher level (but is still working on that particular pursuit).

 

Tom has spent his entire career helping those he works for to create products and then follow up with creative marketing and advertising strategies designed to sell and promote them. His creative work over the years continues to be proudly identified and distributed in products published by Microsoft, Lotus Development, Corel Corporation and many others.

 

Continuing to hone his creative writing and visual storytelling skills remains a passion for Tom. Over the last 20 years, Tom has been able to assist in the promotion of products, services and ideas associated with large institutional organizations to smaller non-profits. In every instance, he has been able to customize messaging to best speak to target audiences of every background and cultural influence.

 

Tom looks forward to working with the AOO team to apply his creative knowledge and experience in pursuit of communications that help to explain points-of-view and engage prospective audiences.

Haleigh Cox grew up in the Township of McNab-Braeside, just outside of White Lake, ON, which fostered her admiration and passion for nature and the balance of the world around her. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelor’s of International Development and Globalization, where she experienced a combination of theory and hands-on practice. Her education has helped her to further define and articulate her interests in grassroots community development, economics, women’s rights, social justice and reconciliation movements and their importance in building sustainable development and harvesting practices for future generations.

Haleigh has worked as an intern with Canada Lands Company in their planning and real estate division where she helped to plan and facilitate land development initiatives through a variety of projects. She is eager to advocate for Algonquin rights and interests at the AOO and further develop her skills. Her personal interests lie with the arts, homesteading, rugby, and hockey.

Chanelle Davidson grew up in Pembroke, but after graduating from Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley as a Registered Practical Nurse, she returned to Mattawa, where she worked for 12 years. She is from Mattawa, but currently resides in Pembroke.

As a lover of the outdoors, you can always find her hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, or out on the ATV. Nature is where she is most at home. Unfortunately, spending so much time outdoors meant that she was infected with Lyme Disease. This battle nearly ended her life and took her away from her career as a nurse. But it also taught her perseverance and the importance of never giving up. Life is always full of challenges. It’s how we handle those challenges that make us who we are.

She is a mother of two amazing, creative, funny, and loving boys who are her world! She also has two dogs. A senior Dachshund named Niko and an American Bulldog named Merle.

Her hobbies include refinishing antique furniture, jewelry making, painting, and writing poetry, as well as children’s books.  She spends much of her time in her workshop building and refinishing anything made of wood. To date, she has written four children’s books and has a collection of over 300 poems.

She is looking forward to a long and meaningful career with the Algonquins of Ontario.

Ethan Huner received his college education from Sir Sanford Fleming College School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences in Lindsay, ON. He is a graduate of both the Ecosystem Management and Parks and Forest Management Technician programs.  His education provides a strong foundation in biology of flora and fauna, and natural resource management practices and principles.

Ethan’s passion to work with people paved the way to providing Environmental and Cultural education and consultation to the public, private stakeholders, and First Nation communities and organizations throughout a ten year professional career as a Naturalist in the United States and Canada.

Prior to accepting the position as Resource Technician with the Algonquins of Ontario Consultation Office, Ethan had worked for Algonquin Provincial Park as a Interpretive Naturalist and Fish and Wildlife Technician for the past five years. His studies and research efforts within Algonquin Park included conducting lake and fish surveys, monitoring and surveying for species at risk turtles and birds, carnivore tracking and monitoring projects, and investigating white-tailed deer migration patterns. Ethan has also participated in MNR research projects in Algonquin Park on black bear den studies, moose calf collaring and tracking, and species at risk monitoring.

Beyond natural science experience, Ethan has also developed a strong understanding of archaeology within the Algonquin Traditional Territory. Working with archaeologists in the field, and investing his own time on the land, he has been involved in documenting various archaeological sites and artifacts within Algonquin Park.

Ethan continues a deep connection to traditional values and life-ways of native culture. He is a grass dancer, and singer who has been travelling the powwow trail for many years.

Ashley Keller, Accounting Advisor
Melissa Knight, Senior Project Development Manager
Jane Lagassie, Traditional Knowledge Specialist
Lindsay Levere, Human Resources Strategist

Tom Barradas grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. From his early teens, Tom was able to parlay his love of comic books into a colourful and creative career as both a dynamic writer and an even more dynamic graphic designer. In recent years, he has chosen to take his guitar-playing aspirations to a higher level (but is still working on that particular pursuit).

 

Tom has spent his entire career helping those he works for to create products and then follow up with creative marketing and advertising strategies designed to sell and promote them. His creative work over the years continues to be proudly identified and distributed in products published by Microsoft, Lotus Development, Corel Corporation and many others.

 

Continuing to hone his creative writing and visual storytelling skills remains a passion for Tom. Over the last 20 years, Tom has been able to assist in the promotion of products, services and ideas associated with large institutional organizations to smaller non-profits. In every instance, he has been able to customize messaging to best speak to target audiences of every background and cultural influence.

 

Tom looks forward to working with the AOO team to apply his creative knowledge and experience in pursuit of communications that help to explain points-of-view and engage prospective audiences.

