Richard Jenkins is a 61 year old Cree-Metis with Indian Status from the mixed community of Moose Mountain, Alberta. He is a gay Two Spirit cis-gendered man and has been ‘out’ to friends, family and community since he was 19 years old. Over the past forty plus (40+) years, he has been working with Indigenous communities and governments throughout Canada as a community developer and health promotions advocate in the areas of addictions, long-term care, HIV/AIDS, sexual orientation and gender identity, family and community healing, child welfare, health policy and programs and urban Indigenous development. In the mid-2000’s Richard received the community development award from the Alberta Aboriginal Role Model Awards and more recently received the Health and Medicine award from the Okimaw (Men’s) Awards. He has served community both as a paid employee as well as a volunteer at local, provincial, national and international levels. Richard currently sits as a member of the Community Council of the E2S – Edmonton 2 Spirit Society as one of their Knowledge Keepers/Elders. Richard was the first Executive Director for the 2 Spirits in Motion Society and is a founding member of the organization when it was first conceived in 2003 at the 1st Canadian Forum on Two Spirit Peoples, HIV/AIDS and Health in Edmonton, Alberta. “I ‘came in’ to the 2 Spirit circle in 2001 when I was invited to help bring together 2SLGBTQQIA+ people together in Edmonton. I’ve stayed in the 2 Spirit circle since then to continue expressing my commitment to helping improve the quality of life of 2 Spirit and gender and sexually diverse people and co-create safe and supportive social environments for our part of the Indigenous gender diverse community.

Hau, mitakuyapi mija Dakota/Cree, oeya wakan wi emakiyapi, muthpiya ska emakiyapi, mija winkte. I am a Dakota/Cree individual from Muscowpetung First Nation, located in Treaty 4, Saskatchewan, and identify as Winkte 2SLBTQQIA+. I hold an undergraduate degree in Human Justice from FNUniv in Regina, Saskatchewan, and recently completed a Master of Fine Arts from OCAD University in Toronto, Ontario. My name is Paulete Poitras, and I serve as the Executive Director of the national non-profit organization 2 Spirits in Motion Society, a position I have held for three years as of September 6, 2025. I am married to Cheryl Prosper; we celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary on June 1, 2025. We have three children—Amy, Cetera, and Milburn II—and two grandchildren, Kaden and Amiya, with a third grandchild expected in January 2026. I am a dedicated advocate for 2SLBTQQIA+ community members, a responsibility I embrace wholeheartedly.

Shalini Sinha (they/she) brings more than 25-years of experience consulting for large organizations on integrating equity principles, developing equity strategies, and creating organizational structures and practices to achieve increasing equitable outcomes. They are from Bihar, in India, are born in Canada, and lived half of their life in Ireland where they consulted for universities and national governmental departments on antiracism in education and justice. In Canada, Shalini has founded Inclusiv, and for the last three years, has been the equity lead supporting large universities and health campuses to centre equity and climate justice in climate change action planning. They have a strong academic foundation in Gender Studies, specializing in the intersections of gender, racism, and colonization, and continue to teach at MacEwan University. They have been part of grassroots social and climate justice movements since they were a young teen. As the inaugural Chair of the City of Edmonton’s Anti-Racism Advisory Committee, they led on collaborative decision-making and centring the most marginalized and impacted community voices in creating the strategy. As Chair of the Pride Centre of Edmonton, they introduced and helped integrated an Indigenous and de-colonizing structure to strategic planning. Shalini had the honour of interviewing Angela Davis in Edmonton, was the keynote speaker for the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services Lead with Respect series, the International IAP2 Conference, and was featured in End Poverty Edmonton’s LiftEd podcast. Their proudest moments are speaking on being a Change-Maker at the event hosting His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Ireland, and delivering the TEDx Talk, ‘Are you Consciously Creating a Culture of Respect?’.

