Meet the Program Team
ImaGENation Program Staff
Aubrey-Anne Laliberte Pewapisconias | ImaGENation Program Manager
Aubrey-Anne Laliberte-Pewapisconias (she/her) is a nêhiyâskwew from Canoe Lake Cree First Nation on Treaty 10 Territory and Little Pine First Nation on Treaty 6 Territory. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance, a Global Business Certificate, and an Indigenous Governance and Politics Certificate from the University of Saskatchewan. Now, she is a graduate student pursuing her Master of Sustainability in Energy Security. As an advocate for Indigenous Youth and an environmentalist rooted in her ancestral teachings, she takes great pride in her role as the ImaGENation Program Manager.
Dedicated to fostering collaboration with Indigenous Peoples in the realm of climate action, Aubrey-Anne has participated in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP27, served as Canada’s 2023 Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction negotiator at the G20 Youth Summit, and successfully completed the Generation Power program.
Aubrey-Anne's community involvement extends to various organizations, including Tatâga Inc., Indigenous Youth Roots, the Indigenous Leadership Circle, the City of Saskatoon Indigenous Technical Advisory Group, and Leading Change Canada. Outside of these commitments, she can be found immersed in outdoor activities or exercising her creativity and teachings making ribbon skirts alongside the women in her family.
Justin Pelan | ImaGENation Program Coordinator
Justin (He/Him) is a multidisciplinary educator, skilled carpenter, and mechanic that is passionate about science, climate justice, and youth empowerment. Justin grew up in Treaty 6 Territory (Edmonton, Ab.) and currently resides on the traditional and unceded territory of the sqilxʷ/syilx (okanagan) peoples.
He is interested in the clean energy transition through sustainable development that is informed by both Indigenous knowledge systems and western science. With a background in Education from the University of Saskatchewan focused on science and social studies, Justin aims to support youth towards their vision of a clean energy future by building strong relationships and empowering them with learning resources that are aligned with cultural values.
Justin’s hobbies include building science, fine woodworking, producing music, photography, and troubleshooting machines and electronics for friends and family.
Ray Burrage-Goodwin | ImaGENation Program Coordinator
Ray (They/He) is the Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program Coordinator for ICE. Ray is a trans/non-binary person of settler descent from Wampanoag territory in Massachusetts, United States. They currently reside on traditional Algonquin Anishinaabe territory in Ottawa, Ontario.
Ray holds a Masters in Environmental History from Memorial University of Newfoundland, with a research background focused on the intersection of humans and the living environment, specifically the legacies of chemical warfare, resource extraction, and species degradation.
Ray is passionate about the work ICE is doing to encourage a holistic framework for environmental remediation through Indigenous self-sovereignty, and is grateful to be a part of a team advocating for the decolonization of community, policy, and thought.
When not working, Ray enjoys swimming, rowing, reading, and being outdoors with friends and family.
SevenGen Indigenous Youth Energy Council
Danielle Kehler | SevenGen Manager
Danielle is a Plains Cree woman from the Kawacatoose First Nation on Treaty 4 territory and is in her 4th year of Business Management at Edwards. She is an Indigenous artist focused on the resiliency of Indigenous people healing from intergenerational trauma by deconstructing colonial structures and reclaiming an Indigenous narrative. Danielle shares stories through her art by showcasing the true beauty and meaning of Indigenous culture and people. Danielle is also the Graphic Designer for the Indigenous Business Students Society and the Vice-Chair of Delegate Relations for the SevenGen 2022 Indigenous Youth Energy Summit. She is also the “first” First Nations person to be a participant of the 2041 ClimateForce Antarctic Expedition becoming an Ambassador for the Antarctic, charged with making a stand in the fight against anthropogenic climate change.
Nathan Kaye | SevenGen Coordinator
Nathan is from Zagime Anishnabek nation in Treaty 4 territory, currently residing in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) of Treaty 7 territory. Nathan helped organize the first ever Indigenous youth energy summit that brought over 200 Indigenous youth from every province and territory in Canada in 2019 to learn and discuss clean energy and environmental initiatives youth can explore. Nathan has been accepted for Indigenous Clean Energy’s Catalyst 20/20 program to explore and initiate a clean energy project for his community. In recent years, Nathan has been actively reconnecting with traditional Indigenous ideologies of land-based teachings along with his family and nation’s history for a better understanding of the importance of this knowledge. Currently finishing up a BBA for Finance, Nathan would like to pursue a career in project finance for environmental initiatives. Nathan encourages Indigenous representation and has aspirations to work with Indigenous communities bringing environmental initiatives and projects to those communities while inspiring Indigenous youth to play a role in being stewards of the land.
Jordyn Burnouf | SevenGen Co-Chair
Jordyn Burnouf is a member of the Black Lake First Nation in Treaty 8 and grew up in the Métis community of Île-à-la-Crosse in Treaty 10, SK. Jordyn is a Sr. Associate with the consulting firm, Medicine Rope Strategies, dedicated to providing sustainable, practical, and innovative approaches to community, economic and strategic partnership development. With a strong passion and relationship with the land, Jordyn is currently working on clean energy initiatives with a focus on land-based teachings and the connection to environment and energy, cultural inclusion, and youth engagement. Jordyn is a 20/20 Catalyst and currently leading her communities’ energy efficiency project as part of Indigenous Clean Energy’s national initiative, Bringing it Home, to address the housing and energy needs of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities in Canada. Jordyn continues to advocate and create space for youth and women in the energy sector as a member of the Indigenous Clean Energy Board of Directors, and Co-Chair of SevenGen.
