Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health Staff Directory
Our Directors
Nadine Caron
MD, MPH, FRCSC – Associate Professor, Dept. of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine (NMP), Co-Director of Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health
Dr Nadine Caron currently resides in Prince George, BC where she provides surgical oncology care for those that call rural and remote Canada home. Nadine is also an associate professor in the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Surgery where she teaches in the Northern Medical Program. During her surgical residency, Nadine completed a Master’s in Public Health from Harvard University and was awarded UBC’s Top Student Award. Nadine is also appointed as an Associate Faculty member of the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University where she teaches for the Center for American Indian Health.Nadine is Anishnawbe from Sagamok First Nation. Her work involves a variety of audiences and knowledge users including governments, provincial health authorities, national medical organizations, health research funding bodies, and several universities to achieve identified and overlapping objectives. In 2014, Dr Caron was appointed Co-Director of the UBC Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health located at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health.
Patricia Spittal
Associate Director, Research
Dr. Patricia Spittal is an anthropologist whose work addresses HIV related vulnerabilities of marginalized communities living in both resource rich and poor countries. She is the Principal Investigator of the Cedar Project, a CIHR-funded initiative to better understand the sexual and drug related vulnerabilities of Aboriginal youth who use drugs. She and her research team from Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Kampala, Uganda and Lacor Hospital, Gulu also received CIHR funding to establish a similar prospective cohort in Northern Uganda called the “Cango Lyec Project” (Healing the Elephant), addressing the HIV vulnerabilities of people affected by conflict in Northern Uganda. Dr. Spittal worked with a multi-disciplinary team leading to the successful development of the new Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health. As Head, she is committed to building the Health in Populations Division at the School of Population and Public Health, and furthering Aboriginal health initiatives at UBC. She is also dedicated to her work in Northern Uganda. She was instrumental in the recent signing of a MOU between the Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Uganda and UBC’s Faculty of Medicine, and currently has two PhD students being mentored by faculty at Makerere.
Email: spittal@sm.hivnet.ubc.ca | Phone: (604) 806-8779
Our Staff
Drew St. Laurent
BA, B.Ed, M.Ed – Director of Operations
Drew St. Laurent, BA, B.Ed, M.Ed is of Métis (Cree) and German ancestry, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Drew grew up in the community of Powell River, British Columbia on (Tla’amin) Coast Salish territory.
Drew holds a Bachelor of Arts (Human Geography) from Thompson Rivers University, as well as a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and Master of Education (Higher Education) from the University of British Columbia. During his graduate studies, he focused on Aboriginal access to post-secondary education within Canada. Drew has been a primary leader in the area of Aboriginal post-secondary access to education and presented his work to a variety of audiences including post-secondary institutions, provincial and federal governments and health authorities. He has worked as an administrator within Health Sciences at UBC since 2012.
Drew is an active member of the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) and sits on both the Aboriginal Recruitment and Retention Committee, and the Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellness Committee at the University of British Columbia. He is passionate about advancing Indigenous people’s access to healthcare through education and promoting Indigenous leadership of all aspects related to healthcare.
Email: drew.stlaurent@ubc.ca | Phone: (604) 822-5586 | Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Shannon Waters
Associate Faculty
Shannon Waters is Coast Salish and a member of the Stz’uminus First Nation on Vancouver Island. After completing medical school at UBC, Dr. Waters went on to train at the Indigenous site of UBC’s family medicine residency program, followed by an additional residency in public health and preventative medicine.
Today, Dr. Waters is committed to improving First Nations health as a Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health, as well as the Aboriginal Medical Director for the Vancouver Island Health Authority and the Acting Aboriginal Physician Advisor at the Office of the Provincial Health Officer.
