LANCE CARDINAL

First Nations artist, designer, and entrepreneur
CEO/Soulflame Creative Services

Lance Cardinal has quickly become one of Alberta’s leading First Nation artists and entrepreneurs. He is a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory and comes from Calling Lake, Alberta. His 30- year journey in the arts has allowed him to work with world class organizations all over Canada, including IKEA Edmonton, Rugby Canada, Unbelts, Telus World of Science, Edmonton Public Library, and Fort Edmonton Park.

Lance recently began a new role as Indigenous consultant and designer for the Edmonton Oilers, writing the new pre-game land acknowledgement video and designing the new Turtle Island Logo.

Lance is also a business owner and entrepreneur. His business, Soulflame Creative Services, is a design and creativity firm located near Whyte Avenue in the Old Strathcona arts district. The space features its own TV studio, offices and workshop.

Lance also produces and stars in his own YouTube kids show, “Indigenous Art Adventures”, a half hour

Mr. Dress-Up style program that brings families together through art, culture and language.

Lance keeps his career diverse and inspired, allowing the Creator to guide his path and inform his work. He engages in creative projects like murals, sculpture, paintings, and media that bring nations together, raise awareness on Indigenous issues and shine a positive light on the beauty of his people.

He leads with his heart and his work delivers a message:

“It is the love we have for others and the love we find in ourselves that will heal our Nations and bring us all together.”-Lance Cardinal

BRIGETTE LACQUETTE

2018 Olympic Winter Games Silver Medalist
2 x IIHF World Championship Gold Medalist

Growing up in a small Metis community in Manitoba, playing hockey competitively came with a heavy financial and emotional price tag for Brigette Lacquette. She faced regular racism and significant funding challenges. But her family and reserve, Cote First Nation Saskatchewan, rallied behind her and she became the first First Nation to represent Canada in Ice Hockey at an Olympic Games.

Today, Brigette strives to be a role model for girls and Indigenous children, encouraging them to follow their dreams.

Her message:

“You can come from the most isolated town and community and still be a part of Team Canada.”

ANTHONY JOHNSON and DR. JAMES MAKOKIS

Team Ahkameyimok! – The Amazing Race Season 7 Winners

Anthony Johnson and Dr. James Makokis became the first Two-Spirit team to compete in the Amazing Race Canada and received national attention for their participation in the show while bringing new awareness to gender, sexuality, and First Nation issues. They fought hard challenge after challenge and eventually became the winners of Season 7! They are both now speaking across Canada sharing the stories of their experience on the Amazing Race, their work in the community, their work in their advocacy, and their careers.

Although quite the Amazing Couple, they both possess distinctive skillsets and personal experiences. They will strategically blend their personal experiences with the experiences they have had as a couple along with the experiences and history of their people. Through raising awareness, the couple shares insights on what we can do to support their advocacy, and the roles and responsibilities we have in changing the outcomes for those who face discrimination. They are on a mission to gather allies around the world in support of equal access and treatment for individuals they represent.

Waneek Horn-Miller

Olympic Water Polo Athlete

Similar to the arduous process of making wampum beads, the journey of that Waneek Horn Miller doesn’t begin and end with being a Olympic Water Polo athlete. A Mohawk from the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory near Montreal, Waneek was behind the lines during the Oka crisis in 1990 when she was stabbed by a Canadian soldier’s bayonet. It was a near-death experience that marked a turning point in her life. Waneek has overcome discrimination and violence to emerge as one of North America’s most inspiring female Indigenous speakers with a compelling perspective and dynamic stories to share.

Her presentations and keynotes are aimed at bridging the gap and repairing relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. While she recently stepped down from her role as for the MMIWG Inquiry to focus on her family, she continues support the goal of the Inquiry and advocates on Indigenous issues in other ways to help build healthy and prosperous communities. Waneek is an advocate for building indigenous sport and has worked with the Assembly of First Nations to develop their sport, fitness and health strategy. Drawing on her experiences as the former co-captain of Canada’s Olympic women’s water polo team, Waneek shares her story and teaches how to build self-esteem through a balance of education and sport. Waneek travels extensively from border to border, speaking to Indigenous and non- indigenous audiences on issues of reconciliation, sport and why it is important we must all strive for our dreams.

Waneek is currently working with the Indigenous forward company Manitobah Mukluks in several capacities, markedly as the the director of the Storyboot Project, a program that facilitates mukluk, moccasin and beading workshops from one generation to the next, while also supporting traditional Indigenous artists by selling their work worldwide, online!

As one of Canada’s few Indigenous Olympians, Waneek has used her unique experiences in life and sport combined with a passion for her culture to influence Indigenous and non-Indigenous leadership in sport and wellness, Indigenous business, women in business and community building. The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Recently named her one of Canada’s most influential women in sport.

“If we want reconciliation, for ourselves and our children, we need to have hard conversations, build common ground, and really listen to each other.”

Darell Brertton Jr.

Pow Wow Dancer

Darrell Brertton Jr is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. Darrell has been featured on APTN News, CBC News, CTV News, Global News, Alberta Native News, and Edify Magazine. Darrell is one of the first and currently only powwow dancer to dance at ice level for the Edmonton Oiler NHL team. He’s been dancing & traveling the powwow trail ever since he could walk. Darrell shares Indigenous Awareness at school bookings and community events throughout the year within Edmonton & throughout Turtle Island. Darrell’s passion is traveling the powwow trail across Canada & USA, as well as enriching, empowering, and educating everyday people to grow and multiply their money with an incredible skillset. Darrell actually won second place in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the World’s Largest Gathering of Nations Powwow. He will showcase the pride he has for his culture, creating multiple sources of income, and putting people before profits.

Darrell is on a mission to improve the communication gap between administration and membership for Indigenous organizations across Turtle Island. Darrell currently has 75 Clients, doubling the company within 8 months.

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