Identifying the Spaces We Hold: An Anti-Racism Conversation
In this interactive panel discussion, we will recognize systemic racism in the spaces where we live, work, and play. Panelists will share their knowledge and experiences in making space for others and themselves, and holding space for difficult conversations. Participants will gain a better understanding of how to navigate institutions towards equity.
We are grateful for contributions from the event Moderator, Janelle Pewapsconias and Panelists Rissy Hantke, Lori Whiteman, and Jayna Amadasun.
Janelle “ecoaborijanelle” Pewapsconias – Moderator
Janelle “ecoaborijanelle” Pewapsconias (iskwew, s/her) is a Spoken Word Poet, Social Innovator, and arts educator based in the Treaty Lands now known as Little Pine First Nation, Treaty 6 Territory on Saskatchewan. As a mother, she continues the spoken word custom of the nehīyaw through poetry and spoken word art virtually, right from her home community. Her approach to the arts an offering of anti-racist, decolonizing, and safe(r) space. Her artistic style and perspective speaks from the experience of a rez-based Indigenous femme, but reminds does not represent all Indigenous people to Turtle Island.
Laura (Lori) Whiteman – Panelist
Lori is a facilitator, coach and educational consultant based in Treaty 4 Territory (Regina). She is a Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation band member in Saskatchewan.
Lori has worked as an educational leader and facilitator in Indigenous communities, non-profit organizations, and education systems. She is passionate about supporting groups and organizations to discover their power in addressing complex challenges. She is passionate about early literacy, Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous education, anti-racist education and community-building.
She is a consultant in her company, Braid, and a Facilitation Associate and Trainer with ICA Associates, an international facilitation training and consulting company.
She is currently serving as President of the Board of Directors of the Regina Early Learning Centre and as an Indigenous Advisor to the RCMP Depot Commanding Officer’s Advisory Committee. An achievement Lori takes great pride in being part of is the establishment of a stone medicine wheel called the Place of Reflection. The stone circle was installed in 2015, with stones marking the many Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada (MMIWG). The Place of Reflection hosts an annual cycle of learning events through a partnership with the RCMP Heritage Centre.
Lori is honoured to be Mom to two daughters, a son in law, and Koko to 5 grandchildren who all make their home in Regina.
Jayna Amadasun – Panelist
Jayna is a Solution-Focused Professional Coach, Speaker, and Author of the 7-Week Journal: Passion & Purpose. As the Founder of Ember Impact Global, Jayna is passionate about helping to inspire, empower, and impact women through a coaching partnership where each woman has the potential to experience transformational results personally and professionally.
Jayna provides access to guiding principles and tools which foster an ecosystem where women can freely explore, engage in self-discovery, embrace the vast possibilities that emerge and curate a life that aligns with their values and goals. As a passionate speaker, she eloquently articulates difficult conversations around the discourse of racial discrimination specifically
towards internationally trained Black medical professionals and epistemic (in)justice which represent the expansion of work done through her dissertation.
She spent almost two decades as a healthcare professional before embarking on her entrepreneurial journey. Jayna is a Rotarian and serves as secretary of the Community Services Subcommittee of her club. Her dedication to the advancement of women is seen through her appointment as one of the Board of Directors for Black Canadian Women in Action. She values lifelong learning and finds enjoyment in cooking, travelling and watching low budget romantic comedies. She is a wife and mother passionate about her family and excited about new possibilities emerging in her life.
Sharissa (Rissy) Unger Hantke – Panelist
Sharissa Hantke, RN, M.Ed., is a white settler nurse and educator located on Treaty 6 territory in Saskatoon.
She develops content and teaches in community and university settings, including undergraduate teacher education, nursing, professional development, and faculty education. In 2021, she completed a master’s degree in educational foundations at the University of Saskatchewan under the supervision of anti-racism expert Dr. Verna St. Denis.
Sharissa seeks to work for racial justice by learning about her complicity in colonialism and her responsibility to push for a critical antiracist lens in education.