Haleigh Cox grew up in the Township of McNab-Braeside, just outside of White Lake, ON, which fostered her admiration and passion for nature and the balance of the world around her. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelor’s of International Development and Globalization, where she experienced a combination of theory and hands-on practice. Her education has helped her to further define and articulate her interests in grassroots community development, economics, women’s rights, social justice and reconciliation movements and their importance in building sustainable development and harvesting practices for future generations.

Haleigh has worked as an intern with Canada Lands Company in their planning and real estate division where she helped to plan and facilitate land development initiatives through a variety of projects. She is eager to advocate for Algonquin rights and interests at the AOO and further develop her skills. Her personal interests lie with the arts, homesteading, rugby, and hockey.

Chanelle Davidson grew up in Pembroke, but after graduating from Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley as a Registered Practical Nurse, she returned to Mattawa, where she worked for 12 years. She is from Mattawa, but currently resides in Pembroke.

As a lover of the outdoors, you can always find her hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, or out on the ATV. Nature is where she is most at home. Unfortunately, spending so much time outdoors meant that she was infected with Lyme Disease. This battle nearly ended her life and took her away from her career as a nurse. But it also taught her perseverance and the importance of never giving up. Life is always full of challenges. It’s how we handle those challenges that make us who we are.

She is a mother of two amazing, creative, funny, and loving boys who are her world! She also has two dogs. A senior Dachshund named Niko and an American Bulldog named Merle.

Her hobbies include refinishing antique furniture, jewelry making, painting, and writing poetry, as well as children’s books.  She spends much of her time in her workshop building and refinishing anything made of wood. To date, she has written four children’s books and has a collection of over 300 poems.

She is looking forward to a long and meaningful career with the Algonquins of Ontario.

Ethan Huner received his college education from Sir Sanford Fleming College School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences in Lindsay, ON. He is a graduate of both the Ecosystem Management and Parks and Forest Management Technician programs.  His education provides a strong foundation in biology of flora and fauna, and natural resource management practices and principles.

Ethan’s passion to work with people paved the way to providing Environmental and Cultural education and consultation to the public, private stakeholders, and First Nation communities and organizations throughout a ten year professional career as a Naturalist in the United States and Canada.

Prior to accepting the position as Resource Technician with the Algonquins of Ontario Consultation Office, Ethan had worked for Algonquin Provincial Park as a Interpretive Naturalist and Fish and Wildlife Technician for the past five years. His studies and research efforts within Algonquin Park included conducting lake and fish surveys, monitoring and surveying for species at risk turtles and birds, carnivore tracking and monitoring projects, and investigating white-tailed deer migration patterns. Ethan has also participated in MNR research projects in Algonquin Park on black bear den studies, moose calf collaring and tracking, and species at risk monitoring.

Beyond natural science experience, Ethan has also developed a strong understanding of archaeology within the Algonquin Traditional Territory. Working with archaeologists in the field, and investing his own time on the land, he has been involved in documenting various archaeological sites and artifacts within Algonquin Park.

Ethan continues a deep connection to traditional values and life-ways of native culture. He is a grass dancer, and singer who has been travelling the powwow trail for many years.

Ashley Keller grew up across Southern Ontario and has now been residing in Petawawa for the past twelve years. Since moving to the Ottawa Valley, Ashley has fallen in love with both the area and the people.

As a member of the Canadian Armed Forces for three years before medically retiring, Ashley has since dedicated herself to pursuing a number of post-secondary education opportunities. She first began with the condensed two year Business program from Algonquin College with a focus in business management from which she graduated with honours. Ashley is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Commerce (Honours) program, focusing in Accounting, through distance education at Nipissing University.

Ashley is passionate about community involvement and loves giving back to the community and creating a better future for children all over the world is very important to her. Deeply interested in history, especially Canadian history, Ashley is an avid reader always eager to learn about traditional ways of living, farming, crafting and natural medicines.

Ashley sincerely looks forward to working the Algonquins of Ontario Consultation Office, learning about the rich Algonquin culture, and assisting with the Office’s seamless operations to benefit our ten Algonquin communities.

Melissa grew up close to the shores of Lake Huron within the traditional territory of the Haudensaunee, Ojibway/Chippewa and Anishnabek Nations. She is an archaeologist/anthropologist and land management professional dedicated to supporting Indigenous governance and implementation of Section 35 Rights, UNDRIP and the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.

Having worked extensively in western Canada, Melissa brings 20 years of strategic leadership experience collaborating with Indigenous communities, governments, boards, businesses, and legal counsels. Areas of specialization include Indigenous rights, consultation, regional land use planning, resource development and negotiation of contracts and community relationship agreements.

She is honored to be able to support the Algonquins of Ontario’s Modern Treaty Negotiations and the journey to self-determination.

Jane Lagassie honours the traditions of her family and takes part in a self-sustaining lifestyle as Huntress, Angler and Forager and trapper. Her passion is learning and sharing the knowledge of traditional plants and medicines. Jane volunteers her time hosting guided tours, including the Eau Claire Gorge for the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) as well as at the Ecology Centres, schools and among the many Algonquin First Nation communities.

