OUR TEAM
LEN PIERRE (HE/HIM)
CEO, Len Pierre Consulting
Len Pierre is Coast Salish from Katzie (kate-zee) First Nation.
Len is an professor, consultant, TEDx Speaker, social activist, change agent, & traditional knowledge keeper. He has a Masters degree in Education from Simon Fraser University focusing on Indigenous curriculum and instructional design. His experience includes Indigenous education and program leadership from various organizations across colonial Canada.
He specializes in the development of educational programs and services with decolonization and reconciliation as its core values. He comes to us with an open heart and open mind, and hopes to be received in the same way.
ASHLEY PIERRE (SHE/HER)
Executive Assistant
Ashley has been an ally to First Nations people her whole life. She is committed to listening, learning, and aiding the Indigenous peoples of Colonial Canada towards achieving reconciliation.
Ashley currently works at United Way British Columbia as the Administrative Assistant, Senior Leadership Team - President's office, and is married to Spencer Pierre, Len's cousin.
As the Manager for Client Services and Administration, Ashley coordinates the teams client inquiries, scheduling, booking, financing, and client follow-up.
MALISSA SMITH (SHE/HER)
Manager, Logistics & Special Projects
Malissa grew up in Pitt Meadows, BC and is a settler to this area. She has worked, lived, and played in Indigenous communities most of her life. She brings 27 years of combined experience in Indigenous health, social services and community engagement. Malissa is passionate about building relationships, having Indigenous voices at the table to ensure meaningful consultation and advocating for positive systemic transformation. She is also Len’s partner in love and life.
As the Manager for Logistics and Special Projects at LPC, she manages the coordination of special team events, philanthropy projects, and community partnerships.
DENNIS LEON (HE/HIM)
Cultural Lead & Advisor
Dennis Leon, Tsatsomtun, is from Kwantlen First Nation. Dennis is a Cultural Lead and Advisor at Len Pierre Consulting. Dennis leads the cultural protocols within our team and supports our clients by offering cultural services, workshops, and advice.
RICHARD PIERRE (HE/HIM)
Elder & Cultural Advisor
Richard Pierre, Sdemokeltel, is from Katzie First Nation on his fathers side, and Tsawout First Nation on his mothers side. Richard is an Elder and Cultural Advisor at Len Pierre Consulting. He enjoys sharing traditional Coast Salish family values, culture, beliefs, history, language, and contemporary issues.
Richard has over 20 years of experience working in the education sector including public K-12, university, and professional training programs. He is passionate about making reconciliation a reality in this country and looks forward to helping the next generation transition into "walking together" like we should have been doing all along.
BRIANNA LEON (SHE/HER)
Associate Consultant
Brianna Leon, wə́nsat, is q’íc’ə́y and Sts'ailes First Nation. Brianna is the grand-daughter of late Grand Chief Peter James of Katzie. She is also daughter of traditional knowledge keeper Paula James-Leon, who is Katzie and her late father David Leon, who is Sts'ailes. Brianna was born and raised into her First Nations culture and is a continuous learner of the cultural teachings. She is currently working on her Bachelor of Arts at the University of British Columbia with a major in First Nation and Indigenous Studies. Brianna’s aspirations are to continue passing on her cultural knowledge and cultural safety awareness to flourish to all our relations minds, hearts, bodies, and spirits.
As a Research Assistant Brianna supports projects by conducting literature searches, information management, and data compilation for Indigenous Cultural Safety, reconciliation, and decolonization initiatives.
ANNA PIERRE (SHE/HER)
Youth Advisor
Anna is Coast Salish from Katzie First Nation and is the daughter of Len Pierre. She is the Youth Advisor to our work in transformation. Youth represent the next generation. Often we forget about youth voices at the centre of transformation.
As Youth Advisor Anna shadows LPC Associates, advises on strategic initiatives, and contributes to social media messaging.
SAMANTHA JACK (SHE/HER)
Associate Consultant
Samantha Jack is from Nuu-Chah-Nulth and Yale Nations. She brings a wealth of knowledge and history of working in Indigenous support services. She is skilled in customer service, strategic planning, public speaking, public outreach and social media. She is currently completing a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
As an Associate Consultant at LPC, Sam provides consultation services on Indigenous Cultural Safety and working with Indigenous youth. She also provides training on Indigenous Cultural Safety, Reconciliation, Indigenous Youth Resilience, and Indigenous Trauma & Equity Informed Practice.
MARNIE SCOW (SHE/HER)
Associate Consultant
Marnie Marie Scow is from Kwakiutl and Namgis First Nations
Marnie is an Associate Consultant at Len Pierre Consulting. As an Associate Consultant, Marnie facilitates training sessions and advises clients on substance use programming and services, Indigenous Harm Reduction practices, and Indigenous Cultural Safety for organizations.
