KRIS ARCHIE
(She/Her/They/Them) CEO |
Kris Archie is the Chief Executive Officer of The Circle on Philanthropy (The Circle). A Secwepemc and Seme7 woman from Ts’qescen, a mother, aunty and engaged community member.
Kris is passionate about heart-based community work and facilitating positive change. In all of her roles, Kris works to transform philanthropy and contribute to positive change by creating spaces of shared learning, relationship-building and centering Indigenous wisdom. She is a PLACES Fellow Alum of 2015 with The Funders Network, a board member with Environment Funders Canada and JUMP! Canada and a newly appointed Dialogue Fellow with Simon Fraser University focused on Indigenous ways of knowing and Philanthropy. Email: kris@circleonphilanthropy.ca Twitter: @WeyktKris |
KYRA MASON
(She/Her) Manager, Operations and Policy Development |
Kyra Mason; is Gitxsan from Hazelton, BC and Heiltsuk from Bella Bella, BC. Kyra is daughter of Allan & Shirley Mason. She is a proud parent of four amazing children; three young adults Robert, Alycia, Kari and her youngest Raven who is 17. Kyra was raised within a strong matriarchal Gitxsan society as a member of the Wilp Nistoo of the Lax’seel (frog) Clan.
Kyra has been working within the Indigenous social services field for 29 years in health, education and specifically child and family services for the last nineteen years. She has worked front-line, management and as a leader in regional planning, Nation-based planning and community service development, and political advocacy support to BC First Nations in the area of child and family. These opportunities provided insight into the landscape of Indigenous child and family services; the importance of relationships in the work and the value of community voice in service development and governance. Kyra builds off of her values and experiences in her role with The Circle as the Manager, Operations and Policy Development. Spirit of the Season: WINTER WINTER STEWARD INTERVIEW | 2022 Email: kyra@circleonphilanthropy.ca |
SHEREEN MUNSHI
(She/Her) Manager of Partnerships & Strategic Communications |
Shereen Munshi is a communications professional who was born in Zambia and immigrated to Canada with her family 10+ years ago.
In her current role as Manager of Partnerships and Strategic Communications, Shereen develops strategic relationships between The Circle and peer organizations in alignment with The Circle's values, mission, and strategic goals. In addition, Shereen works to increase visibility, amplify issues and voices of note and ensure strong responsive communication to achieve goals in service to The Circle's primary member audiences. She has a passion to uphold principles of equity and justice in her work and is nurturing a growing aptitude to amplify deep analysis of people, place, policy and power to inform the philanthropic and non-profit sectors. In addition to her role at The Circle: Shereen is a director on the Community Knowledge Exchange (CKX) board of directors, sits on the Data Policy Coalition Steering Committee, is a founding member of the Next Generation Philanthropy Collaborative (NGPC), and serves on the Ontario Youth Partnership Project (OIYPP) Core Team. Spirit of the Season: SPRING Email: shereen@circleonphilanthropy.ca Twitter: @ShereenMunshi |
VALINE BROWN
(She/Her) Manager of Member Engagement and Accountability |
K’aayhlt’aa Haanas Valine Brown is an organizer, communications professional, and devoted Haida citizen belonging to the K’aawas eagle clan. Her work is rooted in her homelands, and Valine’s academic and advocacy efforts are centred around Indigenous title, rights, and responsibilities. She believes in the power of people and connection to place and she is fiercely committed to building community resilience amid the climate crisis.
Spirit of the Season: SUMMER Email: valine@circleonphilanthropy.ca |
ALEJANDRA LÓPEZ BRAVO
(She/Her) Manager, Shared Learnings & Research |
Alejandra is a Mexican migrant woman and a migrant justice organizer shaped by the growing inequities and disparities of her homeland, the wisdom of the markets, colors, music, dance and warmth of México City the Indigenous territories of the nahuas, matlatzincas and otomíes. She moved to unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Indigenous territories 15 years ago. It was her choice to come to these lands and she continues to learn alongside the leadership, organizing and mentorship of Indigenous, Black and racialized women, aunties and grandmas about her responsibility and accountability to these lands that she benefits from.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Public Administration and a Master's degree in Community and Regional Planning with a focus on social policy and participatory planning. She has worked for more than twenty years in the non profit sector in México City and in British Columbia for a wide range of roles, from grassroots community collectives, community organizations, government and the philanthropic sector. She is committed to centering principles of trust, reciprocity, responsibility and accountability for meaningful engagement and co-creation of knowledge. She grounds herself and her work in community organizing to inform policy making strategies and research that creates learning opportunities that nourish and tend to our relationships with our histories, places, communities and environments and support the liberation of Indigenous and Black people and consequently our collective liberation. Spirit of the Season: FALL Email: alejandra@circleonphilanthropy.ca |
HEATHER O'WATCH
(She/Her) Research Coordinator |
Heather is a Nakota and Plains Cree woman from the Okanese First Nation located in Treaty 4 Territory. She also has paternal ties to Cegakin (Carry The Kettle) First Nation. Her lineage roots
surround areas of Treaty 4. Heather holds a Bachelor’s degree in Indigenous Studies as well as a diploma in Indigenous Communication Arts (INCA) from the First Nations University of Canada. She is currently enrolled in a Master’s Degree in Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan. Heather has diverse experience in community based research and community development. Her community research experiences include; Water Governance and Policy, Aging Health and Dementia research amongst Indigenous people, and Sexual Reproduction Health Rights amongst Indigenous women in Canada, and most currently in philanthropy. Heather also has work experience internationally in Colombia working in youth and rural community development. When not working or volunteering, Heather enjoys creative writing and is in the midst of publishing her first children’s book. Spirit of the Season: FALL FALL STEWARD INTERVIEW 2021 Email: heather@circleonphilanthropy.ca |
CECILIA FEDERIZON
(She/Her) Executive Assistant to the CEO |
Cecilia is a daughter of Filipino immigrant settlers living in the traditional and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and a Master's degree in Women and Gender Studies with a focus on Filipinx diasporic spirituality. Additionally, her working experience in supporting academic services and programs has helped her become well-attuned to the skill of juggling administrative responsibilities. She grounds her work in values of community and collaboration, which she believes provide the foundations of trust in working relationships.
Spirit of the Season: WINTER Email: cecilia@circleonphilanthropy.ca |