Our Elders

Banakonda Kennedy-Kish (Bell) is the Elder-in-Residence with the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, Indigenous Field of Study at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is an Indigenous cultural advisor, teacher, and Traditional Practitioner, and has served Indigenous communities for over forty years.

Norma Jacobs is of the Wolf clan in the Cayuga Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Gae Ho Hwako is her Ongwehowe name. It means ancestral females holding the canoe before me, and it positions her in an ancestral line of great women of the Wolf clan. She is the Elder-in-Residence for the Indigenized PhD in Social Work program. She has been given the responsibilities of empowering herself, family, community, Nation, and Confederacy. Among her many roles, she is a Longhouse Faith-keeper, advisor to the National Inquiry on MMIWG, a Cultural advisor, a Traditional Practitioner, and author of Ǫ da gaho dḛ:s: Reflecting on our Journeys, Noma has been working with and for her community, her entire life.

Zhawano Binesek, Atik Dodemii also known as Tina Armstrong, is a member of Bearskin Lake First Nation within the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Territory. She is a grandmother of 2 beautiful children, mother of 3 amazing adults and has an incredible partner for the past 38 years. Ms. Armstrong holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Wilfred Laurier University, and currently is a Doctoral Student at Blue Quills University. She is 2nd Degree Midewin and is a translator, interpreter, educator, helper, mentor and seasoned facilitator. Zhawano Binesek brings with her over 30 years of experience working with the Indigenous Peoples in many different capacities from frontline roles, to leadership positions.  Tina is currently the Elder-in-Residence within the Indigenous Field of Study, Master of Social Program at Wilfred Laurier University and has been in this role for over 12 years. Lastly, Zhawano Binesek currently has her own private practice as an Indigenous Cultural Practitioner and a Registered Social Worker.