SFU Indigenous Directory

William G. Lindsay (Cree-Stoney)
Director, Office for Aboriginal Peoples
phone: 778.782.8924
email: wlindsay@sfu.ca

The office's mandate under my supervision is to implement the Aboriginal Strategic Plan for Simon Fraser University. Aspects of this include recruitment, support, and retention of/for Aboriginal students; Aboriginal research initiatives; international engagement; community liaison and outreach to the Aboriginal community; academic program/course development in Aboriginal areas; Aboriginal knowledge and resource development; infrastructure/facilites development; and leadership development among Aboriginal people at SFU. We are campus-wide and community-oriented in our approach to getting the above done. Aboriginal students will, of course, benefit from the above occurring in the many ways that they are actually happening as we speak.

+ read more > Indigenous Stories: William Lindsay on Persistence

Jenna Lafrance
Director
phone: 778.782.5555
email: jenna_lafrance@sfu.ca

Jenna LaFrance is of Cree/French Red River Metis ancestry. She has been focused on working and learning about Indigenous education within Indigenous (First Nations, Metis) urban and rural communities for 30+ years. Jenna is a passionate advocate for supporting Aboriginal learners and developing Aboriginal educational environments with respectful, relevant, responsible, reciprocal community relationships. Academic research interests include Indigenous learning environments, Metis history and Indigenous English as a second dialect (IESD). Jenna is the current Director of the SFU Indigenous Student Centre.

Jennie Blankinship
Indigenous Recruitment Coordinator
address: Simon Fraser University
               MBC 3100 Student Services
               8888 University Drive
               Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6

Jo-Anne Nadort
Career Advisor with Career Services

I have chosen to lead events and advising that is focused on providing services for our Indigenous students and alumni. As the lead coordinator for the Indigenous Peoples Career Stories event for the past two years I have had the good fortune to hear fabulous stories and learn some tips. I visit the ISC and offer appointments on site or the option to book with me downstairs. The ISC, FNSA and I are trying to co-ordinate a Guiding Circles workshop; Guiding Circles was created by an Indigenous writer for use with Indigenous groups in their career exploration process. I have had the good fortune to hire and worked with Indigenous students to help create Career programing and services for Indigenous students. The students research has resulted in the OLC Indigenous Website, Career Circles workshops and a strong relationship with the FNSA.

Gary George
Indigenous Student Life Co-ordinator
phone: 778.782.5663
email: ggeorge@sfu.ca

Greetings, I am at the ISC daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and I am here to help Indigenous Students transition into the university. The programs we operate focus on retention such as peer education, peer mentorship, and the ISC has a pool of tutors. We also offer culturally relevant programs such as the Elder's program, ancestry network, and SFUs All Nation Drum Group. If you have any questions, please email me directly or drop-in to the ISC. We look forward to meeting you.

+ read more >Indigenous Stories: Gary George

Klahanie R. Rorick
Administrative Assistant
phone: 778.782.8925
email: krorick@sfu.ca

Klahanie R. Rorick is from the Tahltan band, near Dease Lake. She is from the Tses' Kiya, (pronounced Tses-kee-ya) "Crow" Clan. She moved to Vancouver in 1996 and attended the Native Education College (NEC) from 1997-2000. She worked at NEC from 2003-2007.

She is a recent graduate of the General Management Certificate Program and Business Writing, Public Relations and Marketing Communications Certificate Program at Simon Fraser University (SFU). She currently works for the Director of the Office for Aboriginal Peoples, at SFU. Klahanie is a board member for the Native Education College, and sits on the NEC's Aboriginal Buisness Technology Advisory Board.

+ read more >Indigenous Stories: Klahanie R. Rorick

Laura Forsythe
Indigenous Program Researcher First Nations Student Association Member
phone: 778-782-3587
email: lforsyth@sfu.ca
office days: Tuesday

As the Indigenous program researcher I have collected and will continue to collect Indigenous content for the OLC Indigenous Webpage. My role is to help build the Indigenous community here at SFU as well as support Indigenous students in potential career advising. As a member of the FNSA I am here to welcome all Indigenous students and act as support personally, academically, and culturally support First Nations students (Inuit, Métis, Status and Non-Status) and to educate the campus community on First Nations issues. Feel free to contact me at any time.

