DENYS BERNARD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GCNWA
Always on the lookout for business opportunities, Denys sees to the development and growth of the organization. His vision allows the Grand Conseil de la Nation Waban-Aki (GCNWA) to effectively serve our communities according to our mission, but also to export our expertise to many Indigenous communities and private organizations.
In addition, Denys plays, among other things, a representative role for the Nation. He supervises, manages and administrates the various funding programs, services and projects underway at the GCNWA. He is also responsible for supervising staff and ensuring that institutional values and established performance requirements are met.
NIKITA ZEWSKI
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
The communications officer of the GCNWA has already been hired to the team and her job description is oriented towards youth and family projects. Thereby, the communications officer devotes her time to the mobilization, advertizing and information surrounding the project. Under the responsibility of the Child and Family Prevention Services manager, the communications officer supports the interveners in their communications and advertizing needs.
MICHEL THIBEAULT
SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR
Michel is responsible for the management of social services and front-line services to the child and the family of the Waban-Aki Nation. He advises members of the N8wkika team on clinical intervention aspects and on interaction strategies between different resources in the communities and the N8wkika. In addition, he ensures that the methods meet a community-based approach and finally, he also advises the team on the most effective ways to implement the various projects developed.
LAURE TARDIF
FRONT-LINE SERVICES COORDINATOR
Laure is responsible for training, service development and the DYP agreement and must ensure that services meet the needs of families in the community. She ensures consistency in front-line services. She also works with partners to ensure that consultation develops. Laure links clinical needs, community needs and the services that must be associated with them. She has a decision-making role in confirming the offer of services. She is also a youth protection respondent.
VALÉRIE LAFORCE
SCHOOL PROJECTS COORDINATOR
She initiates, manages and supervises Niona projects that are developed in collaboration with the educational community. Her mandate is carried out in particular through her role as head of the Table en éducation pour les jeunes Abénakis (Education Table for Young Abenakis), which brings together partners working in various educational environments. It acts as a reference-liaison between the educational and Abenaki communities.
JENNY M'SADOQUES BENOIT
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
Jenny supports the management and the entire team in administrative actions.
NANCY CARIGNAN
CLINICAL COORDINATOR
Nancy guides workers in their actions, ensures that proper practices are applied and assigns files to the social workers. She has training in special education and psychoeducation. After several years of intervention in schools, she taught for 4 years at Kiuna Institution in the Special Education and Aboriginal Context program.
AUDREY TRUDEL
SOCIAL WORKER
Audrey meets the needs of individuals, families and groups from the communities of Odanak and Wôlinak to enable them to understand and solve their behavioural and social issues. She works with individuals with bio-psycho-social difficulties, provides individual follow-ups and participates in prevention activities.
RAPHAËLLE O'BOMSAWIN
SOCIAL WORKER
Raphaëlle meets the needs of individuals, families and groups from the communities of Odanak and Wôlinak to enable them to understand and solve their behavioural and social issues. She works with individuals with bio-psycho-social difficulties, provides individual follow-ups and participates in prevention activities.
DAVID PLANTE
SOCIAL WORKER
With a background in psychoeducation, David worked at the Grand Conseil from 2016 to 2019 and is returning in the same position, as an individual follow-up worker. He has many years of experience with First Nations, notably the Atikamekw Nation where he has spent the last two years working in youth protection services.
MATHIEU LAFORCE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
Mathieu acts to develop and support Wôlinak and Odanak communities in their community actions.
MEGAN HÉBERT-LEFEBVRE
CONTENT PRODUCTION OFFICER
She produces the content elements for all N8wkika actions, including projects related to the Niona component. She collaborates with the communications department to develop tools that provide information related to general social services.
SONIA FISET
COMMUNITY WORKER
The community worker is present in N8wkika actions to provide support and encourage participants to consult the specific resources available. From this perspective, she is a non-specialized resource in listening and referral. She plays a specific role in promoting culture through cultural workshops and the integration of culture among 12-17 year olds.
KIM ARSENEAULT
COMMUNITY WORKER
Originally from W8linak, Kim holds the position of Development Officer for community activities within the two Abenaki communities. Her dynamism and her constant desire to make discover her culture are beneficial in the realization of her tasks such as the organization of the Odanak day camp, the co-organization of cultural half-days in W8linak and her numerous participations during community outings.
MARC-OLIVIER O'BOMSAWIN
CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AGENT
Marc-Olivier shares his expertise in cultural matters so that the projects developed by N8wkika are in line with the traditions of the Nation. He also acts as a support for the different activities, more particularly for the projects concerning the 11-17 years old. Marc-Olivier also participates in the elaboration of different cultural trainings.
KASSANDRA LEFEBVRE
DEVELOPMENT AGENT
Kassandra comes to support the various activities held at Espace Maskwa in Wôlinak.
MATHIEU O'BOMSAWIN
PROJECT COORDINATOR WITH PARTNERS
He initiates, manages and supervises Niona projects that are developed in conjunction with partners outside the educational community. His role also includes sharing his specific expertise in cultural matters, particularly in terms of language, history, territory and traditions.
SABRINA FORTIN
LIAISON AGENT - ACT C-92
Her mandate is to support all actions undertaken by the Governing Body and the working committees working for the implementation of Act C-92. It collects important information, shares it with partners, and ensures that stakeholders have the tools that can lead to the implementation of Act C-92 in the communities.
KARINE ST-AUBIN
ESPACE JEUNESSE (11-17) COORDINATOR
Karine oversees the 11-17 years old Espaces jeunesse in the communities of Odanak and Wôlinak. She manages the opening evenings for teenagers and organizes activities for them. In addition, Karine supervises the Niona approach ("intervention" part) which aims to involve youth in the development of Abenaki culture.
CHLOÉ DANEAU
SOCIAL WORKER
Chloé, as a community worker, contributes to the implementation of the Niona project. With a constant presence during the cultural workshops, she ensures the smooth running of the project and intervenes with teenagers from the communities of Wôlinak and Odanak. In addition, Chloé offers individual follow-up services by providing significant assistance, quality listening and support to members of the Abenaki communities.