The People Behind All My Relations

Our team plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of our programs and events. From event coordination to administration, the team provides the behind-the-scenes support that allows us to carry out our work efficiently and effectively.

Director of All my Relations Indigenous Research Centre

Dr. Rod McCormick

Kanienkehaka a

Dr. McCormick brings extensive professional experience in counselling, psychology, and Indigenous mental health. Over the past 15 years, he has dedicated himself to building Indigenous health research capacity and advocating for Indigenous health research at both provincial and national levels. His work is grounded in a commitment to addressing the unique mental health challenges faced by Indigenous communities and creating pathways for culturally relevant support.

For more than a decade, Dr. McCormick led several significant initiatives, including the BC Aboriginal Capacity and Developmental Research Environments, the Network Environment for Aboriginal Health Research, and Kloshe Tillicum, each of which contributed to advancing Indigenous health research and capacity-building across British Columbia. His leadership extended to the national stage as a co-founder and leader of the National Aboriginal Health Research Steering Committee: Kawatsire, furthering his advocacy for Indigenous voices in health research.

Currently, Dr. McCormick serves as the BC Indigenous Health Research Chair and directs the All My Relations Indigenous Research Centre at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). In this role, he continues to drive initiatives that support Indigenous well-being through research, education, and community collaboration, ensuring that Indigenous perspectives are at the forefront of health research and policy development.

Learn more about Dr.McCormick’s full bio here.

Associate Director of All my Relations Indigenous Research Centre

Jeneen Herns-Jensen

Algonquin, Shoshone & Norwegian Settler Descendant

Jeneen holds a Master of Education with an academic foundation spanning English and language studies, political science, and Indigenous studies. Her interdisciplinary background has equipped her with a nuanced understanding of language, culture, and governance, which she applies in both her professional and personal pursuits.

As an active researcher, Jeneen is passionate about Indigenous research methodologies, particularly those rooted in community-based approaches and cultural knowledge systems. She is dedicated to advancing linguistic teaching methods within Indigenous languages, working closely with Dr. Gloria Ramirez and Dr. Janice Dick-Billy on Secwepemctsin language revitalization projects. In addition to her collaborative work, Jeneen is learning Secwepemctsin herself, demonstrating her deep commitment to preserving and revitalizing Indigenous languages.

Beyond her academic and research endeavours, Jeneen is a devoted parent to her Secwepemc son. She is also an avid gardener, nurturing both plants and her connection to the land. Her roles as a mother and a gardener reflect her broader commitment to nurturing growth, resilience, and the well-being of future generations.

In all aspects of her life, Jeneen strives to honour Indigenous knowledge, practices, and languages while contributing to their ongoing preservation and revitalization.

Knowledge makers coordinator

Chuying Jiao

Chinese

Chuying holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor’s in Social Work, which equip her with compassion and expertise in supporting students on their academic journeys.

Born and raised in China, Chuying Jiao moved to Canada in 2017 as an international student. She now holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor’s in Social Work, which equip her with compassion and expertise in supporting students on their academic journeys.

As the Knowledge Makers program coordinator, Chuying is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment. She is a passionate advocate for Indigenous Knowledge Systems and worldviews. Using her work to ensure their importance is recognized and integrated within the academic sphere.

Chuying’s work is driven by her belief in the power of education to transform lives and build bridges between diverse communities. Outside work, she enjoys exploring new cultures and continuously expanding her knowledge.

Research Coordinator

Dr. Bukola Osuntade

Nigerian

Olubukola is a recent PhD in Agriculture graduate from the School of Education at Thompson Rivers University. She has prior experience teaching at the post-secondary level in Nigeria. Driven by a commitment to excellence and professionalism, she pursued a Master of Education (MEd) to enhance her teaching practice and broaden her perspective as an educator.

Her academic and professional interests include policy reform, gender leadership dynamics, and climate-smart agriculture. Olubukola has contributed to several initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa. Her experience is in project design, management, and reporting in the fields of agriculture and development studies.

She has been actively involved in research, co-authoring technical reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, and policy documents, collaborating with both local and international scholars.

Research Assistant

Shay Paul

Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc

Shay is a sociology student with a focus in social research, a Knowledge Makers alum, an artist, and a dedicated community organizer living in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc. As an undergraduate, she has worked in three rural Indigenous communities—Kasabonika Lake FN, Wapakeka FN, and Deh Gáh Got’ı̨ę FN—engaging in research and conversations around Indigenous food sovereignty and food security. Shay has been an active advocate for artists and working to strengthen pre-existing foundations within the art community through collaborating with artists and organizations across the Southern Interior. She has diverse skills and experience coordinating several different scales of events and strives to learn more with every new project she is a part of. As an active artist in the community, Shay’s passion for working with and helping other artists drives her work in all aspects. Her work is rooted in grassroots, community-led activism that prioritizes collective needs. Whether through land and food sovereignty or visual sovereignty, Shay blends art, storytelling, and social research to work to uplift Indigenous knowledge and support community.

Research Assistant

Ellis Dakota Knife Rondquist

Métis 

Ellis Rondquist is a Métis social work student with a minor in Sociology whose research focuses on body sovereignty, comprehensive sex education, and community advocacy. Passionate about addressing systemic issues through an Indigenous rights and social justice lens, Ellis brings a unique perspective to their work.

Their experience includes serving as a work-study student with Indigenous Education, a peer mentor at TRU Makerspace and a Marketing and Sponsorship Chair role for the TRU PHP (Philosophy, History, and Politics) Conference. Through these roles, they have cultivated skills in collaboration and advocacy that have greatly influenced their academic journey.

