We are a passionate team of individuals that are collectively dedicated to creating an interconnected urban Indigenous community in the Sea-to-Sky corridor.
OUR TEAM
Melissa Arnott | Founder
Melissa is Ojibway on her maternal side and is a member of Batchewana First Nation, muka (bear) clan. On her paternal side she is of mixed European ancestry. She was born and raised in Treaty 7 and now lives as a visitor on the traditional territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw with her husband and two kids.
Shortly after moving to Squamish, Melissa became actively involved with Indigenous Women Outdoors as a program lead and former board member where she has had the opportunity to connect with the urban Indigenous community through land-based activities. Professionally, Melissa decades of experience working in the tourism industry, and for the last handful of years has focused her efforts in Indigenous relations relating to the growth of Indigenous tourism in BC.
Melissa loves to create and work with her hands. When she isn’t spending time with her family and friends, she loves to sit with her beads, spend time in the garden, hit the trails on her bike, and meander through the forest by foot.
The idea to found manoomin collective came to Melissa as a way to address her own lived experience as a child from the Sixties Scoop, and as a First Nations woman not living in her home community. She hopes that manoomin collective can be a place of healing, reconnection, reclamation, and celebration for the past, present, and future generations.
Courtney Milne | Board Member
Aaniin! Shé:kon!
My name is Courtney Milne. I am a visitor in the beautiful Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish) territory, living in Squamish, BC for nearly 4 years with my wonderful partner Jules and our pets, Lilly and Rudy. I grew up in Ontario within the Greater Toronto Area, but my family comes from Anishinaabe and Mohawk territory. I am a member of Chippewas of Nawash First Nation (Neyaashiinigmiing Unceded Territory) and Mohawk from Kahnawákeró:non (The Mohawks of Kahnawá:ke).
Professionally, I work as a Policy Analyst at Squamish Nation, where I’ve been for 2 years. For nearly 10 years, my career has been centered entirely within Indigenous organizations and communities across Canada, focused on education, research, policy, advocacy, strategic development, and social/cultural programming.
Outside of work, I’m an avid mountain biker, figure skater, jingle dress dancer, and general outdoors enthusiast—except hiking... I hate hiking (lol). I love spending time with friends at game night, and I love attending local performing arts shows: film events, orchestras, ballets, live bands, circus, etc.
I am continually learning and honouring our ways of knowing as I move through life, and I hold this wisdom at the forefront of everything I do. I’m so excited to support and witness manoomin collective’s growth and success!
Tessa Antone | Board Member
Tessa Antone (she/her) is a proud member of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), with Ukrainian and Norwegian roots. She works as an educator in Squamish and is currently a student in the Squamish language program. Tessa is a member of the Squamish Nation LGBTQIA2S+ Advisory Group and sits on the board of the Marine Stewardship Initiative.
She is passionate about community work and the importance of sharing knowledge—if you don’t share it, you’ll choke on it.Tessa feels most grounded when out on the land with plant relatives, learning from those around her, and diving into a new craft each week (even if she forgets about it the next).
Kwewawtennat Virginia | Board Member
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation, Coast Salish & Brokenhead First Nation, Treaty 1, Ojibway
Donna St. Louis | Board Member
Coldwater Indian Band, Nlaka’pamux Nation
JOIN OUR TEAM
If you are passionate about what we are doing and would like to join our team, we would love to hear from you! We are dedicated to working in collaboration with Elders, Knowledge Carriers, Youth, and Indigenous professionals and organizations.
VOLUNTEER
manoomin collective is powered by volunteers. Some of the ways that you can contribute could include: support with the planning and organizing community gatherings, events, and programs, event day set-up/take-down, or leading an event or program.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors provides strategic guidance and decision making for the organization. As a collective, we are looking to include a diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis perspectives, voices, and lived experiences on our Board. We have a few spaces open on our Board and welcome those who are interested to connect with us.
ADVISORY GROUP
We are planning to create an advisory group that will provide manoomin collective with guidance and input. The advisory group will include a diversity of voices, perspectives, and lived experiences from Elders, Youth, and LGBTQ2S+. If this is something that you are interested in, please connect with us.