Our Team
Board of Directors
ELDER BRUCE ROBINSON – Nisga’a Nation
My name is Owii`lo`ly`eyum`gaudlth`ni`Ki`insque, Grizzly Bear with a Big Heart. I am of the Nisga’a people from the Wilp (house) of Nii’is’lis’eyan (our chief), Laxgiibuu (wolf) tribe, from the village of Gingolx (Kincolith) on the Nass River, raised in a traditional home. I have been in the lower mainland since 1970 to attend school and remained here to live, graduated high school in 1975/76. I worked in the fishing Industry for over 32 years.
I am currently a Family Support Elder and Cultural Advisor for Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society and Urban Native Youth Association – Ki’lala Lelum clinic (kilalalelum.ca). I also provide Cultural Advisory, Protocols and Elder Support for the Broadway Youth Resource Center as needed.
I am also known as Bruce Robinson.
ELDER DORIS FOX
Bio coming soon.
DORIS PREST
Bio coming soon.
ANNETTE J. BROWNE, PhD, RN
Annette is a nurse and professor at the University of British Columbia School of Nursing. Her research builds on her clinical work as an outpost nurse who lived and worked in remote northern First Nations and Inuit communities. Her work focuses on strategies for fostering health equity and cultural safety, with a particular focus on implications for Indigenous peoples.
Recent studies have addressed: the impact of organizational interventions to improve health equity in primary care; health promoting interventions with Indigenous women experiencing violence; and, improving healthcare for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in emergency departments. Working in partnership with health and policy leaders, and clinicians at the point of care, her research aims at improving healthcare delivery and policies.
ELDER BETTY CLAYTON – Will Luut Gii Dawl Gamk
Elder Betty is a hereditary matriarch, her name is Will Luut Gii Dawl Gamk, of Nisga’a and Tsimshian descent, who has been married to a hereditary Sim’oogit, Simogit Ska’gooms, for the past 50 years. She has carried medicines for over 40 years after being trained under the Cree at the Neechi Institute in Edmonton, Alberta. Elder Betty lends her wisdom and guidance to multiple programs at Kilala Lelum as well as one-on-one appointments, supporting our members emotionally and spiritually. She offers circles, ceremonies, land acknowledgements, prayers and more
DARREN HAINES
Bio coming soon.
DR. DAVID TU, MD
David is a Canadian Family Physician with a clinical focus on inner-city medicine, Aboriginal Health, and HIV. Dr. Tu grew up in Toronto, Canada, and attended medical school at McMaster University. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa, and went on to complete a 1-year Research Fellowship at the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Tu currently works as a clinician, researcher, and medical educator at the Vancouver Native Health Society Clinic and the UBC Aboriginal Family Practice Residency Stream. He has been the Physician Leader for the Vancouver Coastal Health STOP-HIV project and has previously worked as a Clinical Associate on the HIV ward at Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Hospital.
Dr. Tu is a Clinical Assistant Professor and former Community Based Clinical Researcher at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Family Practice. Dr. Tu’s current research interests focus on issues related to improving systems of health care for Indigenous Peoples, with a focus on HIV, Hepatitis C, and Depression. His recent published research work has focused on the application of the Chronic Care Model to HIV care, application of Self-Management support strategies for people with HIV, and partnership models of care between Traditional Indigenous and mainstream health care practices. He lives in Vancouver with his wife and his two children.
Knowledge Keepers
BLACK WOLF THUNDER
Present name used: Thunder Buffalo; Western Name: Wendall Williams
Born in Winnipeg, Wendall grew up in multiple cities throughout Canada. His ancestry is Mohawk (Haudenosaunee) Six Nations and Anishnabe (Ojibway) Garden River First Nations Ketegaunseebee. At our centre, Wendall is integral in his many roles of: Cultural Worker and Knowledge-keeper. He leads a weekly drum circle every Tuesday and a weekly mens talking circle with the Dudes Club.
He is a proud father of three beautiful children, likes to spend his free time taking part in ceremony, community lodge, sundance, canoe journeys, drumming and teaching within the community.
Executive Director
LEAH WALKER
Leah Walker is of Danish, English, Nlaka’pamux ancestry and has strong kinship ties at Seabird Island. She is a mom of a beautiful 17-year old, wife, gardener, sailor, educator, and Expressive Art Therapist, living on the Coast Salish Territory of Nex̱wlélex̱m (Bowen Island). Leah grew up the small resource community of Burns Lake (Wet’suwet’en) and her experiences there heavily influenced her interest in education, social awareness, conflict resolution, equity and art making.
She has over 20 years of Indigenous health leadership, including her current role as the Executive Director at Kilala Lelum. Previous to this role she was the Associate Director, Education at UBC Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health, where she led programs generating Indigenous knowledges such as the UBC Learning Circle, supported Indigenous programming such as UBC Summer Science, Health Administration and participated in cultural safety research, developed curriculum and taught in the Faculty of Medicine. Her current interests include deepening her relationship with Indigenous medicines and knowledges and supporting that growth at the medicine house.