Our Team

Melanie Tibishkogijig, MSW, RSW
Executive Director

Melanie Tibishkogijig, was gifted through ceremony the Anishnawbe name, Azhaw'sko Binisek. It was explained that it comes from the Thunder Birds flying from the stormy sky into the clear blue sky. She is of Anishnawbe and Haudenosaunee ancestry, Mohawk of the Mud Turtle Clan through her mother, Onondaga from her father, and Anishnawbe through her dad who raised her. She has roots in Six Nations and Gull Bay FN, is a band member of Whitesand FN and has made her home in Thunder Bay, Ontario. In spite of experiencing the impacts and effects of being a first-generation survivor of the Indian Day Schools and second-generation of the Indian Residential Schools, she has used this, along with other significant lived knowledge and understanding to come from a place of innate understanding, kindness and compassion.

First and foremost, she's a proud mother, grandmother, and community member, dedicated to walking alongside others in their healing journeys. With over 32 years of experience in various areas in the mental health field such as addictions and justice. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. She supports individuals, families, and communities through both Western and Indigenous wholistic approaches. She has certification in Children's Grief & Bereavement, Trauma-Informed Care when Working with Children & Youth, Buffalo Riders Facilitator and is a Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Facilitator. Melanie is registered with OCSWSSW, OASW, CASW.

Melissa Berry, MSW, RSW
Executive Director

Melissa Berry, MSW, RSW, is a proud Red River Métis Registered Social Worker with citizenship in the Métis Nation of Ontario. Based in Thunder Bay, she brings over 27 years of experience supporting individuals across the lifespan in navigating mental health, trauma, addictions, and end-of-life care. Her work is grounded in relational approaches that honour the diverse identities, experiences, and strengths of Indigenous peoples, and is guided by a strong belief in self-determination as central to healing and wellness.

Melissa has experience working in northern and remote communities, where she has supported individuals and families facing complex challenges shaped by geographic isolation, systemic barriers, and intergenerational impacts. She is committed to ethical practice, cultural humility, and supporting meaningful, self-directed pathways to wellness.

She holds a Master of Social Work with a specialization in Gerontology from Lakehead University and is a certified Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Facilitator. Through her work at Nanaadawegaming, Melissa integrates Social Work and Equine-Assisted Approaches, guided by her Métis heritage and a longstanding cultural respect for horses as relatives, teachers, and helpers within community life. She offers both in-person and virtual support to meet the diverse needs of individuals and communities.

Zhawano Binesek, Atik Dodemii (Tina Armstrong), MSW, RSW PhD. Candidate
Executive Director

Zhawano Binesek, whose traditional name is Atik Dodemii, is also known as Tina Armstrong. She is a proud Anisininew member of Bearskin Lake Anisininew First Nation within the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Territory and is a Residential School Survivor.

Tina holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University and is currently a third-year Doctoral student at UnBQ University in St. Paul, Alberta. A Second Degree Midewin and member of an Indigenous Cultural Medicine Lodge, she has over 35 years of experience as a translator, interpreter, educator, helper, mentor, facilitator, and leader. Her work spans grassroots communities to leadership teams, focusing on empowerment, restoration, reconciliation, and reclamation.

She has taught in the Wholistic Healing Practices program at the Centre of Indigegogy, sharing knowledge on Trauma-Informed Care and Land-Based Healing Practices. For over 15 years, she has also served as an Elder and full-time faculty member in the Indigenous Field of Study, Master of Social Work program at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Tina is a Grief Recovery Specialist and Registered Social Worker. She is a member of OCSWSSW, CASW, and OASW.

James Crittenden, MSW, RSW

James Crittenden, whose Anishinaabe name Mashkode Bizhiki (Buffalo), is of the Bear Clan and has roots in Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation. He is a Registered Social Worker who brings both clinical experience and cultural understanding into his work, supporting Indigenous youth, individuals, and families in their healing journeys.

James has experience working with a range of concerns including anxiety, grief, trauma, relationships, identity, and life transitions. His approach is trauma-informed, relational, and grounded in respect, creating a safe and supportive space where individuals feel heard and understood. He integrates Western approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and talk therapy, while honouring Indigenous ways of knowing and wholistic wellness.

He believes that healing is rooted in connection - to self, to others, to culture, and to the land - and works alongside clients in a collaborative and down-to-earth way. James is committed to walking with people in a good way, supporting balance, growth, and meaningful change.

In addition to his clinical work, James brings leadership experience in Indigenous mental health systems, supporting community-informed approaches and advocating for accessible, culturally relevant care. He is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and is a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).

Leesa Davey, MSW (Candidate)

Leesa Davey is an Indigenous Social Work Practitioner and advocate based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She is from Neskantaga First Nation and belongs to the Lynx Clan.

Leesa is currently completing her Master of Social Work in the Indigenous Field of Study at Wilfrid Laurier University, with an expected graduation date of October 2026. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Learning from Lakehead University.

With a commitment to lifelong learning, her work reflects a dedication to bridging Indigenous and Western approaches in ways that honour culture, strengthen identity, and support healing and wellness.

Leesa engages in creative and reflective practices, including photography, creative writing, beadwork, and art. She practices meditation, enjoys attending ceremonies, and maintains a strong interest in Indigenous health and well-being, as well as traditional medicine and healing. These practices provide balance and continue to inform and strengthen her wholistic approach to supporting others.

Darci Everson MSW (Candidate)

Darci (she/her) is an Anishinaabekwe with Norwegian, German, and English ancestry. She is a proud member of Lac Seul First Nation in Treaty #3, was born and raised in Kenora, ON, and now resides in Thunder Bay, ON with her family. Darci is completing her Master of Social Work degree in the Indigenous Field of Study program at Wilfrid Laurier University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Lakehead University and a Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University.

Darci has experience in research and evaluation, art therapy, education, counselling, and health promotion She is deeply passionate about empowering people to enhance their mental health and wellness through a wholistic and trauma-informed approach.

Darci specializes in working with individuals navigating intergenerational trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, and addictions, including family members of those with addictions. By integrating mindfulness techniques, creative expression, and acceptance and commitment therapy, she supports her clients on their healing journeys with care, respect, and cultural understanding.

Jamie McIntyre, MSW, RSW

Jamie McIntyre, MSW, RSW, is a Michif (Red River Métis) Registered Social Worker whose work is rooted in relational, land-based approaches to mental wellness. Her practice respects the unique identities, cultures, and experiences of First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and non-status Indigenous peoples. She supports people in reconnecting with identity, culture, and community as important parts of healing, especially for those navigating disconnection, intergenerational impacts, and life transitions.

Jamie works with youth, adults, first responders, and helping professionals facing challenges such as addiction, anxiety, anger, grief, burnout, and identity exploration. She has also worked extensively in fly-in and remote communities, supporting First Nations peoples during emergencies such as wildfires, flooding, and infrastructure loss. This experience has strengthened her understanding of strength, resilience, and the ways communities come together and care for one another.

She brings together wholistic and evidence-informed approaches, creating space for both story and strategies in the healing process. Her practice is strengths-based, collaborative, and grounded in connection-to self, kin, land, and lived experience.