She recently retired from her municipal role of three terms as Councillor for the Township of Bonfield, in which she chaired the Planning and Advisory Committee and as a member of all other Standing Committees. She attended workshops and training regarding the Provincial Policy Statement, municipal Official plans, and Zoning By-laws. She served on the Board of the NBMCA for 12 years and is also a Committee Member for the NBM Source Protection Authority.

Jane holds an Avocational Archaeologist License with the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and she participated in archaeological digs in Chalk River, Ontario under Ken Swayze of Kinickinick Heritage Consulting.

In 2012, Jane served as a Community Liaison Officer for the Mattawa/North Bay Algonquin First Nation assisting in the ratification process of the Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) Agreement-in-Principle.

Working alongside other Algonquin communities, and on behalf of the AOO, she considered herself fortunate to have participated in the ongoing efforts to map Algonquin Cultural Heritage. As part of this effort and to enrich her data collection skills, Jane completed her Ownership, Control, Access and Possession) OCAP training with the First Nations Information Governance Centre.

As a respected elder of MNB-AFN, Jane has taken part in several AOO Talking Circles, providing valuable feedback to strengthen the Algonquin presence in projects in the City of Ottawa including, but not limited to, the Rockcliffe Redevelopment Project (now known as Wateridge Village), the Rideau Canal Promenade, Lansdowne Revitalization Project as well as the “Pimisi” Transit Station as part of the Ottawa Light Rail Transit project (now known as the Confederation Line).

Jane feels strongly that to revitalize our Algonquin heritage and culture – and to ensure it is a living heritage – we will need to draw on each other’s strengths, preserve our ancestor’s teachings, embrace our traditional knowledge and work towards a shared vision.

Lindsay was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. She fell in love with the natural beauty of the Ottawa Valley and now resides in the Pembroke area.

Lindsay has always felt a great love of the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, skiing, swimming and is an avid boater. She loves animals and enjoys time spent in nature with her dog Barnabas.

From a young age, Lindsay had a great passion for helping people. This has led her into a career which has spanned many years in Management, Human Resources, running and overseeing business operations at every level with a strong focus on supporting and empowering the entire team. Lindsay enjoys working with people from many different backgrounds and cultures to strategize mutually beneficial outcomes. She enjoys working in challenging and dynamic environments. Lindsay completed Human Resources Management at Carleton University and is looking forward to writing her CHRL exams in April.

Lindsay is honored to offer her knowledge, skills and expertise as part of the AOO Team in supporting the Algonquin journey. She is looking forward to a long meaningful career with the Algonquins of Ontario.

Katrina Mask, Office and Administration Coordinator
Jim Meness, Executive Director
Krystal Mitchell, Fisheries & Wildlife Management Advisor
Ryan Rattenbury, Office Assistant

Tom Barradas grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. From his early teens, Tom was able to parlay his love of comic books into a colourful and creative career as both a dynamic writer and an even more dynamic graphic designer. In recent years, he has chosen to take his guitar-playing aspirations to a higher level (but is still working on that particular pursuit).

 

Tom has spent his entire career helping those he works for to create products and then follow up with creative marketing and advertising strategies designed to sell and promote them. His creative work over the years continues to be proudly identified and distributed in products published by Microsoft, Lotus Development, Corel Corporation and many others.

 

Continuing to hone his creative writing and visual storytelling skills remains a passion for Tom. Over the last 20 years, Tom has been able to assist in the promotion of products, services and ideas associated with large institutional organizations to smaller non-profits. In every instance, he has been able to customize messaging to best speak to target audiences of every background and cultural influence.

 

Tom looks forward to working with the AOO team to apply his creative knowledge and experience in pursuit of communications that help to explain points-of-view and engage prospective audiences.

Haleigh Cox grew up in the Township of McNab-Braeside, just outside of White Lake, ON, which fostered her admiration and passion for nature and the balance of the world around her. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelor’s of International Development and Globalization, where she experienced a combination of theory and hands-on practice. Her education has helped her to further define and articulate her interests in grassroots community development, economics, women’s rights, social justice and reconciliation movements and their importance in building sustainable development and harvesting practices for future generations.

Haleigh has worked as an intern with Canada Lands Company in their planning and real estate division where she helped to plan and facilitate land development initiatives through a variety of projects. She is eager to advocate for Algonquin rights and interests at the AOO and further develop her skills. Her personal interests lie with the arts, homesteading, rugby, and hockey.

Chanelle Davidson grew up in Pembroke, but after graduating from Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley as a Registered Practical Nurse, she returned to Mattawa, where she worked for 12 years. She is from Mattawa, but currently resides in Pembroke.

As a lover of the outdoors, you can always find her hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, or out on the ATV. Nature is where she is most at home. Unfortunately, spending so much time outdoors meant that she was infected with Lyme Disease. This battle nearly ended her life and took her away from her career as a nurse. But it also taught her perseverance and the importance of never giving up. Life is always full of challenges. It’s how we handle those challenges that make us who we are.