Melanie Rivers
Curriculum Development Manager
Melanie (Tiyaltelwet), is proudly from the Squamish Nation. She has 22 years of experience in designing and delivering culturally appropriate Indigenous health education and policy at the provincial level and holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of British Columbia. Melanie was Program Lead and Educator at the BC Centre for Disease Control’s Chee Mamuk program and worked as a Senior Advisor at the First Nations Health Authority. Her areas of focus have included cultural safety and humility, harm reduction, traditional healing and wellness, strategic policy development, HIV/AIDS and health human resources. When she is not at UBC, Melanie is also a mixed media artist, instructor, and Expressive Arts Therapist facilitating art and creativity sessions that include painting, collage, movement, and poetry for individuals, teams and communities.
Sarain Squakin
Learning Circle Manager
Sarain is a Syilx Okanagan, Jicarilla Apache and Belgian. She grew up in Snpintktn also known as Penticton in the Syilx Okanagan Nation. She currently resides on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations, also known as Vancouver. She’s been here since she graduated from UBC Okanagan in 2018. Sarain holds a Bachelors of Business Management from UBC Okanagan. Sarain has worked in Indigenous health for three and a half years. She is passionate in Indigenous health and wellness. Sarain recently took the role as the new Learning Circle manager at UBC Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Health. She looks forward to facilitating conversations on Indigenous health and wellness.
Email: sarain.squakin@ubc.ca | Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
Cynthia Lung
Communications & Marketing; UBCLC Production Coordinator
Cynthia completed her B.Sc. in Combined Major in Science at the University of British Columbia. Cynthia has worked Digital Emergency medicine in the past and now expanding her field in health communication through her new placement at the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health. Cynthia hopes to inform her community and promote a healthy nation through empowering people with her production and social communication skills. Cynthia has recently completed studies in Biomedical Visualization and Communication and has an interest in how arts can help better communicate different health issues to empower community.
Email: cynthia.lung@ubc.ca | Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
Rhonda Carriere
Indigenous Public Health Program Manager
Rhonda Carriere is a proud Métis with roots from the Red River on her father’s side, and German settler ancestry on her mother’s side. She currently resides on the traditional and unceded lands (*swiya) of the shíshálh people. Rhonda is returning to the role of Indigenous Public Health Program Manager after holding the Cultural Support Program Coordinator role for the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre and First Nations House of Learning at UBC. Her experiences with IRS survivors and intergenerational survivors have strengthened her conviction that a trauma-informed lens is essential in supporting Indigenous health. Culture is healing. Rhonda holds MA and BA degrees in Canadian Literature and a Diploma in Community Economic Development, and brings a long history of working with Indigenous people, organizations and communities, including the Vancouver Sea to Sky Métis Association, to the work of the CEIH.
*swiya: ‘swiya’ is she shashishalhem (shíshálh language) word for ‘world’. The word ‘territory’ does not exist in she shashishalhem, thus elders, knowledge keeps and government request that the word ‘swiya’ is used instead.
Email: rhonda.carriere@ubc.ca| Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Courtney Smith
UBC 23 24 Co-Associate Director
Courtney Smith is a Scottish highlander from the McLeod clan on her paternal side and is of German ancestry on her mother’s. She was raised on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia on shíshálh swiya* and has strong ties to the shíshálh community and lands.
Courtney lead the UBC 23 24 Program as the Curriculum Manager for the past four years, focussing on ensuring diverse Indigenous community perspectives were embedded in the curriculum, facilitation approaches and overall program delivery. In addition, a central component of her work has been laying the foundation to expand UBC 23 24 to health sciences faculty, staff and additional student groups.
As one of the UBC 23 24 Co-Associate Directors, Courtney will work to continue ensuring the maintenance, sustainability and growth of UBC 23 24 in the effort to support learners active engagement and practice of Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) principles and approaches. A core part of her role is building relationships with diverse Indigenous communities, health authorities, post-secondary institutions, and municipal, provincial and federal governments who are responsible for reconciliation-based, and Indigenous health initiatives. As a second-generation Canadian settler, Courtney is committed to improving relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada that are based on respect, reciprocity and healing.
