Soup and Substance: Indigenous Women’s Leadership and Voices

Monica McKay

Monica McKay is the Director of Aboriginal Initiatives within the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion. She began her career at the university in 1993, and led the creation of the Aboriginal Student Services and the Aboriginal Student Centre, along with many other programs at TMU. Monica is from Laxgalts’ap (Greenville), British Columbia and is a proud member of the Nisga’a Nation, of the House of Heewa’a, and of the Gisk’aast Pdeek (Killer Whale clan).

In her role as director, Monica develops,  leads and coordinates the implementation of the TMU Indigenous Education strategy. She builds internal and external partnerships with faculty, staff and the broader Indigenous community to support and fulfill the Aboriginal Education Council’s priorities: student success, teaching, learning, research, community engagement and capacity building. Monica is also involved with national and provincial working groups and with local community networks, committees, boards and projects.

Crystal Osawamick

Crystal Osawamick is an Anishinaabekwe (Odawa woman) from Turtle Island and is of the Mshiikenh Dodem (turtle clan), with roots from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. She is a mother, aunty, and sister. She graduated from the University of Sudbury with honours, specializing in Indigenous Studies with a minor in Political Science. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Indigenous Relations at Laurentian University, researching holistic spaces in urban settings. 

Crystal is currently the Manager of Indigenous Events and Special Projects within TMU’s Ceremonials Office. She has extensive knowledge and experience with event planning and project management, providing an authentic service based on Anishinaabek (Indigenous) beliefs, values and principles. She hopes to achieve successful and meaningful outcomes, while enhancing the holistic well-being of individuals and communities, and overall, collective positivity in her role.

Amy Desjarlais 

Amy Desjarlais works in the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives within the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion as Lead of the Rebirthed Teachings Working Group – a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff working together to educate the community about our shared history. 

Amy is an Instructor for Anishnawbe Health Toronto’s Community Health Worker Training Program. Her community work includes sitting as an executive board member at the Centre for World Indigenous Studies, and a general board member for Community Music Schools of Toronto. She is a member of Spiritwind singers with performances all over Tkaronto as a group and individual hand drummer.

Cheryl K. Trudeau

Cheryl K. Trudeau is the Administrative Coordinator for the Aboriginal Education Council within the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, and the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives within the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion. She is an Anishinabe cis woman registered with Sagamok Anishinawbek First Nation, whose parentage comes from Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation and Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. 

Cheryl is an artist, born and raised in Toronto. As an adolescent, she found her forte in fabric arts and has been sewing since high school. She attended Toronto’s George Brown College for Fashion Arts. As a young adult, Cheryl’s life assessment took her on the path of self-recovery of her First Nation identity through further educational pursuit. Her second venture into postsecondary education led her to successfully graduate with honours from the Georgian College of Applied Arts & Technology with a Native Community & Social Development diploma program in Barrie, ON.

Cheryl is committed to continual sharing and learning of Aboriginal cultures, heritages, traditions and protocols.