Meet The Team
Theron Black
Theron has an Addictions and Mental Health Counselling Degree and a Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work. Theron is currently working on his Master of Education Degree with
the University of Calgary. Theron is a respected member of the Kainai First Nations (Blood Reserve) and an advocate for his people. He is passionate about speaking about issues faced by Indigenous people and supporting the change that needs to happen.
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Cindy Black
Cindy has a Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies and a Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work. Cindy is currently working on her Master of Education Degree through the
University of Calgary. She is Ojibway from Peguis, Manitoba but is married into the Blood Tribe. Cindy is passionate about education and hopes to continue furthering her education and pursue her PHD next.
Melanie Morrow
Melanie has a Bachelor of Education and has taught Elementary school since 2016. She is currently working on her Master of Educational Leadership through the University of
Lethbridge. Melanie is the Vice President of the Lethbridge & Area Métis Association. She is passionate about education and supporting todays youth in learning and growing together. Melanie is passionate about helping teachers learn more about Indigenous history and reconciliation in order to support all students. In her free time, Melanie loves to garden, collect rocks, and walk by the river.
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Lisa Sowinski
Lisa is a First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FMNI) Liaison Worker serving all schools in the Horizon School Division. It is her passion to help families and students through job fairs, conferences and personal coaching on career futures. She uses hands-on creative projects
like dream catchers, feather weaving, bannock making, and stitching to help others build
self-confidence.
Les Vonkeman
Les works in community law enforcement in the city of Lethbridge. He is a member of the Headdress
Society, receiving his transfer at a Remembrance Day pow wow from respected Blood Elder John
Healy. Les was part of the sixties scoop and has a strong desire to share what he has learned about
the beauty of the Indigenous people and land with non-Indigenous people.
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Nicole Ray
Nicole has worked in the non-profit sector for 12 years. She currently is the Executive Director of a foundation that assists small nonprofits in building capacity. She has a degree in Public Health with a focus in Indigenous Peoples’ Health from the University of Victoria. Nicole is passionate about reconciliation and being part of rebuilding relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Sandra Bartlett Atwood
Sandra is of Irish Canadian settler descent. She has a B.A. in secondary education, a M.S. in American Studies/Folkore, diplomas in Niitsitapiisinni and Poo’miikapii, and a Ph.D. in Environment & Society. Her research interests are Blackfoot ecological knowledge, community-based participatory research (CBPR) and the science of teaching & learning (SoTL). She currently resides in Cardston, Alberta and teaches Indigenous studies at Lethbridge College. She loves spending time reading, travelling, being outdoors, and with her family.
Stacey Laughington
Stacey is the Community General Manager for Lethbridge and Taber CIBC and has a keen passion to help people in any way she can to make a difference in their lives. She
has been a Run for Cure Run site Champion now for 7 years. Stacey also does committee work to encourage others to volunteer for a cause they believe in. She craves to learn about different cultures and believe it should start with an open mind and dialogue to educate and help others to freely share.
Stacey sits on an Inclusion and Diversity committee at work and wants to do more to help
everyone have a voice and be seen.