*swiya: ‘swiya’ is she shashishalhem (shíshálh language) word for ‘world’. The word ‘territory’ does not exist in she shashishalhem, thus elders, knowledge keeps and government request that the word ‘swiya’ is used instead.
Email: c.smith@ubc.ca | Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
Bree Beveridge
UBC 23 24 Co-Associate Director
Tansi. Bree Beveridge nitisiyihkâson. Niya Nehiyaw iskwew.
Bree is of Cree, Swedish, and British ancestry born just outside of Saskatoon.
Bree brings a decade of experience supporting institutions with decolonial practices. She works with organizations to actively embed Indigenous voices and perspectives in decision-making, providing crucial guidance into strategic planning, developing, and delivering services. She is honoured to have worked with First Nations and Indigenous groups across what is now known as Canada to develop wellness solutions grounded in community-specific strengths that reflect their unique needs and worldviews.
Her background is in Indigenous engagement and facilitating the inclusion of Indigenous voices and Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing into the health care system. She is passionate in her drive to redistribute power and elevate diverse and often under-heard voices and ensure active participation and decision-making within organizations. Her approach centres around bringing together diverse partners to identify innovative and culturally appropriate solutions to support system-wide transformation.
She is grateful to now live and work from the unceded territory of the Squamish Nation. She is also grateful to the many Elders, youth, community members, and mentors that have shared their wisdom with her, guide her approach, and support her to do this work in a good way.
Email: bree.beveridge@ubc.ca | Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
Salina Schmidt
UBC 23 24 Curriculum Manager
Salina Schmidt is a proud member of the shíshálh Nation, she resides within her home community on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia within the traditional and unceded lands (*swiya) of the shíshálh people.
Salina is incredibly passionate about supporting Indigenous communities through community and consultation-based work. She has had the privileged of collaborating with Indigenous leaders, organizations, and community members to develop and implement programs and initiatives that address their specific needs and goals.
Salina is constantly seeking to expand her knowledge and understanding of challenges faced by indigenous communities. She is actively involved in advocating for policy changes and supporting initiatives that promote equitable opportunities to indigenous peoples. She is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the betterment of Indigenous communities and is excited to continue this important work with passion and dedication.
*swiya: ‘swiya’ is she shashishalhem (shíshálh language) word for ‘world’. The word ‘territory’ does not exist in she shashishalhem, thus elders, knowledge keeps and government request that the word ‘swiya’ is used instead.
Email: salina.schmidt@ubc.ca | Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
Teah Bryce
UBC 23 24 Operations Coordinator
Taanishi, Teah dishinihkaashoon, Aen Michif niiya.
Teah is a proud Métis woman on her mother’s side, with mixed European settler ancestry on her father’s side. Her Métis roots are from the St. Albert settlement and the Red River. She grew up on the lands of scəw̓ aθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) people in Ladner, BC for most of her life.
Teah graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Sciences, majoring in Genetics and Immunology, from UBC’s Faculty of Science. As the Program Manager for Summer Science, she is dedicated to creating a supportive space for Indigenous students as they explore science and consider their future paths. She believes that the Summer Science Program provides a welcoming space for Indigenous students to learn about science, have fun, and build connections with other students who share similar interests. Passionate about increasing Indigenous representation in STEM and health-related fields, she views Summer Science as a valuable opportunity to contribute to efforts in achieving this goal.
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Our WorkLearn Students
Keira Lumley
Program Assistant, UBC Learning Circle
Keira is of Plains Cree ancestry on her mother’s side and Irish ancestry on her father’s side, and is a member of Sucker Creek First Nation on Treaty 8 territory in Northern Alberta. Born and raised on Treaty 6 territory known as Edmonton, Alberta, Keira now resides on the unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territory while completing their undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia. Presently, Keira is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Integrated Sciences and minoring in Health & Society. Within their major, they are integrating neuroscience and pharmacology and bringing forth interests in Indigenous health and equity in the public healthcare system through their minor. In the future, she hopes to work in the medical field as an addictions medicine physician, but also has interests in careers such as anesthesiology, sexual health/harm-reduction education, or social work. Keira is interested in how these fields intersect within Western Biomedicine and can improve through Indigenous-led initiatives or traditional ways of healing. They are incredibly grateful to be a part of the CEIH team, specifically within the Learning Circle and Summer Science programs.