Marnie is currently completing her Masters degree in Public Health Science at UBC.
MARISSA MCINTYRE (SHE/HER)
Associate Consultant
Marissa (Kenaytco) McIntyre is a mixed settler and First Nations woman of the Nlaka'pamux Nation born and raised in Surrey, BC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in First Nations Studies from Simon Fraser University. Marissa previously worked for the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association from 2018-2021 as an Indigenous At-Risk Youth Worker and Culture Night Coordinator before starting her current role with the Fraser Health Authority as an Indigenous Cultural Safety Educator.
Marissa has worked hard to reconnect with her culture over the last ten years and is constantly learning. She is so grateful for the opportunities she has been given to work alongside so many talented and knowledgeable Indigenous people, as well as the opportunity to serve her people by striving for system changes and widespread education.
As an Associate Consultant with LPC, Marissa provides training on Indigenous Cultural Safety & Humility, Indigenous Trauma & Equity Informed Practice, Appropriation vs. Appreciation, Decolonizing Substance Use, and Transformative Territory Acknowledgements.
NAOMI KENNEDY (SHE/HER)
Associate Consultant
Naomi Kennedy is Dakelh from the Stellat’en First Nations. She is the daughter of Carrie Ann Louis and the granddaughter of Violet Kennedy and Yvonne George. She carries the strength of the Matriarchs of her family when she learns, lives, and works on the ancestral, unceded territories of the Semiahmoo, Kwantlen, Katzie, Qayqayt, Kwitkwitlem, and Tsawwassen First Nations. Naomi is currently studying at the University of British Columbia to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in First Nations and Indigenous Studies. Naomi began her Facilitation journey alongside her Mother in 2015.
As an Associate Consultant with LPC, Naomi provides training on Indigenous Cultural Safety & Humility and Indigenous Trauma & Equity Informed Practice for organizations.
ANDREW BIRD (HE/HIM)
Associate Consultant
Andrew Bird (he/him) is Cree, originally from Saskatchewan, now living in British Columbia and is in his early thirties.
As an Associate Consultant Andrew delivers training sessions on Cultural Safety and offer inspirational talks to youth and professional teams.
He's lived in over twenty five homes, attended several different schools, was homeless at age fourteen and was raised by his single mother. He chased and achieved a childhood dream of becoming a professional wrestler which led to meeting his wife, having their son, and speaking twice on a TEDx stage. Now, with his stories and experiences, he shares the tools that helped him get to where he is and spreads gratitude along the way.
JORDAN WHITE (HE/HIM)
Associate Consultant
Indigenous Knowledge Exchange Leader
Jordan (MA, RCC) is a proud Métis citizen who embodies the teachings of the Métis flag, brings an appreciation of shared leadership, cultural humility, wisdom of ‘all my relations’, as well as experience presenting nationally and internationally. Jordan acknowledges the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism on our systems and structures, as well as his understanding of being an Indigenous person. He aims to be decolonial and reconcilatory in his work while centering compassion, our common humanity, and gratitude within this messy, non-linear process. He is an Indigenous Knowledge Exchange Lead with Len Pierre Consulting, a Registered Clinical Counsellor & supervisor, Indigenous Focusing Oriented Therapy & complex trauma graduate, as well as an Indigenous advocate with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) Provincial Education Committee.
As the Indigenous Knowledge Exchange Leader at LPC, Jordan supports relationship building among Indigenous content experts in health, education, and beyond. He actively pursues opportunities to promote and celebrate Indigenous ways of being, doing, and knowing in addition to providing workshops, training sessions, as well as consultation on a variety of topics.
NEW TEAM MEMBERS
Consultants, Managers, Business Partners, & Advisors
Dusty Yurkin (she/her)
Creative Director
Dusty is a Graphic Designer, specializing in digital and print media, specifically layout design and illustration.As a Business Partner to LPC Dusty assists with client publication, graphic design, brand development, and creative strategies.
Paula Tait (she/her)
Associate Consultant
Paula Tait is Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan, Tsayu/Beaver Clan. She is the daughter of Betty Tait ~ Axtiganoo’w and Philip Tait ~ L”C’Eka, her father clan is the Laksilyu/Small Frog. She is the granddaughter of Mary & Peter Jim and Sarah & Thomas Tait.
She was born and raised in Witset, BC and lives on unceded Katzie, Kwantlen and Semiahmooh Traditional Territories. Paula is an educator, social activist, young cultural knowledge keeper, and is a catalyst of change. She received Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in Canadian Studies, from the University of British Columbia, in addition with 1-year Unclassified Political Science.
