Indigenous Knowledge Keepers
Dr. Malcolm King
Biography: Dr. Malcolm King, a member of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, is a health researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, joining the Department of Community Health & Epidemiology in October 2017. There, he serves as as the Scientific Director of SCPOR, the Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research; he also continues to teach and research in Indigenous health, with a particular focus on wellness and engagement. From 2009 to 2016, Dr. King led the CIHR Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health as its Scientific Director, spearheading the development of a national health research agenda aimed at improving wellness and achieving health equity for First Nations People, Métis and Inuit in Canada. Dr. King’s international Indigenous health interests include improving Indigenous health through workforce development and provision of culturally appropriate care, and developing Indigenous health indicators to monitor progress in programs aimed at achieving wellness and health equity. Dr. King was honoured with a National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 1999, and in 2016, he was named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Helen Robinson-Settee
Biography: Tansi. Aniin. Boozhoo. Helen is Anishinaabe from Dauphin River First Nation in the interlake region of Manitoba. She currently resides in Winnipeg, Treaty 1 territory and homeland of her nation the Anishinaabeg. Helen’s first language is Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and is honoured that her parents spoke their language in their home. She learned to speak English when she entered the public school system. She understands her language fluently, writes and speaks her semi-fluently. Helen lives with Type 2 diabetes and manages diabetes through medication, exercise and diet. Her siblings except one brother also live with Type 2 diabetes. Her father lived with diabetes and was on hemo dialysis for almost twenty years before he passed away. Helen was also the caregiver to her son Kevin who was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at the age of ten. At the age of 19, he had kidney failure and required peritoneal dialysis until his kidney transplant. His older brother donated his kidney to his younger brother in 2012. Helen is an educator and is currently the Director with the Indigenous Inclusion Directorate with Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning. She has a Bachelor of Education and a Masters of Education from the University of Manitoba. Helen is also active on a number of education and health boards and co-founded the Wabishki Bizhiko Skaanj Learning Pathway through the Can-SOLVE Kidney Network. Helen lives The Good Life as an Anishinaabe-kwe and shares her knowledge and experiences with the various teachings she has been gifted. Helen is the mother of two adult sons and a proud Kookum (Grandmother) to three beautiful grandchildren.
Elder Dr. Mary Wilson
Biography: Mary Wilson Lennon is of mixed heritage from three lines of Indigenous shamanism, North America, Ireland and New Zealand. Her name is Ogemow Ke Pemotet Neya Hiskanawa, which means Leader of the people in the four directions and she is kin to the Wolf. Mary focuses on rebuilding community and individual strength and independence through a wide range of therapies, practices and guided spiritual programs to ultimately create a better life and place for everyone. Mary is known not only for her community work but also supports and engages with numerous research projects. She created many programs to fight addiction, suicide, family violence, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), individuals switched at birth, 60s Scoop amongst others and to support healing - spiritually, mental, emotionally, and physically. Mary is also a musician, artist, actor and activist for saving life of all beings. Mary Wilson Ph.D.Phil.hc International Wisdom Keeper.
