Team
Caroline Lemire
Co-Director of Minwashin
Caroline Lemire
Director
Her entire team agrees that Caroline is a dynamic and unifying director. Having been with Minwashin since its creation in 2017, she has had the privilege of directing it from the very beginning. She has been working in cultural development for over 20 years. Originally from Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the ancestral Anicinabe territory, Caroline is very proud of her roots. She’s always on the lookout for rich moments: whether at her camp with family and friends, or cross-country skiing in the forest. Nicknamed wabmoko – mother white bear – by a friend, this is the animal that best represents her, as she can be very maternal and protective.
Dave Sergerie
Co-Director of Minwashin
Dave Sergerie
Co-Director
Anishinabe from Timiskaming First Nation, Dave was born in Val-d’Or, where he spent much of his childhood. Until recently he was at the helm of the ID1N Official Mark and spent 25 years actively contributing to the socioeconomic security of First Nations, first at the FNHRDCQ, then at the FNQLEDC. One of his proudest achievements is his role in securing increased national funding for Indigenous employability. Passionate about art, science, philosophy, and history, Dave is always seeking knowledge and mutual understanding, but he is also a down-to-earth person who loves working with his hands. In fact, it’s when he’s fishing that he feels most at ease and most connected to the land (he always keeps a fishing rod in his car—you never know when a beautiful river might come along). Like the raven, Dave has an insatiable curiosity, a sociable and independent nature, and a playful and outgoing attitude.
Roger Wylde
Anicinabe Heritage and Culture Keeper
Roger Wylde
Anicinabe Heritage and Culture Keeper
Roger Wylde, the Indian who walks with his head and his heart, is Abitibiwinni from the community of Pikogan. One of Minwashin’s founding members in 2017, he has always been committed to the organization’s mission, and today he is the guardian of its values, overseeing projects and employees. A visual artist, actor and traditional craftsman, Roger knows his territory, language and culture. Skunks often follow Roger’s footsteps. There’s so much more to this unloved animal than meets the eye: the same gland that spreads the stench actually has great and unique medicinal properties, and was used by our ancestors.
Wanda Crépeau-Etapp
Youth initiatives Coordinator
Wanda Crépeau-Etapp
Youth initiatives Coordinator
Wanda was born to an Algonquin, Cree and Québécoise mother and a Cree father. She still lives on the unceded territory of her Anicinabe ancestors, Nadowe Sibi (Senneterre). Wanda has worked with the Senneterre and Val-d’Or Friendship Centres and the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute, and still sits on the board of directors of the first one. In 2018, she was one of the first graduates of Kiuna College. Since 2021, Wanda has been involved in a number of projects with Minwashin, especially those involving the next generation. Wanda is a big fan of summer and winter sports, whether played on a field or on a lake. Wanda is a hummingbird, because her heart can beat very fast, and she’s always in motion.
Janis Rivard
Projects & Communications Manager
Janis Rivard
Projects & Communications Manager
Janis has been part of the Minwashin team since 2022. Managing to multiple projects of the organism, she knows how to put her nose to the grindstone to promote them the best she can. A creative and athletic person, Janis grew up in a small village in Témiscamingue before leaving to study sociology in Quebec City and Montreal, then returning to work for Radio-Canada ICI Abitibi-Témiscamingue. A cook and insatiable Dungeons & Dragons player, Janis is like a wolf: she needs her pack, and knows how to be both serious when hunting and playful when it comes to play.
Eliane Kistabish
Project Coordinator – Acitc
Eliane Kistabish
Project Coordinator – Acitc
Eliane grew up in Amos but is originally from Pikogan. A creative and unifying person, she is involved in the community, both with young people and artists, of which she is a member. As part of the MADAMIKANA project, she works with indigenous artists to promote the Anicinabe presence through artistic reappropriation of the territory. She finds her grounding in the calm of the forest, whose variations she appreciates as the seasons go by. Eliane identifies with memeko – butterfly – which, curious, twirls delicately from flower to flower: she wants to see everything, smell everything, feel everything.
Juste Roy
Archival Project Manager
Juste Roy
Archival Project Manager
Juste Roy began working for Minwashin in 2022, then as an intern. Today, they are responsible for the Nipakanatik virtual library project. Born in Quebec City, they completed a master’s degree in information science at the Université de Montréal in 2023. A musician in their spare time and an avid reader, Juste recognizes himself themselves the turtle, who requires patience to learn step by step the Anicinabe values, words and perspectives.
Chantal Simard Nattaway
Artistic & Cultural Agent
Chantal Simard Nattaway
Artistic & Cultural Agent
A nomad Anicinabekwe, wandering between Central Quebec and Abitibi, Chantal’s nest is in Arthabaska, close to her children and grandchildren. A Minwashin arts and culture agent since 2023, she has the pleasure of supporting cultural bearers through the PAPAKINECE project. Her life path has led her to become a multidisciplinary artist, an art therapy and cultural vision consultant. For her, art is the greatest and most powerful vector of communication. She recognizes herself in the loon, which looks so calm even though it pedals fast underwater, and is the only animal to carry its babies on its back, like the tikinagan.