Karla Parker (she/her)
Content Director
Karla is a photographer, videographer, and producer for media content. As a Business Partner to LPC Karla executes the mission, vision, and values of Indigenous content creation including: social media, video, photography, podcasts, print media, and media design.
Madelaine McCallum
Associate Consultant
Madelaine McCallum is a gifted dancer, motivational speaker, facilitator, and MC — a true, multi-faceted creative. She is from Ile a la Crosse, Saskatchewan and brings passion with a gentle yet powerful presence to the stage whether she is there to share one of her inspiring Speaks or she has been asked to dance, or MC.
Madelaine's experience as an MC and event host is sure to make your event or workshop a hit! She has a passion for sharing her knowledge of dance and culture and doesn't shy away from sharing her story of survival, knowing that dance has been an outlet and saviour throughout her life.
Noah Chalifoux (he/him)
Corporate Events Manager
Noah Chalifoux is a settler living on unceded Coast Salish land in Vancouver, BC. Noah is committed to supporting transformative healing, through building reciprocal relationships that honour the shared histories with which we show up for each other.
Noah has a degree in Human Geography from Queen’s University. He has supported a diversity of research and education projects related to reconciliation, community health and Indigenous health. Currently, Noah coordinates and co-facilitates harm reduction dialogues with local governments across BC, through his role at Community Action Initiative (CAI).
As the Corporate Events Manager, Noah oversees logistics for events hosted by LPC.
Nadine McSpadden (she/her)
Associate Consultant
Nadine McSpadden is a proud member of the Shuswap Band which is located near Radium, BC. The Shuswap Band is one of 17 Secwépemc communities located in the southern interior of BC.
Nadine has recently retired from teaching. She has worked in Indigenous Education for over 20 years and looks forward to sharing her knowledge with you. She has her master’s degree in education and technology, and she is also an author. She is one of the primary authors of Inquiring Minds – Global Indigenous Peoples, a grade 3 social studies set and is also the author of 4 of the Little Book titles for Pearson Educations Mathology kit.
Nadine’s passion is helping teachers as they navigate ways to authentically embed Indigenous content and Indigenous ways of knowing and being into their classrooms.
Eva Habib (she/her)
Associate Consultant, Project Management
Eva has had the privilege to grow up, work and play on the unceded, ancestral and traditional shared territories of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Burnaby, BC) and has proud ancestral roots from Kabul, Afghanistan. She completed her Master of Public Health from the University of Victoria in 2020, where her passion for supporting First Nations, Métis, and Inuit health and wellness expanded both personally and professionally. In the past few years, Eva has worked in Indigenous Health, leading cultural safety and anti-Indigenous racism initiatives and programs within health systems.
Eva believes that as beneficiaries of the intentional suppression of Indigenous rights, traditions and cultures, it is our civic responsibility to be a part of the efforts in dismantling systems of oppression and racism that continue to impact First Nations, Métis and Inuit today. As an ally, she is passionate about racial and health equity, relationship building, and supporting positive system transformation to pursue true and meaningful progress on reconciliation. As Associate Consultant for Projects, Eva will be supporting project management, policy and program design, strategic planning, and writing.
Noelle Saemerow (she/her)
Associate Consultant
Noelle is a proud Métis citizen. She was raised in Kamloops, and now lives on the ancestral, unceded and traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, colonially known as Vancouver. She has a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Simon Fraser University, and currently works in the field of Indigenous Health, specifically supporting Métis health and wellness.
Noelle is passionate about Métis health, as well as gender and sexual health equity. She feels blessed to learn from and be surrounded by the resilience of Indigenous communities.
As an Associate Consultant, Noelle offers training on Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility, and Métis History and Culture.
Shantelle Matos
Manager, Client Services
Shantelle has had the privilege of growing up on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt, and Kwikwetlem First Nations, where she now has the honour of raising her two children. Shantelle brings over 10 years of expertise working in health and social services sectors for the provincial government, municipalities, and the local health authority. She also brings experience from the non-profit sector where she has led numerous community initiatives and events that foster community awareness and social engagement.
She completed her Master of Public Health at Simon Fraser University in 2019 and as an ally, her commitment to reconciliation and decolonization inspired her to further research the impact and application of Indigenous cultural safety education. Shantelle’s passion for engaging communities and building relationships has supported the work she has done in joint partnership with Indigenous partners over the past five years. She is currently the project leader for Fraser Health Authority’s Indigenous Health Program and leads initiatives that aim to address Indigenous-specific racism and improve access to culturally safe care.
As a Manager for Client Services, Shantelle liaises with associate consultants and handles client inquiries, bookings, and follow-up. Shantelle also provides consultation services as an associate consultant for project management.