Meet the Treaty Education Alliance Team!
Faith Watson
Faith Watson is the Executive Director for Treaty Education Alliance. She has worked for the Alliance for 4 years, one year as Executive Director and 3 years as the Assessment Coordinator. Faith is a member of the George Gordon’s First Nation and worked there as an educator for 15 years as an Education Assistant, Teacher and Administrator in Provincial and Federally run schools. Faith has earned a Bachelor of Indigenous Education, a Master of Educational Administration and is currently completing her second Master’s degree in Educational Psychology, all from the University of Regina.
Faith is a mother to 4 children and a grandmother to 3 grandchildren who are her pride and joy.
306-331-5411
fwatson@educationalliance.ca
Angus Vincent
Angus Vincent hails from the Waterhen Lake First Nation in northern Saskatchewan. He has made Yorkton his home since 2009 and has worked in the business field since 2005 ranging in topics such as Finance, Procurement, Marketing, Human Resources, and Management. He has obtained his professional designation in HR through AFOA and is educated in the fields of Accounting and Management through University of Regina and Sask Polytechnic.
Angus is married and has two children. He is also a professional actor, an ACTRA Board Member and an accomplished musician with two albums released to date. Angus joined Treaty Education Alliance as the Director of Human Resources in 2021.
306-331-8831
avincent@educationalliance.ca
Sharon Desnomie
Sharon Desnomie is the Director of Finance for Treaty Education Alliance as of April 2023. She worked for FHQTC for 16 years, six years as program Tutor for Indian Business Management program and ten years as an Accountant. She also was Senior Funding Services Officer for Indigenous Services Canada with experience as Acting Associate Director with South Budget Center for 14 years. For a brief period of time, Sharon was the Director of Operations for Zagimē Anishinabēk (formerly known as Sakimay First Nation). She holds a Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager designation from Aboriginal Financial Officers Association after completing two diplomas from SIIT/STI Administration and Saskatchewan Polytechnic Accountancy with Honors.
Sharon is from the Peepeekisis Cree Nation and a mother to 2 independent sons.
306-331-7729
sdesnomie@educationalliance.ca
Kristen Tootoosis
Kristen Tootoosis is the Director of Mental Health Services. She is from Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation. Kristen has broad experience as a psychotherapist, therapeutic program manager, educator/teacher, and post-secondary instructor. She has devoted her career to working with Indigenous Peoples of all ages in the area of Education and Psychotherapy. Kristen has worked with various First Nations communities focusing on educational therapeutic supports for students, families, and schools.
Kristen holds a Bachelor of Indigenous Education through the First Nations University of Canada, and a Masters in Educational Psychology, through the University of Regina. Kristen has been with the Treaty Education Alliance since September 2021.
306-331-0153
ktootoosis@educationalliance.ca
Jaclyn Yuzicappi
Jaclyn Yuzicappi is Treaty Education Alliance’s Executive Assistant. She is from the Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation. Jaclyn is an integral part of our administrative team working within the Alliance over the past 5 years. Jaclyn works closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, Negotiating Chiefs, Technical Team, and the Elders Advisory Committee.
Jaclyn takes pride in teaching her four beautiful children about their Dakota culture, language, and ceremonies. She is a mother, a sister, an aunt and a friend.
306-331-5090
jyuzicappi@educationalliance.ca
Krista Spencer
Krista Spencer is the Finance Clerk for Treaty Education Alliance. She previously worked as the Administrative Assistant for TEA and brings 8 years of past experience working for other First Nations organizations. Krista is a member of Carry the Kettle First Nation. She is a mother to 2 children.
kspencer@educationalliance.ca
Jesse Dubois
Jesse Dubois is the Administrative Assistant for Treaty Education Alliance. Prior to joining the Alliance in 2024, Jesse worked in a variety of customer service oriented and creative roles in both the private and public sector. While at CJSW-FM in Calgary he produced the radio documentary Education and Indian Residential Schools which won the National Campus and Community Radio Association‘s annual Neskie Manuel award for Aboriginal Programming. He is a proud member of Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation and has the good fortune of being able to call the beautiful Qu’Appelle valley home.
jdubois@educationalliance.ca
Huu Pham
Huu Pham is an experienced cloud administrator who has worked at Treaty Education Alliance since 2017. Huu supports the online cloud system for Office 365 used by teachers and students in First Nation schools. His work ensures that the systems and tools are up-to-date and function smoothly, providing teachers and students with access to the latest technology and software.
Huu Pham holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Computer Science from the University of Regina in Saskatchewan. His education has provided him with a solid foundation in programming, data structures, algorithms, software engineering, and other fundamental areas of computer science. This knowledge and skillset has been instrumental in his career as a cloud administrator, where he has utilized his technical skills to maintain and manage cloud-based systems.
