Wednesday, Feb 15th, McNally Robinson

Sheldon Krasowski

Author: No Surrender: The Land Remains Indigenous

Sheldon Krasowski was born in Treaty Six territory in Saskatoon and attended the University of Saskatchewan and received a BA with a major in Indigenous Studies from the University of Saskatchewan in 1995. In 1998 he received an MA in Indigenous Studies from Trent University and completed the thesis “A Numiany” The Prayer People and the Pagans of Walpole Island First Nation.” In 2011, he received a PhD in history from the University of Regina for the dissertation, “Mediating the Numbered Treaties: Eyewitness Accounts of the Numbered Treaties Between the Crown and Indigenous Peoples, 1871-1876.” This research became the basis for No Surrender: The Land Remains Indigenous which was published by the University of Regina Press in 2019 and includes a foreword by Dr. Winona Wheeler.

Dr. Krasowski has taught in both history and Indigenous Studies departments at First Nations University of Canada; Vancouver Island University; the University of Saskatchewan; Blue Quills First Nations College; the University of Calgary; and Athabasca University. He has completed research for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, the Metis Nation of Ontario, and is currently a co-investigator on a research project with the Montreal Lake Cree Nation on the Treaty 6 Adhesion of 1889. Sheldon began his research journey with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner in 1998, and after a hiatus of almost 20 years is currently the Director of Research and Archives at the Office of the Treaty Commissioner in Saskatoon.

Delvin Kanêwiyakiho

Knowledge Keeper from Little Pine First Nation

Delvin Kanêwiyakiho joins the Office of the Treaty Commissioners Speakers Bureau with 28 years experience as an educator with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. A certified Treaty Catalyst teacher, he helps colleagues with their Treaty teaching using the Treaty curriculum and uses his own experiences to give students a good start in their journey.

In 2015 Kanêwiyakiho received Indspire’s 2015 Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Award in the Language, Culture and Traditions category. He has cultural currency to speak about most things related to Treaty and nehiyaw settler relations in Canada. 

Kanêwiyakiho is Plains Cree raised on Little Pine First Nation.

Michael Afenfia

Author: Leave My Bones in Saskatoon

Michael Afenfia is a writer and storyteller. His bestsellers The Mechanics of Yenagoa and Rain Can Never Know continue to receive positive reviews worldwide. His other books include When the Moon Caught Fire, A Street Called Lonely, Don’t Die on Wednesday. His sixth novel, Leave my Bones in Saskatoon, a novel about the immigration experience is scheduled for worldwide release in the spring of 2023.

A lawyer and MBA holder, Michael’s day job is leading Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies (SAISIA) as the Executive Director. Before then, he worked as a Cultural Bridging Facilitator with Saskatoon Open Door Society.

Since arriving Canada in the summer of 2019, Michael has served on several committees and boards supporting the community. Presently, he is on the Board of Word on the Street Saskatoon (WOTS) and the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCoS). He is also a member of the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild.

In addition to his writing and work in the settlement sector in Canada, he contributes to conversations around race relations and equity for the BIPOC population through published articles and public speaking engagements.

In his spare time, Michael mentors young creatives in his home country, Nigeria and in Canada. At other times he can be found watching television, listening to music or travelling.

michaelafenfia.com

Elaine Sutherland

Director of Treaty Education, Office of the Treaty Commissioner

Elaine Sutherland is a proud Willow Cree woman from the Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation in Treaty 6 territory.

She graduated from University of Saskatchewan – ITEP, and was a professional educator for 24 years before joining the OTC team. During that time, Elaine worked for First Nation Schools as well as urban non-First Nation schools across Saskatchewan. She loved teaching and molding the future minds of tomorrow.

Elaine joined the Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC) as the Director of Treaty Education in the spring of 2022 and loves everything about her role and all it entails. She is passionate about Treaty Education and wants to ensure all Treaty people have the opportunity to learn about their rights and obligations. 

Elaine attributes her success to her parents and her two amazing sons. She lives in Saskatoon with her family, enjoys a good crossword puzzle, sewing, and loves her new family here at OTC.

otc.ca