She is a mother of two amazing, creative, funny, and loving boys who are her world! She also has two dogs. A senior Dachshund named Niko and an American Bulldog named Merle.

Her hobbies include refinishing antique furniture, jewelry making, painting, and writing poetry, as well as children’s books.  She spends much of her time in her workshop building and refinishing anything made of wood. To date, she has written four children’s books and has a collection of over 300 poems.

She is looking forward to a long and meaningful career with the Algonquins of Ontario.

Ethan Huner received his college education from Sir Sanford Fleming College School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences in Lindsay, ON. He is a graduate of both the Ecosystem Management and Parks and Forest Management Technician programs.  His education provides a strong foundation in biology of flora and fauna, and natural resource management practices and principles.

Ethan’s passion to work with people paved the way to providing Environmental and Cultural education and consultation to the public, private stakeholders, and First Nation communities and organizations throughout a ten year professional career as a Naturalist in the United States and Canada.

Prior to accepting the position as Resource Technician with the Algonquins of Ontario Consultation Office, Ethan had worked for Algonquin Provincial Park as a Interpretive Naturalist and Fish and Wildlife Technician for the past five years. His studies and research efforts within Algonquin Park included conducting lake and fish surveys, monitoring and surveying for species at risk turtles and birds, carnivore tracking and monitoring projects, and investigating white-tailed deer migration patterns. Ethan has also participated in MNR research projects in Algonquin Park on black bear den studies, moose calf collaring and tracking, and species at risk monitoring.

Beyond natural science experience, Ethan has also developed a strong understanding of archaeology within the Algonquin Traditional Territory. Working with archaeologists in the field, and investing his own time on the land, he has been involved in documenting various archaeological sites and artifacts within Algonquin Park.

Ethan continues a deep connection to traditional values and life-ways of native culture. He is a grass dancer, and singer who has been travelling the powwow trail for many years.

Ashley Keller grew up across Southern Ontario and has now been residing in Petawawa for the past twelve years. Since moving to the Ottawa Valley, Ashley has fallen in love with both the area and the people.

As a member of the Canadian Armed Forces for three years before medically retiring, Ashley has since dedicated herself to pursuing a number of post-secondary education opportunities. She first began with the condensed two year Business program from Algonquin College with a focus in business management from which she graduated with honours. Ashley is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Commerce (Honours) program, focusing in Accounting, through distance education at Nipissing University.

Ashley is passionate about community involvement and loves giving back to the community and creating a better future for children all over the world is very important to her. Deeply interested in history, especially Canadian history, Ashley is an avid reader always eager to learn about traditional ways of living, farming, crafting and natural medicines.

Ashley sincerely looks forward to working the Algonquins of Ontario Consultation Office, learning about the rich Algonquin culture, and assisting with the Office’s seamless operations to benefit our ten Algonquin communities.

Melissa grew up close to the shores of Lake Huron within the traditional territory of the Haudensaunee, Ojibway/Chippewa and Anishnabek Nations. She is an archaeologist/anthropologist and land management professional dedicated to supporting Indigenous governance and implementation of Section 35 Rights, UNDRIP and the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.

Having worked extensively in western Canada, Melissa brings 20 years of strategic leadership experience collaborating with Indigenous communities, governments, boards, businesses, and legal counsels. Areas of specialization include Indigenous rights, consultation, regional land use planning, resource development and negotiation of contracts and community relationship agreements.

She is honored to be able to support the Algonquins of Ontario’s Modern Treaty Negotiations and the journey to self-determination.

Jane Lagassie honours the traditions of her family and takes part in a self-sustaining lifestyle as Huntress, Angler and Forager and trapper. Her passion is learning and sharing the knowledge of traditional plants and medicines. Jane volunteers her time hosting guided tours, including the Eau Claire Gorge for the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) as well as at the Ecology Centres, schools and among the many Algonquin First Nation communities.

She recently retired from her municipal role of three terms as Councillor for the Township of Bonfield, in which she chaired the Planning and Advisory Committee and as a member of all other Standing Committees. She attended workshops and training regarding the Provincial Policy Statement, municipal Official plans, and Zoning By-laws. She served on the Board of the NBMCA for 12 years and is also a Committee Member for the NBM Source Protection Authority.

Jane holds an Avocational Archaeologist License with the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and she participated in archaeological digs in Chalk River, Ontario under Ken Swayze of Kinickinick Heritage Consulting.

In 2012, Jane served as a Community Liaison Officer for the Mattawa/North Bay Algonquin First Nation assisting in the ratification process of the Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) Agreement-in-Principle.

Working alongside other Algonquin communities, and on behalf of the AOO, she considered herself fortunate to have participated in the ongoing efforts to map Algonquin Cultural Heritage. As part of this effort and to enrich her data collection skills, Jane completed her Ownership, Control, Access and Possession) OCAP training with the First Nations Information Governance Centre.

As a respected elder of MNB-AFN, Jane has taken part in several AOO Talking Circles, providing valuable feedback to strengthen the Algonquin presence in projects in the City of Ottawa including, but not limited to, the Rockcliffe Redevelopment Project (now known as Wateridge Village), the Rideau Canal Promenade, Lansdowne Revitalization Project as well as the “Pimisi” Transit Station as part of the Ottawa Light Rail Transit project (now known as the Confederation Line).

