Meet Our Team
Dr. Kimberly R. Huyser
CIEDAR Lead
Dr. Kimberly R. Huyser is an associate professor of sociology at the University of British Columbia. She is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and grew up on the Navajo reservation in Arizona, USA. The central intellectual motivation driving her research agenda is to gain a deeper understanding of the social conditions that undermine health, as well as to identify the cultural and social resources leveraged by racial and ethnic groups in order to further their individual and collective health and well-being.
Tamara Chavez
Project Manager
Tamara Chavez is an immigrant settler from El Salvador with Nawa/Pipil ancestry. She is CIEDAR’s project manager. Previously, Tamara was a project coordinator for the BC Centre of Disease Control Harm Reduction Services and a research consultant for Harm Reduction International. Her frontline and research work interests include topics such as harm reduction, overdose prevention, mental health and sexual health alongside various groups. As CIEDAR's project manager, Tamara eagerly anticipates the opportunity to establish connections and foster meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities.
Mary Jessome
Research Manager
Mary Jessome is a PhD candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia. For Mary, CIEDAR is a unique opportunity to work alongside Indigenous folk who believe that research can capture and amplify Indigenous voices. As CIEDAR’s research manager, Mary looks forward to using research as a way of sharing the stories of the different communities CIEDAR partners with.
CIEDAR’S Advisory Council
CIEDAR’s Advisory Council is key to the research activities and efforts of CIEDAR. They direct and guide our research and outreach efforts by providing expert advice, participating in all stages of the research process, and connecting us to community. Specifically, they:
Are research collaborators
Are representatives of their communities as they contribute valuable insight into the needs of Indigenous communities
Receive and disseminate updates from CIEDAR to their respective communities and networks.
Dr. Sheila Blackstock
Researcher
Sheila Blackstock (Gitxsan Nation), RN, MScN, COHN, PhD, also holds an Advanced Specialty in Occupational Health Nursing. Over 34 years, Sheila has worked in acute care, critical care, rural nursing, aboriginal health, community and occupational health nursing. This vast nursing experience situates Sheila with a solid foundation for her current position as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Northern British Columbia. She developed an interdisciplinary Indigenous health theory course that has become a requisite course for undergraduate nurses at Thompson Rivers University School of Nursing, as well as a rural, Indigenous nursing practice course.
Sheila has developed curricula in concert with Indigenous communities to ensure that her courses carefully reflect Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Her program of research uses a decolonizing approach to empower nurses in health care organizations to mitigate nursing incivility. As an Indigenous nurse expert, she has recently contributed to a text on palliative care nursing and to a book to teach nurses how to work in partnership with Indigenous Peoples across the country to advance their holistic health outcomes. Sheila was appointed to the provincial Board of Directors of the British Columbia First Nations Health Authority and to the In Plain Site provincial task team.
Dr. Maureen Dobbins
Professor at McMaster University, Director of Health Evidence & NCCMT
Maureen Dobbins, RN, PhD, is a professor in the School of Nursing at McMaster University. Her research efforts seek to understand knowledge translation among public health decision-makers in Canada. Her program of research has: identified barriers and facilitators to research; explored the information needs of public health decision-makers; and developed, implemented and evaluated a variety of knowledge translation strategies for public health decision-makers. Since 2001, she has been the Director of Health Evidence, a single source of high-quality reviews on the effectiveness of public health interventions and one component of a comprehensive knowledge translation strategy for public health decision-makers worldwide. Since 2011, Maureen has been the Scientific Director of the National Collaborating Centre Methods and Tools (NCCMT), one of six National Collaborating Centres for Public Health in Canada. The NCCMT provides leadership and expertise in helping public health professionals put research evidence into policy and practice.
Felix J. Lockhart
Elder, Traditional Cultural Advisor, Indigenous Wellness Program Facilitator
Felix J. Lockhart has been in leadership roles for most of his life. The first time was when he was honoured by the Elders in his community when they selected him as Councillor in a Non-Indian Act election system. He went on to serve as Chief for the Lutselk’e Dene First Nation for seven intermittent terms, for a total of 17 years. He was also elected to be Grand Chief of Akaitcho Territory Government between 1997 and 1999. In addition to these leadership roles, Mr. Lockhart was the Founding Chair of the Dene Cultural Institute. He has extensive knowledge as a sports fishing guide and seasonal Caribou Range forest fire fighter. Mr. Lockhart is an avid hunter, trapper, and fisherman and is a fluent Dënesulinè speaker. Mr. Lockhart presently works as an Elder, Traditional Cultural Advisor, and Facilitator with the Indigenous Wellness Program at the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife.
Renée Masching
Researcher
Renée Masching (she/her) is a member of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation and has Irish decent. She was adopted as an infant and grew up in a family of Eastern and Western European heritage. Professionally, Renée’s energies are passionately committed to Indigenous health and wellness.
Renée earned degrees in Social Work and Psychology at McMaster University, with a Canadian Institutes of Health Research award for her Master of Social Work. Her work in the Indigenous HIV/AIDS community began in 1995 and she is honoured to contribute with dedication and determination.
Renée began working with CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks in 2005 and presently is the Director of Research. CAAN’s head office is located in Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan and their Eastern office is based in Nova Scotia, Canada on Millbrook First Nation lands. CAAN’s research and programs expanded in focus in 2012 to be inclusive of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI).
Renée’s research interests focus on community-based research frameworks, Indigenous knowledges, Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, and community health with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS and STBBI. She lives as a visitor with her husband, sons and pets, by the Atlantic ocean in Mi’kmaq Territory.
Calvin Racette
Métis Knowledge Keeper
Calvin Racette retired from an education career that spanned 34 years. He obtained a Masters Degree from the University of Regina. His entire career focused on Indigenous Education. He worked as a classroom teacher, an administrator and a program coordinator. He also was fortunate to have opportunities to research and write about Métis history. He has had several publications in Métis history and is seen as a local historian by the community.
Calvin also serves on several committees and boards as a representative of the Métis community in the areas of history and culture. His most recent work was as a resource person in a video production called Métis Knowledge Keepers. His wish is to support the work of the Indigenous community to create a voice so they can tell their story.
Calvin recently got involved as a Knowledge Keeper and represents the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan on several committees, in the areas of education and health. He is actively involved in community-based and land-based research. The majority of his time is spent with projects that are helping the Métis community bridge to the research agencies. He is very involved in helping the agencies implement a reconciliation agenda and builds the connections.
Calvin sees the Qu’Appelle Valley as his home and the Métis people of the Valley as his community. His work is a reflection of their story and history. Having his community represented in the areas of education and health is central to his work. Making the world a better place for his grandchildren is a prime consideration in his daily life.
Interested in partnering with us? Contact tamara.chavez@ubc.ca