(She/Her/Hers)
Sr. Consultant – Research, Learning and Equity Systems
What Reconciliation means to Patti: The People are my direct report. As such, I express gratitude to be in kinship with Siksikess’tsuhkoom (Blackfoot Lands) and to be contributing to the resurgence of Siksikaitsitapii, Cree, Algonquin and Toisnot Skaru:re values, language, knowledge, and ceremony in the communities where I have been invited to do so. I am humbled by the Aawaahskataikiksi, ceremonialists, scholars, peers, and friends who have shared nitsitapissini, teachings, and guidance, for close to 30 years. I was taught to share what I know, to be generous intellectually, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Fulfilling my obligations includes working with reciprocity and commitment to Indigenous futurity.
About Patti: Patti is a non-Indigenous team member at Rise, situated within the unceded traditional territories and waterways of the scəw̓ aθən məsteyəxw (Tsawwassen), xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations and hən̓qə̓min̓əm̓ First Nations. She is also honoured to be neighbours to the citizens of the Surrey Delta Métis Association Region 2. Her commitments include supporting action in response to Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, work at the xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Garden at UBC, and contributions to the Indigitalization Lab at Simon Fraser University. Patti joins Rise with 25 years of experience as an educator and working with and for Indigenous communities, organizations, and programs. She works from a place of unsettling colonial memory while following the guidance and local ethics of Indigenous communities where she is called to do so.
She completed a Master of Education (M.Ed) at the University of British Columbia where she studied human ecology and the impact of land kinship on the restoration of family integrity. She earned a Master of Arts (MA) in Peace & Conflict Studies from Royal Roads University, working with educators and Muslim, Sinhalese, and Tamil youth on adolescent peace circles during the war in Sri Lanka.
