About

Hello, my name is Lisia J. Morin, Enoch Cree Nation member. I believe that with over 40 years of experience working on the frontline of Human Services, as well as in supervisory and management positions, the knowledge and relationships I have garnered have given me a vast amount of information to apply on this committee.

I have been educated by life experience as well as College, University, and numerous workshops and conferences. I received a College Certificate in Native Cultural Arts Instruction and at the University I studied English, Political Science, Psychology, Health Studies, and Fine Arts focusing on Sculpture and Printmaking. I have also received certificates such as Holistic Wellness Coach, Victim Service Advocate, and Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support. My interests continue to lie in working with marginalized youth, families, and seniors, who might be experiencing disabilities, lived in the inner city, using substances, or previously incarcerated. I wake each day being thankful I am alive and praying for those who struggle in life. I follow both Christian Theology and the Good Red Road teachings of Kindness, Honesty, Trust, and Sharing. I am here on this committee to share what life has taught me and to support the Newowacistan Program. I will do my best in honoring the continued growth of a person, family, community, and mother earth; while addressing the issues presented to this Committee.

My husband and I have been a safe haven for 10 kids through kinship care. It’s always a tough decision to make but we make it as a family and honestly our kids don’t know another life. When my oldest ones are asked who their role models are they proudly say “My mom and dad” and they say this because they’ve been there when we open our home to other kids, they see the hard work we put in to run our family. Even when we are struggling through hockey season, 4 kids play all season, they are always willing to help. Sure, life is not always rainbows and butterflies but we like to focus on the good stuff and of course we acknowledge the rough times but we pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off because that’s what our kids need to see. In our spare time, hard to believe, I know…. my husband plays hockey and I play volleyball. Kids are resilient but that doesn’t mean they should suffer. It’s still hard for me to accept addiction as a reason people can’t prioritize their kids over anything else but it happens. For me I’ve chosen the kids over my family EVERY time. Maybe that’s harsh of me but as a child I grew up in the middle of domestic violence, I was a regular at all the food banks in Edmonton and area, I know where the women’s shelters are and if I can stop one kid from experiencing any of that then I will. Children are important and our FUTURE, keep them safe and give them a childhood!

My name is Glori Sharphead. I am the mother of 5 children and a band member of Maskekosak. I currently am an Outreach coordinator for the nation, a program developed by myself and another nation member. We support everyone that walks in the door with resources, services and support. The financial component is for crisis emergency situations and we support on an emotional level in those situations also. On a personal level, I have a lot of life experience. At a very young age, I was raised by my grandmothers (kinship) and then apprehended and put into foster care at about age 11. I was in and out of foster homes, disconnected and lost. Getting into addictions at a young age because of this, led me to having kids at a young age and not making good decisions and having my own kids in kinship care. I went through more addictions, gangs, abuse and eventually jail. I decided almost 8 years ago to change my life. It’s been a long journey of healing and really looking at myself and working on me. I now have all my kids in my life and 3 at home with me. I continue to work on myself every day. I try my best to be a good mom and role model for them and for the community. I’m very involved in many things in Maskekosak and I love that I’m able to help my community. I feel like I’m giving back to a world that I took from for a long time and able to leave something good for my kids and the youth of the community. I’m excited for this opportunity to be a part of something that will make a difference in the lives of our kids that just want to be connected to their home, family and community.

I currently serve as the Board Chair with Poundmakers Lodge Treatment Center. I have been a leading figure in the indigenous community and continue to be one of the community influential leaders and recognized by the industry for my acute policy and communication expertise. As a policy and communication expert, I bring awareness and understanding of addition and mental health to the broader public and working with governments and communities to develop policies to promote better health systems, support vulnerable indigenous populations and drive social change. I have been recognized for my engagement with, and support of various indigenous cultural, heritage and educational activities. In addition to admirable professional accomplishments, I am a husband, a father, grandfather and respected elder.

I grew up in the small town of Ponoka. I am the youngest of ten; 6 brothers and four girls. I’ve known my husband since I was 12 (he used to date my sister). My brother is married to his cousin, Helene Bruno. We got married in 1972, and the big 50 is getting close! I have three children; Stephanie, Steven and Kassia. Both my girls are nerds and proud of it – as am I. Both have Science Degrees. Kassia also has an Arts Degree and most recently, she got a diploma in Animation. I have three grandchildren; Cole is sixteen - my favorite grandson (as I only have one). Sophie Sparkle is eight and Sydnie the boss is three. Cole and Sophie play hockey, and Sydnie will decide what she wants to do. I have a social work Diploma, and am about nine credits shy of a degree. I am still interested in getting a Degree in the Humanities. I worked for the band for around seventeen years in the mental health area, then in community programs. I also worked in the police department and victim services. Basically, I was jack of all trades. Working in various departments has taught me many skills; some I continue to use, and other I don’t. My mentors have all been family members, beginning with my grandmother, my father and my late sister who parented me when my parents separated. The skill I developed as a caregiver were installed in me by these people. I have many life experiences and those experiences, either positive or negative made me a caregiver. I enjoy reading, writing, music, family, genealogy, being on my own, my zoo animals, and the great outdoors.

Tansi. My legal name is Laurie McDonald but growing up in Enoch everyone probably knows me as Marvin, and that is fine with me. It seems ironic that I am moving into the same area where I spent many good years with my grandmother, the late Mary Thomas…nee…hope…it was in the year 1962 that I left for 7 years to the Erminskin Residential school. When I left Erminskin, I went to the University of Alberta and played the field for a few years before I decided to finish my degree. That is when the journey began. I pushed forward and ended up teaching school for a total of 27 years in various schools and institutions. In 1996 I decided to go over to the dark side and worked for the B.C. government doing Child Protection and investigation for 7 years before I switched over to training and teaching aboriginal social workers for a total of 9 years. I retired in March 22 this year. Now I sit amongst you as a community member trying to give back all those gifts that were given to me.