Meet the Previous

Indigenous Youth Cohort

These teams have graduated from the ImaGENation program at various phases of project completion. We are proud of all the hard work invested into our shared energy future.

The Cowessess First Nation ImaGENation Team

ImaGENation Project

The Cowessess First Nation (CFN) ImaGENation team is advancing the design and construction of an an energy efficient greenhouse to promote food and energy sovereignty in the community. Solar will be a major component of the greenhouse and additional clean energy and energy efficiency options will be explored, such as passive-solar, geothermal, and grow lights to replace winter sunlight. The goal is to automate as much of the operation as possible, with temperature control and automatic water pumps to help grow healthy foods and medicines as part of a sustainability and food equity initiative. The CFN ImaGENation Team intends to provide purpose to the community through gardening and nutrition, and also hopes to utilize the structure as a prototype that can be scaled up and built in other Indigenous communities.

**Ashleigh Dawn | CFN Team**
Ashleigh is from Cowessess First Nation, a small yet strong community located in Treaty 4 Saskatchewan. She is currently working in the field as a solar installer and is quite the go-getter with aspirations to design and share plans for a solar-powered and self-sufficient greenhouse for Indigenous communities.

**Shayla Wing | CFN Team**

Shayla Wing is a member of the Cowessess First Nation on Treaty 4 Territory, where she created memories growing up on her homelands. Keeping close to her community, Shayla now works as an Administrative Assistant at the Cowessess First Nation Urban Office. To extend her involvement within the Indigenous community, Shayla will be returning to school to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Indigenous Social Work. Shayla’s passions include hiking and new adventures while always willing to learn new things.

**Daphne Kay | CFN Team**

Daphne Kay is a proud Anishinaabe Ikwe from the Cowessess First Nation, Treaty 4 Territory, and is currently the Community Energy Specialist for her Nation working within their ec. dev. co., Cowessess Ventures Ltd. In her position, Daphne oversees existing renewable energy initiatives and assets, and examines new energy opportunities that can be implemented by Cowessess First Nation. She is also responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing community engagement sessions, training programs, public events, and educations days for Cowessess citizens. Daphne is a current participant in the 2020 Catalyst Program, as well as a team member of the CFN Team in the ImaGENation Program – both Programs of the ICE Network.
Daphne is a life-long learner and has studied Political Science at the University of Regina and Land Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She has always been passionate about sustainable living and protecting the land. In her spare time, Daphne likes to read, bead, sew and dance.

**Kyrah Delorme | CFN Team**

Kyrah Delorme (she/her) is a Plains Cree and Saulteaux woman from Cowessess First Nation. Kyrah was born and raised in Treaty 4 Territory, The Ancestral lands of the Anishinabe̅k, Nehiyawak, and Oceti Sakowin Nations as well as the homeland of the Métis. Kyrah holds an Undergraduate Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology and Health Studies Majoring in Health Studies from the University of Regina and the First Nations University of Canada. Kyrah has worked with various Research Labs focused on Indigenous peoples’ health. Has background in grant writing, training development, land-based teachings, and working with various Indigenous communities.

Marley Bob | The Bee & Berry Café

**About Marley**

Marley Bob (She/Her) is a Nehiyaw woman belonging to Ochapowace Cree Nation, Treaty 4 Territory. She currently resides in Tkaronto (Toronto, ON) Treaty 13 Territory. Marley holds a diploma in General Carpentry from The Skilled Trades College of Canada and is currently studying Architectural Technology at George Brown College. Previously, she received a diploma in General Arts & Science and a certificate in Pre-Health from Mohawk College in Hamilton, ON. A career and community driven person, Marley’s goal is to obtain a Master of Architecture where she can utilize her education and knowledge to help First Nations by creating healthier communities, environments, and buildings that are safe, sustainable, self-sufficient, and can self-identify with culturally.
Marley has worked diligently throughout her professional and academic career to gain knowledge of contemporary and traditional(vernacular) construction methods, natural building materials, and community engagement practices. Marley has participated in several Ontario architectural projects located in Toronto, Ottawa, Sault. Ste. Marie, and Kingston.
**The Bee & Berry Café | ImaGENation Project**
The Bee & Berry Café project is a solar powered food truck focused on providing organic, and/or local, and/or Indigenous products to people throughout the powwow trail in Saskatchewan. The business will be sustainable and healthy with the goals to support local organic and Indigenous businesses in the area. The menu will include items such as smoothies, porridge, toast with honey and almond butter, soups, muffins, cupcakes, and medicine drinks such as tea with honey. Bee & Berry will explore clean energy options to power the operations of the business to demonstrate and inspire sustainable practices within community.

