ABOUT THE BOUNDARY MÉTIS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION!

Daina has Métis roots on both sides of her family, from the Red River Valley in Winnipeg and Prince Albert Saskatchewan. She is the third of four generations of strong Métis women living in the Boundary and feels a deep connection to the area. She has been in her position as President, or Kaniitkaniit, since 2022 and has been deeply immersed in learning more about culture since she began. One of her goals in connecting to culture is to learn more Michif words and phrases.  She grew up in Greenwood and now lives with her husband, daughter Lily, and three dogs in Greenwood and in Deer Park. She has completed a Diploma in Environmental Science and worked in forestry until the birth of her daughter in 2025. She has a keen interest in the outdoors, having spent her entire career there from the age of 19, and is self-taught in plant medicines and plant identification. Her other areas of interest include food security and sovereignty, health and wellness, nutrition, intuitive practices, pregnancy and postpartum, outdoor education and skills training, dance, and fostering community connections.  

  Taanishi, my name is Julianna. I carry both Cree and German ancestry. My Cree family comes from the Edmonton area, and my other roots are with German settlers who made their home on these lands. I am proud to walk in both these lineages and to honour the teachings, resilience, and stories passed down to me. I am a second-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student, learning to walk in a good way as a future caregiver, guided by both western nursing knowledge and the teachings of my Métis community. I carry with me the understanding that health is more than the absence of illness — it is balance, connection, and care for the whole person, family, and community. Within the Boundary Métis Community Association, I serve as the Vice-President. This role connects me to our traditions of leadership, responsibility, and community care. As Vice-President, I help support our gatherings, cultural activities, and the passing on of knowledge to future generations. I stand in my work as both a student and community member with gratitude for my ancestors, responsibility to my relations, and hope for the generations yet to come.

  Christi's Métis heritage comes from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where her mother was born. She was born and raised on a farm in Greenwood with family roots in the Greenwood/McCarren area since the late 1800s. She and her husband, Gerry, have two grown children and are the proud owners and operators of Greenwood Auto Centre for more than 20 years. Christi is also a very blessed Nanny to three beautiful grandchildren. Christi’s love for animals is reflected in her lively home, where she cares for four dogs, a flock of chickens, and a rabbit. She enjoys expressing her creativity through desktop publishing, beading, and sewing, and has always embraced a holistic approach to health. 

  A self-identified Métis woman, Jacki has a long career in helping people. She has travelled to 38 different countries doing volunteer and business in Health and People Care, Finance, Business and Process Improvement and in Health and Housing. Her education in Archaeology with a Minor in Financial Management has taken her from Canada to as far away as India. In her learnings she has worked with so many people to find their true passions, improve their world and grow to reach their highest potential. She is focused on Children and Youth and as Chair of KidSport Calgary for 5 years she helped over 14,000+ children to get into their favorite sport, helped give them new opportunities, make sure they could get there and fund their experience. She currently works as a Revitalization Project Manager at the Aboriginal Housing Management Association implementing complex care housing for Indigenous Men and Women experiencing homelessness and mental health and addiction challenges. Jacki brings 40 years of worldly and culture experience to the group; she is delighted to share some of her teachings with us. 

Nissa Ekland is an MNBC Citizen and Boundary Métis Community Association Women's Representative. Born and raised in Sidney, BC on Vancouver Island, unceded lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, and now resides in Rock Creek BC, the traditional land of the Sinixt Peoples. Nissa is Métis on her mother’s side and Swedish and Scottish on her father’s side. Her Métis family names include McGillis, Boxeur, Ouellette, Dumont, Fayant and Cuthbert Grant. Over the past 20+ years, Nissa has been immersed in the health, fitness and the wellness industry, serving as a health coach, competitor, gym owner, entrepreneur and mentor. Nissa's dedication to her clients’ wellness and her expertise in strength training, bio mechanics, athletic performance and competition prep, nutrition, sleep hygiene, meditation, breath work, mindset, grounding and hot/cold therapy continues to take her to her clients in many different parts of the world. "Creating a space for people to believe in themselves beyond their current vision, achieve their goals by unlocking the power and gifts they possess, fills me up every day.”

 
en has lived in the Boundary for several years and enjoys the outdoors. He is skilled with harvesting and hide tanning animals which are skills and interests he has passed down to his children and grandchildren. 

 ecki is a proud Métis women who enjoys many cultural activities such as beading. Hunting is an important way of life for her and her husband, Jim. She is a main organizer in the Wilgress Lake Family Fishing Derby. 

 A retired grandmother, rich in Indigenous Culture, working as a volunteer locally at the Library and a member of the Boundary Métis Community Association, Wild Mountain Sage and the Grandmothers groups. Her background is in Enhancement Educational Support work, with the Vancouver School Board (33 years). Katanni's Specialties are Grief Counselling, Parenting Support Groups, she was one of the co-author's of a book on Indigenous culture for the Vancouver School Board in partnership with Museum of Anthropology. Advocated for Grandmothers rights in Supreme Court setting precedence for all of us.  Worked with the Ministry of Family Services in BC - Katanni Picked up children from foster homes and supervised the children and the interactions. She has also worked with children to assist families in supporting their child in the school system.  

Diana comes from the Fishing Lake Métis settlement growing up in Alberta. She has spent the last 18 years in Grand Forks raising a family and creating strong roots in the community with her partner. Connecting and sharing culture with youth and community members.