Core Team Members
Gwen and James are the leading experts in North America in providing advice on creating better relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Together, they have over 50 years of experience in this space. Their collective understanding has been instrumental in organizational change throughout governments and organizations in North America.
Gwen Bridge
Partner and Capacity Development Leader
A member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Gwen has over twenty years of experience in providing advice, developing strategies, and managing natural resource-related projects for First Nations and their partners, including in land and water planning, protected areas planning, and policy. Gwen has worked on watershed planning with the Mescalero Apache, the Makah Tribe (including collaborative Recovery Planning for the Ozette Sockeye with the US National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the State of Washington and the Makah Tribe), the Okanagan Nation Alliance, the Okanagan Indian Band, and the Lower Similkameen Indian Band. Gwen has led and facilitated land use planning and title and rights protection processes with those nations and others including the West Moberly First Nations. Gwen has been recently working on indigenous-led conservation including caribou habitat protection and old growth protection with the Okanagan Nation Alliance and negotiating and planning for the South Okanagan Similkameen National Park Reserve.
Gwen is an adept researcher with experience in forest hydrology and natural resources management grounded in technical knowledge (Gwen has a Master of Science in Renewable Resources with a thesis specialization in forestry hydrology) and indigenous perspectives, including designated community-developed bio-cultural use indicators for Water Quality Standards for the Makah Tribe. Gwen has been advising the evolving provincial policy environment for forestry and climate change, land use planning, Indigenous-led conservation in BC, and watershed planning. Gwen teaches courses in Ethical Space and Indigenous Leadership at University nuhelot’ine thaiyots’i nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills and is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia. Gwen has provided Ethical Space training to many levels of government including; BC Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, BC Ministry of Forests, BC Ministry of Environment, BC Water Land and Resource Stewardship, Parks Canada, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Chief of Staff office, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, City of Nelson, Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments, District of Mission, Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House, US National Parks Service, and many others.
James Rattling Leaf, Sr.
Partner and Capacity Development Leader
Lakota, CQ® Certified Facilitator: CQ Train-the-Trainer
Mr. Rattling Leaf is a citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, developing programs that utilize the interface between Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Western science. He applies his expertise in Earth observation technology to convey how TEK can be used with Western science to address the impacts of climate change. He also teaches Cultural Intelligence methods, supports Indigenous engagement strategies, and serves Indigenous nations’ efforts through effective and respectful data application. He holds leadership roles with the University of Colorado-Boulder, North Central Climate Adaptation Center, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Group on Earth Observations Indigenous Alliance, and the Ecological Society of America.
Moe Nadeau
Director of Operations
Moe Nadeau (she/her) is a strategic leader with over seven years of experience driving operational excellence. As the Director of Operations at the Indigenous Engagement Institute, Moe combines her background in Ethical Space and conservation, with her passion for equitable governance and community collaboration. She holds a bachelor’s in Environmental Science and a master’s in Resource Management, where she focused on understanding Ethical Space from a large-scale planning context. In her role, Moe oversees day-to-day operations, ensuring alignment with the organization’s values and standards. She fosters a culture of continuous improvement, regularly mentoring team members to strengthen their leadership skills. Moe’s approach is rooted in systems thinking and Ethical Space dialogue, creating a positive environment for understanding complex issues. With expertise in land stewardship planning, conservation, and community investment, Moe is dedicated to building equitable and sustainable communities. Her leadership inspires positive change, making her a valuable asset to the organization and its mission.
Black Hills Guests
Lauren Terbasket
Capacity Development Presenter
Lauren Terbasket is from the Okanagan Nation and a member of the Lower Similkameen Community. She is a master’s Candidate in Leadership and Training through Royal Roads University. Lauren has extensive experience in aboriginal education including both curriculum development and teaching, cultural community development, and environmental conservation. Lauren has been involved in Community Development, Business, Organizational Development and Education in Aboriginal Communities and for Aboriginal Colleges/Institutions throughout Canada for over 23 years. Lauren Teaches Okanagan Cultural courses and is a facilitator utilizing Okanagan Based methodologies. Lauren is a beginner speaker of the Okanagan language. She currently holds the position of Education Director for the En’owkin Centre in Penticton British Columbia.
Past Guests
Rob Edward
Capacity Development Presenter
way` x̌ast sx̌əlx̌alt i skʷist kt`ʕapɬniwt kn sməlqmix/syilx hello good day my name is Rob Edward I am from the Similkameen this introductory bio is to give more information on the knowledge gathered from a formal cultural education that enriched my formal education I have been blessed with knowledge from elders from the sməlqmix, suknaʔkinx and surrounding snəqsyilxʷtət. I am a fluent speaker in the nsyilxcən language; I was raised by immediate family and my father kt`aʕpɬniwt/ Johnny Edward where I received most of my formal education on the collective cultural code/Laws/social construct that was internalized into our families, community, and nation. I was taught about the strength of our people prior to and during the colonization and assimilation processes which critically impacted the cultural foundation of our nation in which we are still struggling in a state of recovery from.
I have extensive knowledge in language fluency, language protocol, internal and external nation protocols, tmixʷ protocols, land protocols, capt̕ikʷɬ and the many meanings surrounding the stories, traditional leadership, social foundations, negotiation skills, and relationship-building skills with natural resource companies.
Lauren Terbasket
Capacity Development Presenter
Lauren Terbasket is from the Okanagan Nation and a member of the Lower Similkameen Community. She is a master’s Candidate in Leadership and Training through Royal Roads University. Lauren has extensive experience in aboriginal education including both curriculum development and teaching, cultural community development, and environmental conservation. Lauren has been involved in Community Development, Business, Organizational Development and Education in Aboriginal Communities and for Aboriginal Colleges/Institutions throughout Canada for over 23 years. Lauren Teaches Okanagan Cultural courses and is a facilitator utilizing Okanagan Based methodologies. Lauren is a beginner speaker of the Okanagan language. She currently holds the position of Education Director for the En’owkin Centre in Penticton British Columbia.
Peter Waardenburg
Capacity Development Presenter
A member of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Peter Waardenburg has over eighteen years of experience in working with Indigenous organizations developing strategies, creating quality strategic plans, managing, and developing projects related to land, water and health planning.
Peter has worked on major projects for the Okanagan Nation Alliance, First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), the First Nations Technology Council, Okanagan Indian Band and many other First Nations and Indigenous Organizations. Peter has led projects including the refresh of the Interior Regional Health and Wellness Plan for FNHA Interior Region. He has also worked in support of the Port Nicholson Block Claim for the Wellington Tenths Trust, in Wellington New Zealand, and has developed and worked on many Use and Occupancy Surveys related projects for First Nations organizations in the interior of BC.