Motivated by a commitment to transformative change, Ellis centers their work on advocating for marginalized communities and promoting holistic, community-driven solutions. It aims to continue this work in its future practice, creating pathways for empowerment and equitable access to resources.

Research Assistant

Olivia Lane

Métis 

Olivia Lane is a proud Métis woman who grew up on the unceded ancestral territory of the Shíshálh Nation on the Sunshine Coast, BC. She holds a Psychology Bachelor’s degree and is pursuing a Social Work degree at TRU. Olivia is deeply committed to community wellness and empowerment and has supported diverse groups as a facilitator, mentor, and support worker.

During her time at TRU, Olivia has served as a Student Wellness Ambassador, Indigenous Mentor, and a member of the MotionBallU Executive Committee. Her research interests focus on marginalized populations, including perceptions of racial bias among international students and faculty and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

In addition, Olivia has published an article on incarcerated Indigenous Peoples and Restorative Justice in Knowledge Makers, Volume 9. Outside of her professional work, she is passionate about beading, houseplants, kayaking, and hiking with her dog.

Research Assistant

Leticia Kanywuiro

Kenya

Leticia is an Open Educational Resource designer catering to the online learning needs for Indigenous Education in Kenya, using her mother’s stories from the Kikuyu culture as a pilot resource. She holds a master’s degree in education from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC. Originally from Kenya, she worked as an Early Childhood Educator for a period of five years in an international school and holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Kenyatta University Nairobi, Kenya.
Her work as a Research Assistant at Thompson Rivers University focuses on the preservation of African Indigenous Knowledge by inculcating African Indigenous pedagogies through Open Educational Resources that can educate young learners on cultural appreciation and identity.

Research Assistant

Nathan Wilson

Tsal’alh First Nations

Nathan Wilson studies Tourism Management at Thompson Rivers University. He is from the Tsal’alh First Nations Community and carries the traditional name Papíya (Papeeya7). The name is a term of endearment for an adult male and was first given to his great-great-great-great grandfather, Joseph Copeland.

At school, he wears many different hats, as he is a part of Student Caucus and currently serves on the Tourism Faculty Council and the Qelmúwc Affairs Committee. He also works in a leadership role in the food and beverage industry.

When he’s not busy with school or work, he enjoys playing tennis, hanging out with friends and trying local craft beers, and getting super competitive in board games.

Research Coordinator

Peyton Anderson

Nuxalk Nation

Peyton Anderson holds a Master of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. She has collaborated with the British Columbia government to advocate for policies that respect Indigenous knowledge systems and ensure that decision-making practices are inclusive of Indigenous voices.

In addition to her academic and intellectual pursuits, Peyton is an avid skier and enjoys leading an active lifestyle. Her connection to the land through recreation and her cultural roots has deeply informed her work and personal philosophy.

Currently, Peyton contributes to the Knowledge Makers Journal, where she supports Indigenous research and scholarship. She is also working alongside Dr. McCormick and Jeneen Herns-Jensen on a research project centered around land-based healing practices. This project explores the connection between Indigenous peoples and the land as a source of well-being and cultural resilience.

Elders in Residence

Knowledge Makers Journal is grateful to have the wisdom of Elders on our team that help to not only guide new Knowledge Makers but also the processes of healing, learning, documenting, protecting, and preservation that comes with research and our program.

Kamloops Campus

Mike Arnouse

Cstèlen

Mike Arnouse is from the Adams Lake community. He has been an Elder on TRU’s campus for over twenty years.

A dedicated helper, he believes in the power of learning from one another. He appreciates the opportunities to meet and talk with students, staff, and faculty, believing that we all can learn from each other. Sharing his knowledge freely, he notes that it has been hidden from our people for so long.

Everything that we learn and share is for future generations — to learn about medicines, animals, and stories. The colonization of our culture and the copyrights to knowledge systems are a hindrance that carries the knowledge of the history of Secwépemc’ulucw.

Indigenization and de-colonization of the Secwepemc culture. Knowledge is best passed through relationships and talking to one another. Mike invites people to sit and talk with him anytime he is on campus. Have tea and chat. Be yourself and have a heart-to-heart. Build relationships, friendships, and family.

Kamloops Campus

Joanne Brown

Cheslatta / Dakelh

Joanne Brown is a member of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation, L’silu clan. She was born and raised in her home territory near Burns Lake, British Columbia. In 1996 she moved to Secwépecmc’ulucw from Prince George .

Joanne’s previous work with Employment and Immigration Canada and studies in geography and anthropology (TRU) made her a natural fit for an occupation in Indigenous post‑secondary education.

She is grateful for her amazing community, especially working with neighbours and friends. Joanne strives to ensure that everyone is welcomed and feels special in a unique and unforgettable way. In her free time, Joanne kayaks, gardens, cooks, and loves spending time with her precious friends and family.

Kamloops Campus

Doe Thomas

Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc

Leona (Doe) Thomas is a Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc (TteS) band member.

She is a mother and grandmother who has been retired for several years. In her career, she worked with Alberta First Nations to develop, implement, and report on health programs.

She is currently an elder with the Kamloops First Nations court and generally enjoying retirement.

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Reach Out to Our Team

If you’re interested in learning more about the individuals behind All My Relations or would like to collaborate with any of our team members, we’d be happy to connect.

Please feel free to reach out to us and we’ll direct your inquiry to the appropriate team member. We look forward to hearing from you!

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