Gabrielle Fourstar | Treaty 6 Sustainable Tiny House

**About Gabrielle**

Gabrielle Dawn Fourstar (They/She) is a Dakota-Cree, Scottish, French person with heritage from Mistawasis Cree Nation and a member of Wahpeton Dakota Nation. They reside on Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. Gabrielle is currently working on a degree in Psychology and Indigenous Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. They hope to start a counselling practice one day, targeting those dealing with trauma and addictions. Gabrielle is passionate about the environment and strives to live a zero-waste lifestyle. With the fruition of their tiny house, they also hope to live a zero-carbon lifestyle.
**Treaty 6 Sustainable Tiny House | ImaGENation Project**
The purpose of this project is to design and build an off-grid sustainable tiny house that incorporates recycled materials, energy efficiency, and clean energy systems in Wahpeton Dakota First Nation. The learnings gathered throughout the design and build process will be shared through a website and intends to set an example of sustainable living to homebuilders and housing organizations in Saskatchewan. Once built, the prototype can be used as a showcase for those who wish to learn more about environmentally-friendly living.

Emily Pruder | Northern Lights Solar Greenhouse

**Emily Pruder**

Emily Pruder proudly holds Metis lineage through both her parents and is an active member of the Thompson Branch of the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF). She is passionate about reproductive justice and food accessibility for vulnerable populations. Emily is the recipient of the YWCA Chantelle Chornoby Memorial Award in 2016 for Young Woman of Distinction, an award given for “an exceptional young woman aged 30 or under who demonstrates leadership, maturity and compassion”. Through her commitment to a cause or pursuit of a personal dream, Emily has shown perseverance, innovation, and a keen understanding of community complexities, barriers, and solutions. She is described as “a community leader and a trailblazer for human rights that advocates for equality of marginalized groups and dedicated to the empowerment of young women and girls.”
**Northern Lights Solar Greenhouse | ImaGENation Project**
The Northern Lights Solar Greenhouse will provide food accessibility to families impacted by domestic violence, providing a safe place for community to learn about and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of gardening, horticulture, and composting. The 4-season self-sustaining greenhouse will demonstrate energy sustainability through a combination of solar panels, passive solar, and a biofuel boiler for power and heat. In partnership with the Thompson Crisis Centre, the greenhouse will create opportunities for educational workshops, community healing, and fresh produce for those in need.

Illuminative Brigade

ImaGENation Project

The vision of the Illuminative brigade is to provide a safe and nurturing space for energy education in Siksika First Nation. The youth-led initiative will facilitate workshops on clean energy, which will turn into mentorship programs led by the team to instill a purpose for sustainability within the community. The engagement will also assist in the plans to build a clean-energy powered greenhouse, which will be implemented at the Siksika Outreach school and where elders can help educate on plants and medicines grown in the greenhouse.

**Disa Crow Chief | Illuminative Brigade Team**

Oki, my English name is Disa Crow Chief and my Blackfoot name is itspinaomahka. I am from Siksika, which is one of four Blackfoot tribes that make up the Blackfoot Confederacy. I co-founded Sevengen in 2017. Since then, I have been passionate about traveling, learning, and decolonizing perspectives centered around environmental & humanitarian issues. I hope to use the knowledge I have gained to benefit my people and Canada. I strive to get involved and educated on both sides of the argument around renewable energy in order to move forward and get projects started in my community. I make it a personal goal of mine to educate, engage, and empower the youth around me by sharing and celebrating their stories, and learning what it means to be a future ancestor.

**Teya Rabbit Carrier | Illuminative Brigade Team**

Oki, Teya Rabbit Carrier’s Blackfoot name is Amoahstahkiiahkii (Victory Woman), and she is a Blackfoot Woman in Treaty 7, Siksika Nation. Teya is 24 years old and a mother to two children. She loves to learn and experience new things. Teya is very outgoing, friendly, and is very well knowledgeable in her Blackfoot ways, although she doesn’t yet speak her language fluently, she is in the process of learning it.

**Sherry Woods | Illuminative Brigade Team**

Anatakiikowaan is my traditional Blackfoot name. Sherry Woods is my English name.
I am from Siksika Nation, part of the Blackfoot confederacy. I attend Mount Royal University, Journalism is my major and my minor is Indigenous studies.
I currently work at the Glenbow Museum, in Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation as an intern student.
I've started my clean energy passion in 2022, I am brand new to the team. Disa took me on and believed that my abilities and talent could contribute to the team.
My passion is writing and putting Indigenous voices at the forefront, just as I believe Indigenous people need to be at the forefront of the environment. I am excited to embark on this new journey!

Interested in supporting ImaGENation Teams through collaboration or partnerships?

We are always open to exploring various ways to support the Indigenous youth teams on their project journeys. This includes collaboration with, and not limited to, project advisors, technical consultants, webinar speakers, student teams / Capstone projects, trades programs, and more.

Please contact Program Director, Alexandra at athomson@indigenouscleanenergy.com for further discussion.