TRICIA LOGAN
She / Her
PhD | Interim Academic Director
Dr. Logan is Métis, originally from Kakabeka Falls, Ontario. As the interim Academic Director of the Centre, her day-to-day work includes overseeing the Centre’s operations, acting as a liaison between the Indigenous Advisory Committee, community representatives and UBC, and supporting the broader direction of the Centre as it concerns Survivors and Indigenous communities. Dr. Logan is cross appointed as an assistant professor in First Nations and Indigenous Studies, at the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Dr. Logan was the Manager of Research at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, a curator for the Canadian Musuem for Human Rights, and worked on research at the Aboriginal Healing Foundation from 2000-2010. Dr. Logan holds a PhD in History on the Histories of Settler Colonialism and Canada and the history of the Residential School system in Canada, in addition to a Master’s in Native Studies and a BA in Native Studies.
KRISTIN KOZAR
She / Her
MLIS | Executive Director / Oral Testimony Program Co-Lead
Kristin Kozar is a member of Hwlitsum First Nation located in Canoe Pass with familial ties to the Musqueam Indian Band, Penelakut Tribe and Lummi Nation. Kristin is the Executive Director at the Centre and works closely with the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation to assist in gaining better access of residential school records for First Nations in BC. She is also the Co-lead of the Oral Testimony Program. Her work in research and engagement centres Indigenous Data Sovereignty and the inherent right to data when working with Residential School and Indian hospital records.
Kristin works towards building relationships and walking alongside internal and external Indigenous units at UBC. She firmly believes in the importance of interpersonal relationships and cultural humility when working with Indigenous individuals, community, and content.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Kristin worked with various Indigenous organization and communities, including her own, serving on the Hwlitsum council for six years. Kristin holds a Master’s in Library and Information Studies (MLIS) with a concentration in First Nations curriculum and is currently working on her PhD at the UBC iSchool with a focus on Indigenous data sovereignty and residential school records
Research
DAVID MCATACKNEY
He / Him
MLIS | Research Manager
David McAtackney is from Belfast in Northern Ireland. As the Research Manager and Oral Testimony Program (OTP) Co-lead at the Centre, David’s work includes archival research, research ethics, and managing the equipment and technical side of OTP.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, David worked in a variety of social and health science research projects with a variety of Indigenous communities across BC. David holds a Master’s in Library and Information studies (MLIS) and a BA in History and Ancient History.
CLEA JONQUIL HARGREAVES
She / Her
MAS | Research Strategist
Clea Jonquil Hargreaves is a second-generation settler Canadian with ancestry from Scotland, England, and Norway. As the Digital Collections Specialist and Research Engagement Strategist at the Centre, her work includes supporting research, research ethics, collections engagement and the Oral Testimony Program through research and archival expertise.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Clea worked as a freelance personal archivist, researcher and counsellor with a focus on memory, trauma, and grief. Clea holds a Master’s Degree in Archival Studies from UBC, a BA in History from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and various Counselling certifications.
ELLE SINA SØRENSEN
She / Her
MA | Research and Reference Archivist
Elle Sina Sørensen is Sámi and grew up in Tromsø in Norway. She is a Research and Reference Archivist at the Centre. Her work involves creating an accessible research toolkit that will help people navigate archival repositories containing Residential School records. When the toolkit is complete, Elle Sina will provide training sessions for community researchers on general archival research and navigating Residential School records.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Elle Sina worked as a research assistant on a research project related to Canadian colonial policies. Elle Sina holds a Master’s degree in Indigenous Studies and a BA in Anthropology and Global Studies.
STEPHANIE HOHN
She / Her
Research Assistant
Stephanie Hohn is a Métis student pursuing a Master of Library and Information Studies with a First Nations Curriculum Concentration at UBC’s iSchool. Prior to UBC, she received a Bachelor of English Literature at the University of Montana, which rests on the historic territory of her people and is the homeland of the Salish, Kootenai, and Kalispel nations. Her professional background is in book selling, libraries, wholesale garment purchasing, and event safety. Her academic and artistic work has focused on the local history, homelessness, game design, plant symbolism, folklore and patterns.
Records and Collections
NAOMI LLOYD
She / Her
PhD | Senior Systems and Metadata Specialist
Naomi Lloyd is an immigrant of South African settler ancestry. As the Acting Collections Manager at the Centre, her work includes overseeing the Centre’s Residential School records database and the collections website. She develops partnerships with different archives and imports copies of their records into the Centre’s database, thereby increasing Survivor access to records. She is committed to disrupting colonial information practices with guidance from Indigenous colleagues and communities.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Naomi worked with small libraries and archives, implementing content management systems. She also worked as a sessional history instructor at both UBC and SFU. Naomi holds a PhD in History and a Masters in Library and Information Studies (MLIS).
