Jacqui Powless, Project Manager 

(chspm@sixnations.ca) 

Jacqui grew up on Six Nations. She is Mohawk, Wolf Clan. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health and a Master’s in Health Research Methodology. She is interested in Indigenous health research. She likes to challenge assumptions about Indigenous health; also interested in nutrition and prevention of chronic disease; social determinants of health; going beyond equity; mentorship and community capacity building. She enjoys hiking, gardening and growing native plant species.

Kendrew Jacobs, Project Coordinator 

(chspc@sixnations.ca) 

Kendrew lives on Six Nations and is Cayuga Nation, Turtle Clan. He graduated from the  Western University Faculty of Health Science. His research interests include quantitative and qualitative data analysis, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), community health, education/health outcomes, and socioeconomic factors. He enjoys hockey, golf, hunting, fishing, lacrosse, & football.  

Bella Licata, Research Assistant 

(chsra@sixnations.ca) 

Bella grew up in Hamilton. She is a member of Six Nations (Cayuga) through her mother's side (Bomberry). Currently in her undergrad at McMaster University in the Honours of Bachelors Social Work program. She is interested in Indigenous research and is deeply passionate about supporting Indigenous communities, mentoring youth, and learning from new experiences to inform her perspectives. Bella enjoys reading, hiking, and playing volleyball.  

Emerald Martin (Teieswatheta), CHS Project Assistant 

(chspa@sixnations.ca) 

Emerald Martin grew up on Six Nations. She is Mohawk, Wolf Clan. She is a certified Personal Support Worker and proudly served her community. She has worked with both Elders and children within Six Nations and Mississauga of the Credit First Nation. Emerald is passionate about Indigenous health research and ways to help improve the social determinants of health and help the quality-of-care Indigenous people receive. She also enjoys gardening and spending time with friends and family. 

Justine Kick, CHS Project Assistant 

(chspa3@sixnations.ca) 

Justine Kick grew up on Six Nations, she is Onondaga nation and Wolf clan. She graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science. She is interested in learning more about Indigenous health research and the health trends within the Six Nations community. Justine enjoys reading, music, and spending time with friends.   

Maggie Yakorennio Powless-Lynes, Data Specialist Trainee 

(dataspct@sixnations.ca) 

Maggie is Mohawk, Wolf Clan, from Six Nations. With the community's support, she has completed a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from McMaster University and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Toronto. She has focused on learning how to do research that is rooted in community and culture, and that empowers Indigenous people and knowledge systems. In her free time she plays piano and bassoon.  

Tristan Bomberry, Data Specialist Intern 

(dataspci@sixnations.ca) 

Tristan grew up in Hamilton. He is Lower Cayuga, from Six Nations. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Health Sciences and is currently a Master's student in McMaster's Health Research Methodology program. He is interested in equitable Indigenous community health research and Indigenous research ethics. He wants to branch out and explore clinical interests, as well. Tristan enjoys horror movies, cooking, and podcasts.  

Advisory Group 

Sara Curley-Smith, Senior Epidemiologist & Project Advisor

(epidemiologist@sixnations.ca) 

Sara grew up and lives in Six Nations. She is Mohawk, Bear Clan. She has a Bachelor of Arts and Science and Master’s in Public Health. She uses epidemiology to understand community wellness in Six Nations. Community epidemiology focuses on infectious disease, health outcomes, environmental health, and community issues of concern. She likes to dance, warm weather, cheese, and getting more pets.  

Zach Miller, Executive Director of Planning, Performance & Evaluation 

(zacharymiller@sixnations.ca) 

Zach is Mohawk, Turtle clan from Six Nations. His parents are Jean & Kevin Miller and he is the grandson of Lawrence & Eulalee Jonathan and Peter & Vivian Miller. He leads the data analytics work for SNGR. He has his Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Public Health and is currently working on his Doctorate of Public Health. His dissertation work will focus on pandemic leadership. He also loves kayaking, reading, and hiking. 

Kelly Gordon, Project Advisor 

Kelly has worked as a registered dietitian for 20 years, prioritizing community wellness. Kelly is Kanyen’keha (Mohawk), French and Irish, also a proud mother of two energetic children. Currently Kelly works with Six Nations Health Services as a Portfolio Lead, Community Health & Wellness. She is co-chair of the Nourish Indigenous and Allies Advisory, supporting work to increase access and availability of Indigenous foods within healthcare settings. Her work focuses on acknowledging Indigenous knowledge and how it can be integrated into her everyday work, supporting community members on their journey towards their own wellness. 

Stephanie McConkey, Project Advisor 

Stephanie McConkey is Oneida, from Six Nations and has mixed European settler ancestry. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology, a Master of Public Health, and a Master of Science in Epidemiology & Biostatistics. She is a Vanier-CGS scholar and Ph.D. student in Epidemiology at the University of Toronto, focusing on using Indigenous understandings and frameworks of homelessness to develop a new population-based survey tool that measures risks of homelessness among Indigenous adults. Stephanie also works part-time as a Research Program Manager at the Well Living House.  

Dr. Jennifer Walker, Project Advisor 

Jennifer is a member of Six Nations and an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact at McMaster University. She has a PhD in Community Health Sciences with a specialization in Epidemiology from the University of Calgary. She currently holds a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health Data and Aging.

Dr. Michael Rotondi, Project Advisor   

Michael has a Bachelor of Math, a M.Sc. in statistics, and a PhD in Biostatistics. He is an Associate Professor of Biostatistics at York University and is an international leader in the respondent-driven sampling method for sampling hidden populations. Working in partnership with Indigenous health service providers for over 10 years, he has developed statistical techniques to improve the health of Indigenous Peoples. Michael enjoys running, cycling and classical music. His favourite composer is Beethoven.