Jane feels strongly that to revitalize our Algonquin heritage and culture – and to ensure it is a living heritage – we will need to draw on each other’s strengths, preserve our ancestor’s teachings, embrace our traditional knowledge and work towards a shared vision.

Lindsay was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. She fell in love with the natural beauty of the Ottawa Valley and now resides in the Pembroke area.

Lindsay has always felt a great love of the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, skiing, swimming and is an avid boater. She loves animals and enjoys time spent in nature with her dog Barnabas.

From a young age, Lindsay had a great passion for helping people. This has led her into a career which has spanned many years in Management, Human Resources, running and overseeing business operations at every level with a strong focus on supporting and empowering the entire team. Lindsay enjoys working with people from many different backgrounds and cultures to strategize mutually beneficial outcomes. She enjoys working in challenging and dynamic environments. Lindsay completed Human Resources Management at Carleton University and is looking forward to writing her CHRL exams in April.

Lindsay is honored to offer her knowledge, skills and expertise as part of the AOO Team in supporting the Algonquin journey. She is looking forward to a long meaningful career with the Algonquins of Ontario.

Katrina Mask was born and raised in Pembroke. She is a wife and a mother to four wonderful boys. She enjoys camping, going on the ATV, fishing and spending time walking the trails with her two dogs.

She has a passion for helping people. This led her to her previous role as an Administrative Coordinator for a Not-for-Profit Organization which helps homeless and marginalized individuals connect to the community services and resources they require.

Her eagerness to be part of something that has focus on making lives better is what brought her to The Algonquins of Ontario. She is proud to be joining the Algonquins of Ontario team and looks forward to contributing the skills she has acquired in her previous management and administration positions.

As an elected member of Council for the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation (AOPFN) since 1999, Jim was involved with issues affecting the First Nation’s community at both a local and national level. Jim also served as an Algonquin Negotiation Representative (ANR) since 2002, providing him with considerable knowledge and experience dealing with all the parties involved in the ongoing historic treaty negotiations.

Throughout his time as an elected member of the Council of AOPFN, Jim played a significant role in fish and wildlife management, playing an important part in the conservation of moose and protection of the Algonquin Park wolves. He was an active member of the AOPFN Fire/Rescue Department with numerous certificates from the Ontario Fire College for fire protection, chemical, nuclear and bio-hazardous terrorism awareness. Jim is also certified by the Ministry of Natural Resources in Law Enforcement and by the O.P.P. as a Search and Rescue instructor. In 2020, Jim was a recipient of the Anishinabek Lifetime Achievement Award in the Political Leadership category.

Jim was the ANR liaison with the Consultation Office (C.O.) staff for several years, thus providing him with a unique perspective of the roles and responsibilities of the C.O. staff. Jim very much looks forward to overseeing the process of the land claim negotiations as the Executive Director of the AOO. He believes in diligently working to serve the interests of all the parties involved in the ongoing historic treaty negotiation process. Jim is fully committed and confident in his ability to ensure that consultation is incorporated into all the decision-making processes.

Krystal Mitchell grew up exploring the lands and waters in and around what is now known as Omemee, Ontario. Her passion to learn more about the natural world led her to the University of Guelph where she completed an Honours Bachelor of Science degree with a focus on animal biology. She is also currently working towards a Master’s degree in Environmental and Life Sciences through Trent University.

As an undergraduate student, Krystal joined a team of researchers studying fisheries science and aquatic ecology within Algonquin Provincial Park. Over the next 12 years she spent a total of eight field seasons and four winters conducting research projects in support of Algonquin Land Claim negotiations and Algonquin Park fisheries management. During these years Krystal also explored other career opportunities across Canada in conservation biology research and invasive species education as well as roles with the Ontario MNRF supporting consultation with Indigenous communities on natural resource management projects. 

Krystal’s career has provided her with strong communication and analytical skills, extensive ecological research experience, knowledge of sustainable resource management practices and principles, as well as countless reasons to deepen her respect for nature. She is honoured to offer her knowledge and experience in support of the Algonquin journey and the important work of the Algonquin Consultation Office.

Ryan Rattenbury grew up in the Ottawa Valley on a rural side road where he developed an early love for the outdoors and for nature. His passion for the outdoors has continued over the years with camping, kayak trips and Cross-country skiing.

Ryan has always been a people person with a natural ability to make friends, to understand others and to communicate in different ways. This interest in people and communication brought Ryan to St. Lawrence College where he studied and graduated with an Advanced diploma in Integrated Marketing Communications.

His passion for communications and marketing landed Ryan some contracts, most notably where he was working for the Boys and Girls Club of Pembroke. He worked for the Boys and Girls Club of Pembroke on an Anti-bullying campaign known as Pink Shirt Day aimed at getting awareness out about the ongoing issue of Bullying and the Bystander Effect.