Overall, Huu Pham is a dedicated professional who is passionate about empowering others with technology. He takes pride in his work and is committed to ensuring that the systems and tools he manages are functioning efficiently and effectively.
306-331-6980
hpham@educationalliance.ca
Chris Chick
Chris Chick has served as the ICT Computer Technician for Treaty Education Alliance since 2016. Chris proudly designs, manages, and upkeeps the TEA networks, keeping students, teachers, and staff safe and connected in this digital world. He also provides technical support in all other areas such as printers, smartboards, and programming classes for TEA digital literacy days.
“I’ve been working in the technology sector for 20+ years at this point but never has my work been more rewarding.” – Chris
306-331-6510
cchick@educationalliance.ca
Sarah Ballard
Sarah Ballard grew up in Ontario and received her Bachelor of Education Degree and Reading Specialist certification from Lakehead University. She was a classroom teacher for fourteen years, mostly teaching grades 2, 3, 5 and 6, in Ontario and Alberta. Sarah joined Treaty Education Alliance as a Literacy Facilitator in January 2018 and has been in her current role as the School Services Coordinator since August 2021. Her primary responsibility is to work with principals and teachers to coordinate services required by the schools. She also works directly with teachers regarding assessments, student data and resources.
Sarah is currently working towards her Master of Education in Teaching, Learning and Leadership through the University of Regina. She is the mother of one amazing little man and is very honoured to be able to work alongside the team at TEA.
“My passion is for everything literacy and I love every chance that I get to work with teachers and their students.” - Sarah
306-450-0054
sballard@educationalliance.ca
Lisa Ewack
Lisa Ewack is a Nakoda, Dakota, from the Ocean Man First Nation and resides in Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan. She is a life giver and grandmother who is passionate and committed to working with First Nation children, youth and families.
Lisa joined the team in 2021, bringing a strength/asset-based approach in her role as Student Support Coordinator that aligns to the goal, vision and mandate of the Treaty Education Alliance. She is a professional educator with over 25 years of experience serving in the education sector. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Education Degree and a Certificate of Extended Studies in Inclusive Education from the University of Regina.
Culture and language are very important to Lisa. She is personally grounded in her cultural values and practises and regularly threads this knowledge into the fabric of her everyday life and teaching.
306-331-6298
lewack@educationalliance.ca
Sheena Muirhead Koops
Sheena Muirhead Koops shares three daughters, two sons-in-law, and has been taken as Mum or Auntie by former students. Of seven grandchildren, five have adopted Sheena and they live together on 80 acres near the medicine line, just north of the colonial Saskatchewan/North Dakota border, on the unceded homelands of the Nakota, Dakota, Lakota, Anihšināpē, nêhiyawak, and Métis Nations.
Sheena’s 30-year career in education includes rural, reserve, urban, Provincial, community, and online Treaty spaces. Sheena is a PhD candidate and sessional instructor at the University of Regina. In 2011, she founded a blog, www.treatywalks.blogspot.ca.
Sheena loves her ancestors, given earth-knowing from her late dad and spirit-first from her very-much-alive mum, given food and life-force from Norwegian grandmothers, given words and spunk from Northern Irish/Scotts and Northern Irish/Cornish grandfathers.
Sheena dedicates herself to Treaty teachings and Treaty relationships as a responsibility to her settler parents, grandparents and great-grandparents as they benefitted from Treaty rights while Treaty rights for Indigenous peoples were not being honoured.
306-331-5533
skoops@educationalliance.ca
Aaron Tootoosis
Aaron Tootoosis is currently the Communications Coordinator for Treaty Education Alliance. Prior to his employment at TEA, he has spent several years being employed in the education sector working with and supporting students. He has earned his skills in communications through his education, careers and cultural roles such as an oskapiyawis Master of Ceremonies, stick man, and also arena director. Throughout the years, many mentors have passed on vast histories of his people, treaties, pow wow, round dance and so much more. He also holds training from the Indigenous Communication Arts Program, a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Indigenous Studies and is currently enrolled in the Master of Indigenous Education program at the University of Regina. Aaron has also served many years as one of a Member of the Speakers’ Bureau of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and has been recognized for his work there with a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Aaron is nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) from the Poundmaker Indian Reserve in Treaty 6 Territory but Treaty 4 Territory has been his home for the past 23 years.
306-502-5850
atootoosis@educationalliance.ca
Brian Standingready
306-575-6789
bstandingready@educationalliance.ca
Vern Severight
306-562-7052
vseveright@educationalliance.ca