KATIE POWELL
She / Her
MA MAS MLIS| Digital Collections Strategist
Katie Powell is settler Canadian and the Digital Collections Specialist at the Centre. Her work includes supporting policy development on the IRSHDC collections site and database. Katie has experience as a researcher for social justice projects and is passionate about memory work that centres lived experience, relationality, and creative technologies.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Katie graduated from the UBC School of Information with dual master’s degrees in Archival Studies & Library and Information Studies. Katie also holds a MA in History.
SARAH TEUNIS-RUSS
She / Her
MA | Digital Collections Specialist and Interpreter
Sarah Teunis-Russ is Haida and settler Canadian. She is a Digital Collections Specialist and Interpreter at the IRSHDC. Her work includes reference research and acting as a research docent for visitors in the gallery space. Sarah is dedicated to working for Survivors and giving back to community through her academic skills.
Prior to joining the team at the IRSHDC, Sarah worked at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art in Vancouver, BC and the Research Centre for Material Culture in Leiden, the Netherlands. Sarah has a Master’s in Museum Studies and a BA in First Nations and Indigenous Studies and Anthropology, where her research focus was on Indigenous representation, autonomy and sovereignty in museums.
ERIC AMORY STRADER
He / Him
Archival Assistant
Amory is mixed with maternal roots in New Mexico, Mexico, Cuba, and paternal roots in Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. As a Collections Archivist Assistant, a position within the Work Learn Program, his work mainly involves working with the Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden collection, which includes managing inventory and writing re-descriptions. Amory is grateful for the chance to offer reciprocity to the land and people supporting his education by contributing to the work of truth and reconciliation at the Centre.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Amory worked with applied cultural analysis, teaching, politics and public management. Amory has a Master’s in Applied Cultural Analysis from Lund University and is working towards a Master’s in Library and Information Studies with a First Nations Curriculum Concentration at the UBC iSchool.
CINDY CUSTODIO
She / Her
Collections Archivist Assistant
Cindy is from Manila, Philippines. As a Collections Archivist Assistant, a position within the Work Learn Program, her work mainly involves working with the Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden collection, which includes managing inventory and writing re-descriptions. Cindy is also a freelance film editor with experience in making documentaries and short films.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Cindy worked as a creative consultant for Istorya ng Pag-asa (Stories of Hope), a nationwide project in partnership with the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines. Cindy has two BA degrees in film and creative writing and is working towards a Master’s in Archival Studies at the UBC iSchool.
Programming and Education
KIM LAWSON
She / Her
MLIS | Research and Community Liaison Librarian
Kim Lawson is an intergenerational Residential School Survivor and member of the Heiltsuk Nation (Bella Bella, BC). Her work at the Centre involves addressing barriers to archival records and helping people find information via archives and libraries. Kim is interested in digital cultural safety and Indigenous digital pedagogy. She sees the interconnectedness of education, cultural humility, strengthening Indigenous knowledge systems and information services as a crucial aspect of Indigenous informatics and community resilience.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Kim worked as an Archivist/Librarian at the Resource Centre for the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and librarian at Xwi7xwa Library for more than 10 years. Kim holds a Master’s in Library and Information studies (MLIS).
SHANNON ROBINSON
Education and Programming Strategist [On secondment to CTLT Indigenous Initiatives through October 2024]
Shannon Robinson is an Education and Programming Strategist at the Centre. She hails from intersection of Treaty 6 and Treaty 7 territory in Red Deer, Alberta, but holds an undergraduate degree in Art History and First Nations & Indigenous studies from the University of British Columbia. Shannon has worked as a program coordinator for the Native Youth Program, supported public programming at the City of Red Deer and held an internship in Education and Public Programs at the Museum of Anthropology. She appreciates every opportunity to work with and learn from community. She strives to establish pathways for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to come together in a good way.
KELSEY SABLAN MARTIN
She / Her
Research and Engagement Assistant
Kelsey Sablan Martin is a diasporic mixed race CHamoru woman from familian Deda and Kadada’ with familial ties to Maite village in Guåhan. As the Research and Engagement Assistant, she works closely with the research and engagement teams, as well as educating and engaging with visitors to the Centre.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Kelsey worked in community-based learning and research with a focus on cultivating relational and joyful knowledge production, sharing and dissemination. Kelsey holds a BA in Sociology and is working towards a Master’s in Educational Studies.
