Rebecca Bradford-Andrew
FIRST NATION EDUCATION ADVOCATES - MANAGER
Rebecca was fortunate to have been raised by the land — from the south shore of the headwaters of the Dease River in the traditional territory of the Tahltan Nation, to the northern-most reaches of British Columbia on the un-ceded land fed by the Stikine, Liard, and Turnagain Rivers. Rebecca's mother spent her early years on the banks of the Stikine River, and her father in the East Kootenays.
Rebecca's family survived by trapping, fishing and hunting. Her earliest teachers were Kaska and Tahltan legends; cultural giants such as Amos Alec, John Porter, Will and Grace Williams and Fletcher Day, to name a few.
Rebecca believes that strong communities are built, not born, and that the basis of that strength is feeling deep connections to the land and the ability to hear and understand the language of that land.
Rebecca has over 20 years of experience in education in the Yukon, and operates under a deeply-rooted belief that the land is the most effective learning tool we can access for our children. Rebecca has dedicated her career to making on-the-land learning, cultural values, and traditional knowledge accessible to all Yukon students, so that they may benefit from lessons that transfer into skills that students can use their whole lives — and to generate a sense of gratitude and respect for First Nations ways of knowing.
Kim Harper
FIRST NATION education advocate and complex case team lead
Kim Harper is a born-and-raised Yukoner from Whitehorse affiliated with Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation through her family. With her partner Lance, she has three amazing, beautiful children, and together, they like to hunt, fish, boat, quad, ski-doo and camp — anything that gets them out on the land.
Kim was involved in education for 28 years as an Educational Assistant. She is passionate about connecting students back to the land, increasing a sense of belonging and pride, and to support them on their learning adventure.
Gayle Ball
FIRST NATION EDUCATION ADVOCATE
Gayle is a member of the Tahltan Nation from the Crow Clan, and is mother to Elijah and Jade. She’s lived in Whitehorse most of her life, but her family roots are connected to Telegraph Creek. Gayle considers herself an avid beader, enjoys crafting and learning something new about plants every year to then make into traditional medicines.
Working as an Education Advocate has allowed Gayle to work with youth again in a more fulfilling capacity, connecting them to the necessary supports, cultural activities and at times learning alongside them while working with respected local Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
Darcey Carlick
FIRST NATION EDUCATION ADVOCATE
Darcey Carlick is a member of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and is of Tahltan descent. Early in Darcey’s journey, he worked with children and youth in his community before joining Wildland Fire Management for a number of seasons. During the off season, Darcey pursued his Oil Burner Mechanic ticket, which he successfully completed in this spring.
Darcey recently joined our First Nation Education Advocate team and is keen to work again with youth, encouraging them to pursue their goals and ambitions. Darcey enjoys hunting, hiking, hockey fishing and camping.
Josh Carr
FIRST NATION EDUCATION ADVOCATE
Chris Gleason
FIRST NATION education advocate
Of the Wolf Clan from the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Chris was fortunate to grow up on the land, learning from both his family and the classroom. He completed an undergraduate degree from Camosun College and a Masters of Science from University of Victoria.
His passion is for incorporating land-based learning in schools and advocating for youth and families seeking academic and cultural resources. As an Education Advocate with YFNED, Chris is excited to be able to create these experiences for our youth, connecting them to traditional ways of knowing, learning and doing.
First Nation education advocate
Jason is a Champagne and Aishihik First Nations citizen who grew up in both Haines Junction and Whitehorse. He completed the Culinary Arts program at Yukon U and has enjoyed many cook jobs including work at the hospital, as well, as a camp cook for First Nations. Jason is an avid hunter and loves being out on the land. “I love working at YFNED,” he says. “Everyone is so friendly and easy to get along with.”
FIRST NATION education advocate
Aurora grew up in Dawson City and is a Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in citizen with Northern Tutchone roots. Aurora’s great grandparents, Frank and Annie Blanchard (née Jimmy) originally lived in Fort Selkirk, and they rafted down the Yukon River in 1940 and relocated to Tr'ochëk - ever since then Dawson became their home.
Aurora has many years of experience working with youth, at the Tr’inkè Zho daycare, the TH youth center, and as a CELC at Robert Service School. As an education advocate with YFNED, Aurora is excited to work closely with school staff, knowledge holders, Elders and youth to advocate for student supports and place a strong focus on cultural programming and land based learning. Aurora believes that passing along Indigenous knowledge strengthens our sense of identity, connection, respect for culture, language and the land.