Chris Cochrane is a Black Trans activist, public speaker, and educator based in Kjipuktuk (colonially known as Halifax), Nova Scotia, on the unceded, traditional territory of the Mi'kmaq people. Originally from Unama'ki (Cape Breton), Chris speaks about her lived experience through her intersectional identity and works to create spaces for QTBIPOC communities. With several years of experience as a Support Service Educator, Chris has worked closely with 2SLGBTIQIA+ youth, educating youth-centric organizations on how to create affirming spaces for queer youth. She has also provided one-on-one peer support to Trans youth and their families, helping them navigate medical and counseling resources, ensuring they feel seen and supported. As a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) educator, Chris collaborates with corporate, governmental, non-profit, and small business sectors to promote 2SLGBTIQIA+ inclusion and affirming spaces. She continues her work in education and public speaking, with a focus on the QTBIPOC community. In her partnership with Halifax Pride, where she served as Vice Chair from 2020 to 2022, Chris worked to raise awareness of marginalized communities through a WAGE grant, ensuring that the values of inclusivity and equity remain a long-term commitment in all spaces she educates. Chris is the recipient of the YMCA Peace Medal for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and is widely known as a local legend and a member of the Drag Dynasty of the East Coast. Celebrating 20 years of drag as Elle Noir, she has built a reputation that resonates from coast to coast. Through her intersectional platform, Chris advocates for equity while focusing on the needs of marginalized and racialized communities.

Rafaël Provost, with over 15 years of diverse professional experience, has been the Executive Director of ENSEMBLE pour le respect de la diversité since 2022, an organization committed to fighting bullying across Canada. At the head of a team of some 20 professionals, he has distinguished himself through his caring and inspiring leadership. Recognized as one of the 15 most influential LinkedIn creators in Quebec, he has also been named one of Quebec's top four young managers by the Regroupement des jeunes chambres de commerce and one of the 20 best non-profit executive directors of 2023. In 2025, he was nominated for the Arista Young Executive of the Year award and was also named Young Leader of the Year in Quebec by the CCEM. He is also one of the 25-26 fellows of the prestigious national public policy program Action Canada, a recognition that reflects his influence, impact, and vision on a national scale. A regular speaker and columnist in the Quebec media, Rafaël is deeply passionate about people, social justice, and communications. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Shelly-Ann Skinner is the visionary Founder and President of UPlift Black, an organization they launched during the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement in Canada. Leveraging their expertise in business coaching and organizational development, Shelly-Ann has dedicated their life to fostering community growth and supporting marginalized voices. As an entrepreneur and artist, they actively participated in numerous community initiatives, earning accolades for their contributions to business and community building. In 2020, they was honored with the ‘Woman of the Year – Heart and Soul’ award at the Barrie Chamber of Commerce’s Women In Business awards. Most recently, in 2023, they received Barrie Today’s Community Builders Award for Economic Development. Recognized for their commitment to creating opportunities for often overlooked communities, Shelly-Ann has made significant strides in promoting economic development. In 2023, UPlift Black opened the region's first Creative Studio for Black artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs. The “UPlift Black Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion” features the UP BeatBox Studio, a sanctuary that includes a recording studio, maker space, wellness area, event venue, and art gallery. Through these initiatives, Shelly-Ann continues to champion a safe and inclusive environment for creative expression and community engagement.

Ivan Coyote is a writer and storyteller. Born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, they are the author of thirteen books, the creator of four films, six stage shows, and three albums that combine storytelling with music. Coyote’s books have won the ReLit Award, been named a Stonewall Honour Book, been longlisted for Canada Reads, and been shortlisted for the Hilary Weston Prize for non-fiction, and the Governor General's Award for non-fiction twice. In 2017 Ivan was given an honorary Doctor of Laws from Simon Fraser University, and in 2023 they received the first Honorary Doctor of Arts ever bestowed on anyone by Yukon University. Coyote’s stories grapple with the complex and intensely personal topics of gender identity, family, class, and queer liberation, but always with a generous heart, and a quick wit. Ivan's 13th book, Care Of, was released in June 2021 by McClelland and Stewart and their new one-person show Playlist premiered in February of 2024.

Cheyenne Mihko Kihêw (they/them) is a proud nehiyaw and settler mixed person from amiskwacîwâskahikan. Their maternal roots are rooted in Driftpile Cree Nation, where they hold registered membership, while their paternal ancestry carries settler origins that remain a mystery. Shaped by early experiences witnessing the strength of community care, Cheyenne has spent over a decade supporting others and building spaces for equity and connection. They now work as a Human Rights Officer and freelance educator and facilitator specializing in 2 Spirit equity and inclusion. Cheyenne is also a drag artist known as Tugs, using performance as a powerful expression of identity, humour, resistance, and joy.