Communications
AMEI-LEE LABOUCAN
She / Her
MA | Communications Manager
Amei-lee Laboucan is a Black non-status nêhiyaw-âpihtawikosisân iskwew. Her family is from Treaty 8 territory in northern Alberta. Her Nana is from Driftpile Cree Nation and her Papa grew up on Métis squatter lands at Winagami Lake before moving to McLennan, Alberta. Amei-lee grew up on the unceded territories of the Semiahma, sc̓əwaθenaɁɬ təməxʷ, kwikwəәƛ ̓əәm, q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ and q̓ic̓əәy̓ First Nations.
Amei-lee Laboucan is the Communications Manager at the IRSHDC. Her work includes developing, leading and implementing effective communications strategies, as well as developing communication policies and procedures. Amei-lee is an award-winning journalist who values joyful, resilient Indigenous storytelling by decentering deficit-focused narratives and contextualizing Canada’s colonial past and present. She has a MA in Indigenous Studies from the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta, a Bachelor of Journalism from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and an Associate of Arts Degree from Douglas College.
RENITA BANGERT
They / Them
MA | Communications Coordinator
Renita Bangert is of mixed Punjabi and German heritage. They are the Communications Coordinator at IRSHDC. Renita’s work involves designing and implementing communications strategies across social media, print and online. They work on graphic design, visual identity, audio and video editing, and writing for the Centre’s website.
They hold an MA in Digital Innovation in Journalism and have a background in both journalism and podcast production. Renita produced IRSHDC’s 2022 podcast Love, Land and Spirit, and worked on a number of other productions highlighting Indigenous governance and cultural resurgence. They specialize in trauma-informed, narrative-driven work.
CHLOE AFI GRANT
She / They
BMS | Communications Assistant
Chloe Afi Grant is mixed Afro-Indigenous and settler from Red Deer Alberta with ties to Ghana and Thunderchild First Nation. She is the Communications and Social Media Assistant, a position within the Work Learn Program. Her work includes supporting the communications team, creating social media graphics and captions, providing research and supporting ongoing projects within the centre. Chloe is also a storyteller and an intergenerational Survivor who is reconnecting with her nêhiyawak roots.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Chloe worked as a certified lifeguard/swim instructor and as a freelance social media manager. Chloe is working towards a MA in Children’s Literature and holds a BA in Media Studies from UBC.
TANESHA RATT
She / Her
Communications and Engagement Assistant
Tanesha Ratt is a Woodland-Plains Cree woman and member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band located in northern Saskatchewan on Treaty 6 Territory. As a Communications and Engagement Assistant within the Work Learn Program, she supports the communications and engagement efforts of the Orange Shirt Day Campaign at UBC.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Tanesha worked as a casual early childhood educator at Mikisiw Awâsis Early Learning Centre located in her home community. While celebrating Indigenous resistance and resilience, Tanesha continues to reconnect to her First Nations identity as an Intergenerational Survivor. Tanesha is working towards a BA with a major in First Nations and Indigenous Studies and a minor in Sociology.
Administration
PARAS DEACON
She / Her
MA | Administrator Coordinator
Paras brings invaluable lived and community experience to her role, drawing from her mixed Turkish and Persian heritage and degrees in Sociology and Community Development. As the Admin. Coordinator, Paras oversees administrative, HR and financial operations at the Centre. Paras has over 10 years of experience at UBC, and she prioritizes Indigenous Rights and community engagement, participating in both on and off-campus initiatives.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Paras held the role of Administration Manager at the First Nations House of Learning. She demonstrates deep respect for Survivors and Elders, while advocating for peace, unity, universal education and gender equality.
Project Management
LUC DESMARAIS
He / Him
PMP® | Project Manager
Luc Desmarais is settler Canadian and the Project Manager at the Centre. His work includes the planning and management of all types of projects while working closely with his colleagues at the Centre, other departments at UBC, and external partners.
Prior to joining the team at IRSHDC, Luc worked in the museum and arts field for 15 years. Luc holds a BA in History from the University of Waterloo, a postgraduate certificate in Museum Studies from Fleming College, a certificate in Project Management from UBC’s Sauder School of Business, and a Project Management Professional (PMP®) designation.
RAMUDI “RAY” SAMARASEKERA
They / Them
Exhibitions and Project Coordinator
Ramudi “Ray” Samarasekera is Sri Lankan and part of the queer community. As the Exhibitions & Project Coordinator, a position within the Work Learn Program, their work includes assisting the Project Manager with administration and logistics to support the Centre’s projects and exhibitions work.
Ray is a multidisciplinary artist whose art practice stems from profound moments of reflection, recollections, and resistance captured through their experience as part of the South Asian diaspora. They seek to understand a self without “place”/”place” without self. Ray is working towards a Bachelor in Fine Arts with a Major in Visual Art at UBC.