Aurora is also enrolled in the Indigenous Governance program at Yukon University, and enjoys playing hockey, ski-dooing, camping, fishing, hunting, and spending time with her family and friends.
Colin O’Neil
FIRST NATION education advocate
Colin grew up in New Westminster, British Columbia on the traditional territory of the Squamish, Musqueum, Tsleil-waututh and Qayqayt First Nations. In 2014 he came to Whitehorse with the pursuit of mountain exploration but was quickly drawn in by the warm community and thriving First Nations culture.
Colin spent many summers working at Camp Goodtimes, a summer camp for children with a history of cancer. He has taught English to foreign exchange students, social science to university students and worked as an Educational Assistant at Elijah Smith Elementary School. Since moving to Whitehorse, he has had fantastic opportunities to run outdoor programming with Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation at Dechinta Centre for Learning and Research. Colin holds a Masters degree in human geography, where his researched specialized in environmental conservation and First Nations land claims in Yukon’s Peel Watershed. As a First Nations Education Advocate, Colin is thrilled to be able to spend time with children and youth on the land while helping to transform education into something more representative of Yukon First Nations cultural values.
When not working with kids Colin can be found on the land, exploring the mountains and valleys of Yukon.
Gus Morberg
FIRST NATION education advocate
Gus Morberg, (K’amtlax) is a member of the Dakhl’awedi Clan of the Teslin Tlingit Council. Gus is a passionate learner of his Tlingit language and is keen on reclaiming his true identity as a Tlingit man and passing this knowledge on to the younger generations. Gus is an avid hunter, fisherman and trapper and enjoys spending time with his family out on the land. He also enjoys carving, building snowshoes, ice fishing and spending time with youth and Elders.
Olive Morland (on leave)
FIRST NATION education advocate
Born and raised in Whitehorse, Olive has college courses in Early Childhood Education and is a certified Pilates instructor. She has worked with kids for as long as she can remember, and has been employed at various daycares since high school. For six years, she was an Educational Assistant at Jack Hulland Elementary, working with students with behavioral, attention, and social/emotional challenges. Olive loves working with kids who are struggling with reading and writing, providing a safe place for kids to come with questions, concerns, or just a good joke.
She keeps busy with crafting, travelling and exploring new places including hiking and camping with her trusty canine sidekick, Mabel.
Ryan Troke
FIRST NATION education advocate
Ryan Troke was born in Iqaluit, then lived in Fort Simpson until he was 7 years old. In 2007, Ryan moved to Whitehorse, and he absolutely loves it. Ryan loves anything that involves being in the outdoors, including hunting, fishing, camping and building projects. Since he grew up playing hockey, Ryan is also big on team sports.
After graduating high school, Ryan took a year of social work and criminology from Yukon University. He has worked in elementary schools for three years as an EA at Jack Holland and as a one on one inclusion worker at Takhini Elementary. You can catch Ryan with his therapy dog Duke putting a smile on all the kids’ faces at the schools!
“Everyone deserves a proper education and have easy access to it if they choose.”
Michael Tuton
FIRST NATION education advocate
Michael Tuton was born and raised in Whitehorse and is a member of the Tahltan First Nation. He and his wife Lindy are raising two teenagers.
Coaching youth in various sports is his passion — he can be found around the hockey in rink winter, and the softball diamonds in summer. Michael feels he is in his element working as a First Nation Education Advocate, as he has a natural leadership capability with youth. As a high school drop-out, Michael wishes he had an Education Advocate when he was a youth struggling with classroom education.
Joseph Wallingham
FIRST NATION education advocate
Born and raised in the Yukon, Joe is a member of the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun. He met his wife, Ashley, while going to school in Victoria and they moved back to the Yukon in 2020. Their son, James, was born in November of 2021 and Joe is now enjoying time as a family of three along with his dog, Rosie. Joe and his family enjoy going camping on the weekends and travelling to Victoria to visit friends and family.
“Working at YFNED is awesome because I love working with kids. It is a rewarding job and it has also taught me so much in the last two years. The people I work with are amazing and we are making strides in changing the scope of education in the Yukon, which is amazing to be a part of.”