Mihskakwan James Harper | SevenGen Vice-Chair Sponsorship
Mihskakwan James Harper is from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 8, Alberta. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering and is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Renewable Energy from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Ecole Polytechnique, with entrepreneurial training from ESADE Business School. He is passionate about the carbon free future, particularly within the power and mobility sectors. He loves his family and his community now and generations ahead, which inspires him to work with youth to build a future that is sustainable and empowers all.
Serena Mendizabal | SevenGen Vice-Chair Logistics and Events
Serena Mendizabal is a 23 year old Cayuga Ngabe Panamanian Wolf clan woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory with a passion for self-determined community development through our traditional governance systems. Serena is a graduate of Western University with a double major in Indigenous Studies and Media, Information, and Technoculture. Serena is a current student at Western University in a Masters of Geography and Environment with a focus on Indigenous environmental health governance. Serena has worked in her home community with Six Nations of the Development Corporation, the Six Nations Community Plan, and Six Nations Polytechnic organizing the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education.
Serena is focusing her current MA thesis on the potential for Pictou Landing First Nation's health to improve through the self-determination of resource and energy decision making. Serena currently works on multiple Indigenous environmental projects such as We Lived This Way Before with Neqotkuk First Nation, Connecting through Climate Change course at Western University combining Indigenous & Western Science, and Protect the Tract, a Haudenosaunee-led project that conducts research, policy development, and develops capacity for political mobilization and civic engagement to enact sovereignty through the promotion of land stewardship over the Haldimand tract 1784.
Serena is very grateful to be a part of the SevenGen Organizing Committee this year, as she believes this summit has the power to bring so many Indigenous youths together to fulfill our custodial duties as our original instructions intended.
Jukipa Kotierk | SevenGen Vice-Chair Delegate Relations
Jukipa Kotierk is an Inuk, who resides in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Inuit Nunangat. She graduated from Trent University with a BaH in Indigenous Studies with a minor in Psychology in 2018, and is looking to pursue nursing. She currently works in the Health field with her territory’s government and engages in community work that is based in life promotion. She aims to create brave spaces that explore suicide prevention through the intersectionalities that exist via reconnecting with environmental work, cultural pride and expression as well as creating conversation around increased reclamation of Inuit LGBTQQ2S+ gender expressions and ways of being. Jukipa is excited to be part of the SevenGen Organizing Committee, and is a Vice-Chair for Delegate Relations.
Shana Southwind | SevenGen Vice-Chair Marketing
Shana Southwind is an Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe woman) from Obizhigokaang (Lac Seul First Nation) located on Treaty #3 Territory in northwestern Ontario. Shana shares that as an Anishinaabekwe, her life purpose is to “care for the people and care for the land,” and focuses her academic and professional endeavours on doing so.
Shana graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Social Work with High Distinction and Minor in Indigenous Studies. She is now studying at the University of Toronto where she is completing her Master of Social Work in Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency. Shana’s social work background includes empowering First Nations youth, families, and communities to heal from historical and intergenerational trauma through cultural revitalization and traditional practice.
Shana became involved with the SevenGen Council following her attendance at the first SevenGen Indigenous Youth Energy Summit hosted in 2019. On the SevenGen 2022 Organizing Committee, she serves as the Vice-Chair of Marketing where she strives to maximize Indigenous youth involvement in the global transition to a sustainable future.
Program Directors
Alexandra Thomson | Indigenous Clean Energy - Director, Youth Programs
Alexandra (She/Her) is a Nakoda woman mixed with French descent, belonging to Cega’kin (Carry the Kettle) First Nation, Treaty 4 Territory.
Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. A community-driven individual, Alexandra strives to apply her education in combination with Indigenous ways of knowing to solve issues that impact Indigenous communities as it relates to energy, infrastructure, sustainability, and socioeconomics. Alexandra’s goal is to empower Indigenous communities to establish sovereignty through community-based project work and capacity-building initiatives. She hopes to nurture an interest in STEM amongst Indigenous women and youth, as it is her belief that Indigenous knowledge can largely contribute to an evolving holistic framework in the field, which will ultimately advance meaningful, tangible, and long-lasting solutions for Indigenous communities.
James Jenkins | Indigenous Clean Energy - Executive Director
James is a member of Walpole Island First Nation, where he has previously served as Chief Executive Officer. James led the development of First Nation equity participation in two 100MW wind farms. These and similar experiences led James to become a champion of Indigenous community and business partnerships in clean energy.
James holds an M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and is a former municipal clerk. He has also spent time running a consulting business, Aijaak Solutions, which provided governance and management support for First Nations and businesses. James is a sessional instructor at Western University’s Public Administration Program. He is a proud father of three, a multi-instrumentalist, and an avid outdoorsman who loves camping, boating, hunting, and fishing.
Helen Watts | Student Energy - Executive Director
Helen Watts is Student Energy’s Executive Director, a Forbes 30 Under 30 lister, on the Corporate Knight’s 30 Under 30, and is a recognized young clean energy and intergenerational equity advocate.
Since 2017, Helen has worked with Student Energy to empower tens of thousands of young people around the world to work on solutions for a clean and equitable energy transition. She co-leads the Solutions Movement, a UN-Energy Compact designed to support 10,000 youth clean energy projects by 2030. She led the development of the first Global Youth Energy Outlook with twelve young energy leaders to gather 41,000 youth perspectives on the energy transition by 2030. Helen co-founded Greenpreneurs, a training and grantmaking mechanism that has mobilized over USD 100,000 in funding to youth-led climate enterprises, and she is regularly engaged by the international community on the role of youth in the energy transition.
Helen approaches the urgent, complex nature of the climate crisis with the belief that equipping young people with the tools and pathways to act is one of our most effective strategies. Advocating for youth inclusion at every level of decision-making processes, she has built a network of 47 partners across the climate-energy-youth ecosystem committed to empowering young people.