Bernard Ryu
First Nations Advisor
phone:778.782.4143

As a First Nations Academic Advisor, I try to look at each student's situation to provide customized support/feedback where needed.  I like to introduce First Nations students to resources & services offered, in addition to clarifying academic guidelines here at SFU.  If I cannot answer a question for you, then I can make suggestions by recommending suitable SFU services or resources to provide you with the support that you are looking for.  Plus, I can share interesting stories to help to better inform your decisions!

Carley Dyer
First Nations Advisor
phone: 778.782.4143

Through First Nations advising, I enjoy supporting and guiding students through the information provided to improve understanding of the environment and culture of student life here at SFU.  As a First Nations advisor, I want to help students focus on their unique goals and aspirations or help find out what they could be. I am happy to help and hope to make a difference with each interaction and advising session with students, eventually resulting in students discovering their own path to reach their academic goals.

Deborah Ho
First Nations Advisor
phone: 778.782.4143

As a First Nations advisor, my goal is to help First Nations students ease into their time at university feeling supported and purposeful in their academic pursuits.  I want to help students by providing academic advice on how to find resources and services that are relevant to them at SFU. In addition, through effective program and course planning, I want to help students excel in the classroom and their overall academic career. 

Natasha Kwan
First Nations Advisor
phone: 778.782.4143

As both an SFU Alumni and First Nations Academic Advisor, I understand that SFU is a very daunting place when you first arrive. I can relate to the excitement, but also the overwhelming feeling that follows and hesitation about where to begin. Through academic advising, I hope students feel supported when learning about course and program planning here at SFU. I encourage students to add to their academic experience by finding out how to enhance their time spent at SFU by becoming involved beyond the classroom through SFU co-op, volunteering and international opportunities. To see students learn and grow from their active participation at SFU and within the community, while gaining valuable life skills makes my work at SFU both meaningful and worthwhile.

Alissa Derrick
Indigenous Student Ambassador

My name is Alissa Derrick; I am from the Wet’suwet’en Nation located in Moircetown, British Columbia. I am a 4th year Arts Major with a double minor in Criminology and First Nations Studies. I'm also part of the First Nations Student Association. I work with recruitment as their Indigenous Ambassador. Through this role, I provide tour to new Aboriginal students and serve as a mentor. The mentorship role has varied throughout the position, often with students asking endless questions. The questions range from scholarship support, to life experience, and the experience of being at the university.

Rhian Quarry
Indigenous Student Ambassador

As an SFU Indigenous Student Ambassador, I have tried to find ways in which to incorporate indigenous representation on the campus tours. Identifying the resources for indigenous students at SFU not only helps those needing the resources but also informs all potential students of the indigenous presence on campus. When an indigenous group books a tour at SFU, I will come and tag along on the tour and answer any questions the students might have. By sharing my experience at SFU with the students, I hope that it will encourage them to pursue post secondary education and realize that there is a huge support system awaiting them at SFU.

Loryn R. Blower
Indigenous Student Ambassador

Loryn R. Blower is a Métis Student who recently sat as a council member for the First Nations Student Association (FNSA) working to promote Indigenous awareness at SFU. She has also recently started working as a Treasurer and a Director for the Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group (SFPIRG), a non profit society that works within an anti-oppression framework and utilizes consensus decision making. Additionally, she has worked as a Peer Mentor at SFU, and as an Indigenous Student Ambassador for SFU Recruitment. Both positions have reinforced for Loryn the value of healthy and supportive community development within academic institutions. Both insightful and considerate, Loryn is steadily learning that promoting justice for marginalized individuals can be achieved through education, dialogue and perseverance.