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/they/them
Breeya Matheson
Program Assistant, UBC 23 24
Breeya is Dehcho Dene from Jean Marie River First Nations in the Northwest Territories, but she was born and raised a bit further north in Yellowknife NWT. Breeya is currently an uninvited guest on the unceded land of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples while she attends school at UBC. Breeya is in her third year in the Bachelors of Science program and she is currently majoring in Cell and Developmental Biology. In her future career, Breeya would like to be involved in bringing meaningful and much needed change to the healthcare system so it can be safe and accessible for all Indigenous people regardless of limitations. This overarching career goal led Breeya to join the UBC 23 24 team as a program assistant where she helps refine and facilitate Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) curriculum. Breeya believes that the implementation of ICS training for future health professionals is the first of many steps in the much needed process of indigenizing the healthcare system. She is so grateful to have the opportunity to help the UBC 23 24 team with the program, and she is beyond excited to see where this work takes her in the future.
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Chloe Thomas
Program Assistant, CEIH Communications
Chloe Thomas was born in Guangdong, China and adopted into family as a baby; her mother’s side is Anishinaabe from the Lake Superior Band of Ojibwe, and her father is from the Sioux Dakota community. She grew up primarily in Vancouver, British Columbia on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territory. Chloe is currently an undergraduate student in science in third year at UBC and is pursuing a major in Cognitive Systems (Brain and Cognition) and a minor in Biology. She is invested in Indigenous health and hopes to pursue a career in the mental health care field, focusing on Indigenous healthcare and wellbeing.
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Georgia Street
Program Assistant, UBC Summer Science
Georgia was born and raised on the unceded and traditional territories of the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Máthxwi (Matsqui), and Se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations – on what is now known as Langley, BC. Georgia is of mixed European settler ancestry. Her step-grandmother is Cree from Mistawasis Nêhiyawak. Georgia is an undergraduate kinesiology student at UBC and hopes to pursue a career working with youth as an occupational therapist. This is her second year with Summer Science; her favourite memory with SSP 2024 is making cedar roses with Elders and students.
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Janelle Daniels
Program Assistant, Indigenous Public Health Program
Janelle is from Sagkeeng First Nation on Treaty 1 Territory, but was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She’s Ojibway on her father’s side, and Cree on her mother’s side. Janelle is currently studying Psychology in the Faculty of Arts at UBC, with a great interest in neuroscience. In her future career, Janelle is passionate about providing more resources for Indigenous Youth, and to work towards dismantling Intergenerational traumas within these individuals. Alongside this, she’s also passionate about expanding the Indigenous representation within STEM and health-care related fields. She believes her position as a WorkLearn for the Summer Science Program will provide her with opportunities to encourage Indigenous Youth to follow their own passions. She’s very excited to be apart of the process of helping Indigenous Youth transition into Post-Secondary school.
Preferred Pronouns: She/They
Al Fast
Program Assistant, UBC Summer Science
Al comes from the traditional territory of the Stó:lō peoples, with ancestry on their Mothers side, and mixed European and South Asian ancestry on their Fathers. Al is a fourth year NITEP student, going into their final practicum year in the fall. Enrolled in the Elementary and Middle years stream, Al hopes to work in the public school system to work directly with Indigenous students within the city to foster safe classroom experiences for Indigenous youth. They are looking forward to creating a space within the Summer Science Program where Indigenous students are able to envision themselves engaging in post-secondary spaces in a positive and fun way!
Preferred Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
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