Ryan worked for the Canadian Medical Association in the People and Culture team shortly after graduating from the Human Resource Management Program offered at Algonquin College. These experiences have shaped Ryan in many ways as he continues to learn and grow.

Josée Rochon, Finance and Operations Manager
Candise Todd, Enrollment Coordinator

Tom Barradas grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. From his early teens, Tom was able to parlay his love of comic books into a colourful and creative career as both a dynamic writer and an even more dynamic graphic designer. In recent years, he has chosen to take his guitar-playing aspirations to a higher level (but is still working on that particular pursuit).

 

Tom has spent his entire career helping those he works for to create products and then follow up with creative marketing and advertising strategies designed to sell and promote them. His creative work over the years continues to be proudly identified and distributed in products published by Microsoft, Lotus Development, Corel Corporation and many others.

 

Continuing to hone his creative writing and visual storytelling skills remains a passion for Tom. Over the last 20 years, Tom has been able to assist in the promotion of products, services and ideas associated with large institutional organizations to smaller non-profits. In every instance, he has been able to customize messaging to best speak to target audiences of every background and cultural influence.

 

Tom looks forward to working with the AOO team to apply his creative knowledge and experience in pursuit of communications that help to explain points-of-view and engage prospective audiences.

Haleigh Cox grew up in the Township of McNab-Braeside, just outside of White Lake, ON, which fostered her admiration and passion for nature and the balance of the world around her. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelor’s of International Development and Globalization, where she experienced a combination of theory and hands-on practice. Her education has helped her to further define and articulate her interests in grassroots community development, economics, women’s rights, social justice and reconciliation movements and their importance in building sustainable development and harvesting practices for future generations.

Haleigh has worked as an intern with Canada Lands Company in their planning and real estate division where she helped to plan and facilitate land development initiatives through a variety of projects. She is eager to advocate for Algonquin rights and interests at the AOO and further develop her skills. Her personal interests lie with the arts, homesteading, rugby, and hockey.

Chanelle Davidson grew up in Pembroke, but after graduating from Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley as a Registered Practical Nurse, she returned to Mattawa, where she worked for 12 years. She is from Mattawa, but currently resides in Pembroke.

As a lover of the outdoors, you can always find her hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, or out on the ATV. Nature is where she is most at home. Unfortunately, spending so much time outdoors meant that she was infected with Lyme Disease. This battle nearly ended her life and took her away from her career as a nurse. But it also taught her perseverance and the importance of never giving up. Life is always full of challenges. It’s how we handle those challenges that make us who we are.

She is a mother of two amazing, creative, funny, and loving boys who are her world! She also has two dogs. A senior Dachshund named Niko and an American Bulldog named Merle.

Her hobbies include refinishing antique furniture, jewelry making, painting, and writing poetry, as well as children’s books.  She spends much of her time in her workshop building and refinishing anything made of wood. To date, she has written four children’s books and has a collection of over 300 poems.

She is looking forward to a long and meaningful career with the Algonquins of Ontario.

Ethan Huner received his college education from Sir Sanford Fleming College School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences in Lindsay, ON. He is a graduate of both the Ecosystem Management and Parks and Forest Management Technician programs.  His education provides a strong foundation in biology of flora and fauna, and natural resource management practices and principles.

Ethan’s passion to work with people paved the way to providing Environmental and Cultural education and consultation to the public, private stakeholders, and First Nation communities and organizations throughout a ten year professional career as a Naturalist in the United States and Canada.

Prior to accepting the position as Resource Technician with the Algonquins of Ontario Consultation Office, Ethan had worked for Algonquin Provincial Park as a Interpretive Naturalist and Fish and Wildlife Technician for the past five years. His studies and research efforts within Algonquin Park included conducting lake and fish surveys, monitoring and surveying for species at risk turtles and birds, carnivore tracking and monitoring projects, and investigating white-tailed deer migration patterns. Ethan has also participated in MNR research projects in Algonquin Park on black bear den studies, moose calf collaring and tracking, and species at risk monitoring.

Beyond natural science experience, Ethan has also developed a strong understanding of archaeology within the Algonquin Traditional Territory. Working with archaeologists in the field, and investing his own time on the land, he has been involved in documenting various archaeological sites and artifacts within Algonquin Park.

Ethan continues a deep connection to traditional values and life-ways of native culture. He is a grass dancer, and singer who has been travelling the powwow trail for many years.

Ashley Keller grew up across Southern Ontario and has now been residing in Petawawa for the past twelve years. Since moving to the Ottawa Valley, Ashley has fallen in love with both the area and the people.

As a member of the Canadian Armed Forces for three years before medically retiring, Ashley has since dedicated herself to pursuing a number of post-secondary education opportunities. She first began with the condensed two year Business program from Algonquin College with a focus in business management from which she graduated with honours. Ashley is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Commerce (Honours) program, focusing in Accounting, through distance education at Nipissing University.

Ashley is passionate about community involvement and loves giving back to the community and creating a better future for children all over the world is very important to her. Deeply interested in history, especially Canadian history, Ashley is an avid reader always eager to learn about traditional ways of living, farming, crafting and natural medicines.

