The Indigenous Advisory Committee provides advice to County administration on topics that involve or impact Indigenous peoples.

History

In 2021, Strathcona County directed Administration to review the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action and develop a plan to address the Calls directed toward municipalities. As part of the County’s commitment to reconciliation, the Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) was formed in 2022. The Committee was founded to enable Indigenous community members to provide advice on advancing reconciliation initiatives in Strathcona County; and is grounded in the definition of Reconciliation and guided by the Seven Sacred Teachings. This administrative committee is comprised of up to 10 public member representatives and is supported by Intergovernmental Affairs.   

Current committee members

• Merle, M., Chair: Merle is a member of the Grand Rapids, MB First Nation. He is a long-time resident of Sherwood Park, with more than 30 years' experience working in the oil and gas industry. He has intimate, in-depth knowledge of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as his parents were a part of the original TRC. Merle is a lifelong community volunteer and currently supports his grandchildren’s education and connections to family.
  
  

• Amanda G.: Amanda is Métis, originally from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo area and has been a resident of Strathcona County for over a decade with her family. Now retired, Amanda has more than 30 years of experience in the human services sector, working with Elders, leadership and community members. She also has extensive experience developing and facilitating Indigenous awareness training.  
  
  

• Karen W.: Karen is a member of Sucker Creek First Nation, and has lived in Sherwood Park for more than 20 years. She is a First Nations educator with extensive experience as a curriculum consultant and instructor, working with students from kindergarten to post-secondary levels. Currently, she is a PhD student in Secondary Education at the University of Alberta.
  
  

• Gerald C.: Gerald is from the Xeni Gwent’in First Nation in northern BC and has lived in Alberta for over 30 years with his partner and their children. Gerald works in environmental management throughout Alberta, working directly with First Nations and Métis settlements in various capacities. Through the Committee, he hopes to advance reconciliation and assist non-Indigenous peoples to better understand Indigenous ways of knowing and being.  
  
  

• Corey W.: Corey is of Ampskapi Piikani (Blackfeet) and Métis ancestry and is deeply rooted and guided by her culture and traditional ways of knowing and living. She is currently working as an Indigenous Liaison with Edmonton Public Schools. Corey has committed her career to working with Indigenous youth, families and communities, both on Nations, and off, for over 30 years. As a long-time resident of the County, she has a vested interest in building Indigenous perspectives, inclusion and involvement within the County. She is excited about the Committee and its future as capacity grows.

• Randy E.: Randy is a 60s scoop survivor from Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Treaty 6. His journey started as a young man when his adoptive family allowed him to reconnect with his roots and find his biological family. He has walked in two worlds to find his path and belonging with his ancestors. Randy has lived in Sherwood Park since the late 1980s and is a Knowledge Holder and cultural liaison in the County and Edmonton region. Randy is a proud father of two adult children and Mosum, (grandfather) of one. He and his wife, Tamara, follow and practice traditional ways and love to bring teachings and cultural understanding to those who want to learn.  
  
  

• Shelby L.: Shelby is a Métis iskwew from Saskatoon, and the eldest daughter of Shelton and Bernice LaFramboise. She currently lives in amiskwaciywaskahikanak territory and is a proud mother of three adult children. She is an assistant professor in Studio Arts, and is cross-appointed with kihêw waciston. Shelby’s creative works lend to community relationships, with the use of narrative inquiry and story through various creative mediums to bring community, place and people together. She continues to question the threads we weave through the legacy of placelessness, place & belonging on our human walk.

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