Anna Mapachee
Linguist and Consultant
Anna Mapachee
Linguist and Consultant
Anna Mapachee, from Pikogan, is passionate about passing on her Anicinape language and culture. In fact, this is her primary role at Minwashin: the revitalization of the Anicinape language. Just like spring, when everything grows anew and nature blossoms, Anna is witnessing the rebirth of the language through the Anicinapemowin classes she teaches regularly, and even to her own children and grandchildren. Anna grew up at Lake Cikopik with her parents and younger brother, and that is still where she feels most at home. Anna is a hard-working beaver, dedicated to the well-being and safety of her entire family and loved ones.
Şükran Tipi
Project Director – Protection and revitalization of Anicinabe language
Şükran Tipi
Project Director – Protection and revitalization of Anicinabe language
Şükran was born in Germany of Turkish parents. She grew up between these two countries. As an adult, she continues her nomadic life, letting life take her where she needs to go. She is one of the co-managers of Minwashin’s major project to protect and revitalize the Anicinabe language, where she acts as project director. Her role is to ensure that the language shines throughout the organization’s projects. Fascinated by the strength and fragility of human beings, Şükran is a strong, persevering mother and woman, with an easy happiness, who can find resourcing leaning against a large tree. She recognizes herself in the beaver, who works hard and with precision, adapting to its environment.
Nancy Wiscutie-Crépeau
Director of the Research, Education, and Transmission sector
Nancy Wiscutie-Crépeau
Director of the Research, Education, and Transmission sector
Nancy is born and raised in Senneterre – the place where her ancestors walked – and lives there today, after a detour to Ottawa for University. Nancy is a free-spirited, creative and meticulous woman: she enjoys taking the time to do things right. She is director of the sector dedicated to research, education, and knowledge transmission within our team. She is also a member of the Mitonentcikan committee, which ensures that the archives hosted by the NIPAKANATIK virtual library are used in the interests of our Nation, and guides the team to ensure that this project is carried out ethically and respectfully. A great lover of winter and its “clean air”, Nancy recognizes herself in the wolf, a courageous animal that also represents knowledge and instinct.
Pascale Julien-Gilbert
Accounting & Administration
Pascale Julien-Gilbert
Accounting & Administration
Trained as a microbiologist and now an accountant, Pascale loves numbers and getting involved in the cultural community, as long as she stays behind the spotlight! Originally from Latulipe, Témiscamingue, she has been orchestrating accounting and administration for Minwashin since 2020. She has several university courses in administration and accounting to her credit. She’s passionate about nature, foraging, kayaking, reading and, of course, good food! Pascale is like a loon, because she loves water, lakes, tranquility and nature.
Cédric Corbeil
Videographer
Cédric Corbeil
Videographer
Cédric left Val-d’Or in 1999 to study video editing in Montreal. Ever since, he has believed that documentaries can change the world. With this in mind, he joined the team at Wapikoni mobile and Productions Nova Média and has held various positions on over a hundred productions. With a diploma in filmmaking from the Institut national de l’image et du son, Cédric was recruited by the Minwashin team in 2023 as a videographer and digital consultant. Cédric is like a bear: a peaceful creature for whom the most important mission is comfort and small pleasures.
Audrey Monette-Deschênes
Project coordinator – Protection and revitalization of Anicinabe language
Audrey Monette-Deschênes
Project coordinator – Protection and revitalization of Anicinabe language
Audrey is non-Indigenous and lives in the Ndakina, in Iberville. Her career path has been decidedly eclectic: first a jazz singer, then an accessories saleswoman in a motorcycle shop, she finally returned to school in 2013 to earn her Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Indigenous Studies at Laurentian University in Sudbury, followed by a master’s in health services administration at the University of Montreal. A self-proclaimed nerd, she always has an Excel spreadsheet ready to go and loves to play with ideas, read, and learn. Like the raven, Audrey is sensitive, strategic, and deeply relational; she is capable of solving complex problems and choosing the right tools for the situation.
Jolene Commanda
Cultural and Arts Development Project Coordinator
Jolene Commanda
Cultural and Arts Development Project Coordinator
Jolene is a proud member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg where she was born and continues to reside with her family. Jolene pursued post-secondary studies in Ottawa in Culinary Management and in Sports and Recreation, and has dedicated much of her work to serving her community. After living in various parts of Canada and the United States, Jolene brings valuable life experience. Today, Jolene is Culture and Arts development Coordinator for Minwashin, supporting and uplifting artists and cultural bearers. Jolene is like the Owl; loyal, reliable, structured and a careful planner. Everyone in her family calls her Koko short for Kokokoho (Owl).