Ashley sincerely looks forward to working the Algonquins of Ontario Consultation Office, learning about the rich Algonquin culture, and assisting with the Office’s seamless operations to benefit our ten Algonquin communities.

Melissa grew up close to the shores of Lake Huron within the traditional territory of the Haudensaunee, Ojibway/Chippewa and Anishnabek Nations. She is an archaeologist/anthropologist and land management professional dedicated to supporting Indigenous governance and implementation of Section 35 Rights, UNDRIP and the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.

Having worked extensively in western Canada, Melissa brings 20 years of strategic leadership experience collaborating with Indigenous communities, governments, boards, businesses, and legal counsels. Areas of specialization include Indigenous rights, consultation, regional land use planning, resource development and negotiation of contracts and community relationship agreements.

She is honored to be able to support the Algonquins of Ontario’s Modern Treaty Negotiations and the journey to self-determination.

Jane Lagassie honours the traditions of her family and takes part in a self-sustaining lifestyle as Huntress, Angler and Forager and trapper. Her passion is learning and sharing the knowledge of traditional plants and medicines. Jane volunteers her time hosting guided tours, including the Eau Claire Gorge for the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) as well as at the Ecology Centres, schools and among the many Algonquin First Nation communities.

She recently retired from her municipal role of three terms as Councillor for the Township of Bonfield, in which she chaired the Planning and Advisory Committee and as a member of all other Standing Committees. She attended workshops and training regarding the Provincial Policy Statement, municipal Official plans, and Zoning By-laws. She served on the Board of the NBMCA for 12 years and is also a Committee Member for the NBM Source Protection Authority.

Jane holds an Avocational Archaeologist License with the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and she participated in archaeological digs in Chalk River, Ontario under Ken Swayze of Kinickinick Heritage Consulting.

In 2012, Jane served as a Community Liaison Officer for the Mattawa/North Bay Algonquin First Nation assisting in the ratification process of the Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) Agreement-in-Principle.

Working alongside other Algonquin communities, and on behalf of the AOO, she considered herself fortunate to have participated in the ongoing efforts to map Algonquin Cultural Heritage. As part of this effort and to enrich her data collection skills, Jane completed her Ownership, Control, Access and Possession) OCAP training with the First Nations Information Governance Centre.

As a respected elder of MNB-AFN, Jane has taken part in several AOO Talking Circles, providing valuable feedback to strengthen the Algonquin presence in projects in the City of Ottawa including, but not limited to, the Rockcliffe Redevelopment Project (now known as Wateridge Village), the Rideau Canal Promenade, Lansdowne Revitalization Project as well as the “Pimisi” Transit Station as part of the Ottawa Light Rail Transit project (now known as the Confederation Line).

Jane feels strongly that to revitalize our Algonquin heritage and culture – and to ensure it is a living heritage – we will need to draw on each other’s strengths, preserve our ancestor’s teachings, embrace our traditional knowledge and work towards a shared vision.

Lindsay was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. She fell in love with the natural beauty of the Ottawa Valley and now resides in the Pembroke area.

Lindsay has always felt a great love of the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, skiing, swimming and is an avid boater. She loves animals and enjoys time spent in nature with her dog Barnabas.

From a young age, Lindsay had a great passion for helping people. This has led her into a career which has spanned many years in Management, Human Resources, running and overseeing business operations at every level with a strong focus on supporting and empowering the entire team. Lindsay enjoys working with people from many different backgrounds and cultures to strategize mutually beneficial outcomes. She enjoys working in challenging and dynamic environments. Lindsay completed Human Resources Management at Carleton University and is looking forward to writing her CHRL exams in April.

Lindsay is honored to offer her knowledge, skills and expertise as part of the AOO Team in supporting the Algonquin journey. She is looking forward to a long meaningful career with the Algonquins of Ontario.

Katrina Mask was born and raised in Pembroke. She is a wife and a mother to four wonderful boys. She enjoys camping, going on the ATV, fishing and spending time walking the trails with her two dogs.

She has a passion for helping people. This led her to her previous role as an Administrative Coordinator for a Not-for-Profit Organization which helps homeless and marginalized individuals connect to the community services and resources they require.

Her eagerness to be part of something that has focus on making lives better is what brought her to The Algonquins of Ontario. She is proud to be joining the Algonquins of Ontario team and looks forward to contributing the skills she has acquired in her previous management and administration positions.

As an elected member of Council for the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation (AOPFN) since 1999, Jim was involved with issues affecting the First Nation’s community at both a local and national level. Jim also served as an Algonquin Negotiation Representative (ANR) since 2002, providing him with considerable knowledge and experience dealing with all the parties involved in the ongoing historic treaty negotiations.

Throughout his time as an elected member of the Council of AOPFN, Jim played a significant role in fish and wildlife management, playing an important part in the conservation of moose and protection of the Algonquin Park wolves. He was an active member of the AOPFN Fire/Rescue Department with numerous certificates from the Ontario Fire College for fire protection, chemical, nuclear and bio-hazardous terrorism awareness. Jim is also certified by the Ministry of Natural Resources in Law Enforcement and by the O.P.P. as a Search and Rescue instructor. In 2020, Jim was a recipient of the Anishinabek Lifetime Achievement Award in the Political Leadership category.

