Special Session 4

Caleb Wesley

Indigenous Knowledge & Science Outreach, SciXchange, Faculty of Science

Caleb is a member of the Moose Cree First Nation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from York University where he completed the university’s Waaban Indigenous Teacher Education program and received his teaching degree in junior/intermediate general science education. Through his teacher training, he had the opportunity to work with Indigenous students and teachers in the TDSB. His journey in education began at York University’s Science Engagement Programs where he worked as a science engagement instructor. He was the program coordinator of the CanCode digital literacy outreach program and brought digital literacy programming to over 1500 students across the Toronto District School Board. Caleb has worked previously as the Indigenous Outreach Assistant at JUMP Math where he supported both Indigenous teacher candidates and on-reserve schools to build math literacy in their classrooms. Most recently, Caleb worked as the online learning coordinator for LGBT YouthLine. As online learning coordinator, he worked to build an engaging and comprehensive training program for LGBT YouthLine’s peer support program. Caleb brings his passion and experience in science enrichment and outreach programming to our work at SciXchange. He is especially excited to make space for Indigenous brilliance and academics at Toronto Metropolitan University!

Brooke Filsinger

Advisor to the Dean, Indigenous Education in the Faculty of Science 

After a sixteen-year research career for Cancer Care Ontario (now part of Ontario Health), Brooke Filsinger joins the Faculty of Science to focus on her passion – Indigenous science. In addition to being an advisor to the Dean, she is also an EnSciMan PhD student, where the overlap between her two roles share the objective of creating spaces for Indigenous students to apply traditional research methods and teachings in STEM. Since joining the faculty, Brooke has worked on cultivating relationships with Indigenous community members at TMU to integrate Indigenous representation within the curriculum while identifying systemic barriers preventing Indigenous students from pursuing education in STEM. Brooke’s first-hand experience as a Haudenosaunee Indigenous student and learnings from prior decolonization efforts are invaluable to the faculty’s efforts in reconciliation and knowledge sharing with Indigenous communities. 

Bradley Gibson

Indigenous Academic Support Advisor, Gdoo-maawnjidimi Mompii Indigenous Student

Se:kon and Skennon ko:wa ken. My name is Kingfish Walks with Wolves (Bradley), and my last name is Gibson. I live in Whitby and I am from the Mohawk nation. My job is the Indigenous Academic Student Advisor and I am studying Mohawk.

For the last 20 years I have worked in the York Region District School Board as a CYW, Performance Plus CYW, and finally for the last 5 years as the First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Student Advisor. It has been my privilege and honor to serve the students, parents, and staff of the YRDSB those many years and I look forward to bringing the same passion and commitment to the students and staff of TMU.