Jim was the ANR liaison with the Consultation Office (C.O.) staff for several years, thus providing him with a unique perspective of the roles and responsibilities of the C.O. staff. Jim very much looks forward to overseeing the process of the land claim negotiations as the Executive Director of the AOO. He believes in diligently working to serve the interests of all the parties involved in the ongoing historic treaty negotiation process. Jim is fully committed and confident in his ability to ensure that consultation is incorporated into all the decision-making processes.

Krystal Mitchell grew up exploring the lands and waters in and around what is now known as Omemee, Ontario. Her passion to learn more about the natural world led her to the University of Guelph where she completed an Honours Bachelor of Science degree with a focus on animal biology. She is also currently working towards a Master’s degree in Environmental and Life Sciences through Trent University.

As an undergraduate student, Krystal joined a team of researchers studying fisheries science and aquatic ecology within Algonquin Provincial Park. Over the next 12 years she spent a total of eight field seasons and four winters conducting research projects in support of Algonquin Land Claim negotiations and Algonquin Park fisheries management. During these years Krystal also explored other career opportunities across Canada in conservation biology research and invasive species education as well as roles with the Ontario MNRF supporting consultation with Indigenous communities on natural resource management projects. 

Krystal’s career has provided her with strong communication and analytical skills, extensive ecological research experience, knowledge of sustainable resource management practices and principles, as well as countless reasons to deepen her respect for nature. She is honoured to offer her knowledge and experience in support of the Algonquin journey and the important work of the Algonquin Consultation Office.

Ryan Rattenbury grew up in the Ottawa Valley on a rural side road where he developed an early love for the outdoors and for nature. His passion for the outdoors has continued over the years with camping, kayak trips and Cross-country skiing.

Ryan has always been a people person with a natural ability to make friends, to understand others and to communicate in different ways. This interest in people and communication brought Ryan to St. Lawrence College where he studied and graduated with an Advanced diploma in Integrated Marketing Communications.

His passion for communications and marketing landed Ryan some contracts, most notably where he was working for the Boys and Girls Club of Pembroke. He worked for the Boys and Girls Club of Pembroke on an Anti-bullying campaign known as Pink Shirt Day aimed at getting awareness out about the ongoing issue of Bullying and the Bystander Effect.

Ryan worked for the Canadian Medical Association in the People and Culture team shortly after graduating from the Human Resource Management Program offered at Algonquin College. These experiences have shaped Ryan in many ways as he continues to learn and grow.

Josée Rochon grew up in Northern Ontario enjoying camping and fishing during the summer and ice fishing in the winter. She now resides in the beautiful Township of McNabb/Braeside.

From an early age, Josée’s passions have been numbers, archaeology/anthropology and various ancient cultures. She also enjoys reading and outdoor activities. In the last four years, she has learned a tremendous amount of knowledge about Algonquin heritage thanks to the workshops provided through the Algonquins of Mattawa North Bay First Nation.

Josée is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA), Certified General Accountants (CGA) and has graduated from Ottawa University with two degrees, Bachelor of Administration and Bachelor of Commerce specializing in accounting. Josée started her career with small business owners, partnerships and charitable organizations. In order to help achieve financial well-being, she helped manage, grow and develop internal processes. For the last 10 years, Josée has been supervising an international finance team for a private corporation.

As the Finance Manager, Josée brings over 15 years of accounting, tax and management expertise. Using strategic insights and planning, Josée has guided and developed business strategies as well as continual integration of financial and non-financial data. Josée also has extensive experience with multiple levels of government and various stakeholders.

Josée looks forward to offering her knowledge, skills and expertise as the Finance Manager, and as part of the AOO Team. Josée is eager to assist the ten Algonquin communities in current and future endeavors.

Candise Todd grew up in the Ottawa Valley where she spent time helping her grandmother at her establishment; M&M’s Restaurant, Bar & Motel in Swisha.  Where you could always find her & her cousins outdoors perusing many activities such as fishing, swimming, and horseback riding.  Having lived all over Canada, Candise appreciates being back in Pembroke surrounded by family and friends. Mother of one amazing, grown son who gives her so much pride and joy.  She also enjoys reading, helping her mom in her flower garden, and playing radio bingo with her granny.

Having worked in customer service for over 20 years, she is passionate about helping people and being part of a community.  After graduating from Marvel Beauty College in Barrie, ON, she enjoyed being part of making someone’s day. Seeing the clients faces light up after they looked in the mirror at their hair was always rewarding and validated her passion for assisting the public on a professional level.

After taking the condensed 2-year Office Administrative Executive Program at Algonquin College in Pembroke, Candise has worked in multiple public service areas where she continued to enjoy and accelerate in a professional administrative role.  She is super excited to start her career journey with everyone at the Algonquins of Ontario, learning and helping our communities.