Brandon Maracle
Executive Director
Brandon Karonhyatatye Maracle is the Executive Director of Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest. Prior to his time with KNCLN, Brandon gained valuable experience in the non-profit world working in supportive housing and shelter environments and through his legal work in both clinic and firm environments where he took particular interest in areas of law including human rights, Landlord Tenant Board matters, prison law, and Aboriginal law. Brandon is a passionate advocate for language revitalization and community empowerment.
Brandon is Kanyen'keha:ka from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. He holds his Juris Doctor as well as a degree in linguistics from Queen's University, and he lives in Odessa, Ontario with his family.
Christine Allan
Executive Assistant
Christine holds an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Medical Assisting from Ross Medical Education Centre in Michigan and also carries her Gladue Writer Certification from Royal Roads University and the Indigenous Perspectives Society.
She worked for many years in group homes and with Traumatic Brain Injury/Spinal Cord injury patients. She also has professional background in administration, bookkeeping, and work as an accounting technician. An avid traditional woman's dancer, she feels very connected to her culture and hopes to pass on what she has learned to future generations.
Constance Carrière-Prill
Director, Strategic Development (she/her)
Constance is spearheading the development of the organization's Justice program and our long-term building strategy, and representing KNCLN in a collaborative community project to develop an Indigenous Care Centre as part of the City's Homelessness Collective. Constance also provides strategic advice to the organization's executive. Prior to this role, Constance served as the organization's Executive Director from 2022 through 2024. Constance led the organization through rapid operational growth and its transition from the grassroots to ratification as a Friendship Centre.
Constance has over two decades of experience in leadership, business and management as well as investigations, risk assessment and senior-level advisement. She worked for over a decade in the federal government and has an Honours degree from Queen’s University, with a major in Global Development Studies and minor in Indigenous Studies, along with a Law Certificate from Queen’s Law School. She is also a full time graduate student at the Queen's University Faculty of Law, where she is a third year JD Candidate, with a focused interest at the intersections between human rights and criminal law. Constance also works as a private consultant with organizations focused on being more responsive to the needs of marginalized clients and groups. Constance has expertise in working with Indigenous communities, incarcerated populations, at-risk youth and SOGIESC communities.
Constance is a wife, daughter, aunt, sister and mother of four amazing young adults.
Jade Corbiere-Kaloudas
Youth Program Coordinator
Jade is Anishnaabe Bear Clan from Batchewana First Nations, and grew up in Kingston. She is a St. Lawrence College graduate who currently works at Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre at Queen’s to help facilitate cultural programming, create new initiatives, provide resources, and is responsible for ensuring Four Directions runs smoothly!
Jade is passionate about advocating for and creating opportunities for Indigenous youth to learn and grow, and is so excited for this opportunity to join KNCLN, and to further support Indigenous youth by creating a safe, supportive environment for kids to discover new talents, learn new skills, and expand on their own knowledges!
Lynda Gerow
Operations Manager
Lynda is from the Tsil’Kaz’Koh Wet’suwet’en Nation in Burns Lake, British Columbia. Her teachings are mostly Anishinaabe and Mohawk. Mukade Miiagan is her spirit name which means Black Wolf. Lynda was one of the founding members of our precursor organization, the Kingston Indigenous Language Nest. Lynda’s education and professional experience are in social work, community programming, harm reduction and early childhood education. Lynda holds many positions of responsibility throughout the community, as a Firekeeper and Powwow Dancer, President of the local Ontario Native Women’s Association chapter, and is a member of the Katarokwi Grandmother’s Council. Lynda is a mother, a Kookom ( grandmother) and an Auntie both in her own family and in the community. Lynda’s vision for the Centre is that it becomes a safe place for the community to gather, grow, learn, heal and celebrate together.
Yessica Rivera Belsham - Ocelopacihuatl
Care Support Worker
Yessica is a Registered Practical Nurse and a Teaching Artist with a diverse background in healthcare, education, and multidisciplinary arts.
Yessica has been involved with a wide range of communities of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds with hands-on personal care as well as providing healing through a multidisciplinary arts connection; predominantly drumming and singing. Her work has spanned across Turtle Island (North America), with a focus on Ontario, Canada; Hawai'i, USA; and Michoacán, México.
She is an avid Náhuatl language learner and has a love and appreciation for all languages and cultures. She remains deeply rooted to her cultural heritage, family, and community ties from the tail end of Turtle Island: México. One of her goals was to find a position that encompassed community, arts, culture, health, wellness, and she feels she has found that at Kingston Native Centre & Language Nest in the Life Long Care Program.
Claire Scruby
Language Coordinator
Claire is Algonquin from Pikwàkanagàn First Nations, a Queen’s University ITEP graduate, and a language learner. Claire is currently working on her Masters of Education with research focusing on children in care and their progression and success through the education system, through the lens of the 7 Grandfather Teachings.
Claire has experience as a work study student through ITEP tending to their Traditional Medicine Garden, and has been an active volunteer in different community settings.
Kearstie Snary
Intergenerational Strength and Resiliency Coordinator
Kearstie provides holistic and culture-based supports to be responsive to the needs of mental health and addictions for urban Indigenous individuals and families, with a focus on trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches. She provides support to individual and group services including peer counselling, sharing circles, and other traditional and land-based activities that support the achievement of a Good Mind. Kearstie is a graduate of the Child and Youth Worker program at St.Lawrence College, and holds certifications in Addictions, Mental Health, and Counselling.
Kearstie has a passion for working with people and supporting our community with a focus of navigating and maintaining our wellness and healing. She has been supporting the Kingston community for over 10 years in a variety of social services, school boards, early childhood education, and specialized programs. In her free time, you can find her at the lake, doing yoga, creating art, or writing poetry.
Courtney Sovie
Wasa-nabin Coordinator
Courtney coordinates the Wasa-nabin program, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life of urban Indigenous youth through the delivery of culturally appropriate services and programs. The Wasa-Nabin program provides 1:1 sessions and group activities for youth 13-18 years old.
Courtney is Algonquin of Bear Clan. She is a social service worker, with additional training autism behavioral science, and a death doula graduate. In her free time, you can find her on the pow-wow trail jingling, kayaking, or creating traditional art.
Deb St Amant
Elder in Residence
Deb St Amant (Bezhig Waabshke Ma’iingan Gewetigaabo) was one of the founding Grandmothers of the Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest. Deb’s father was Métis from Penetanguishene (originally Drummond Islanders) and she, her sons, and her mother are members of Henvey Inlet First Nation (Ojibwe). Deb embraces both cultures. She was brought up speaking French, English, and Ontario Michif and, since 2015, has been learning Anishinaabemowin and Kanienkeha.
Deb was a French as a Second Language teacher for 30 years, retiring in 2012.
Deb was the first Indigenous person elected to the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO)’s provincial executive and in 2016 was made the first Indigenous Honorary Life Member of ETFO. She has been a governor of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation, has served on the Canadian Teachers’ Federation’s Indigenous Issues Committee, and represented Canadian Teachers of Indigenous ancestry at Education International in Cape Town, South Africa.
Deb is a first-degree mide in the Minweyweygan midewewin lodge on Manitoulin Island.
Annie Wapachee
Kitchen Coordinator
Annie is a proud member of the Cree Nation of Oujebougamou, and is originally from the Eeyou Istchee region in James Bay, Quebec. Annie's culinary journey began in Toronto from 2015 to 2016, where she worked in catering and learned a lot about creating delicious and culturally rich meals including serving hot, nourishing meals at an elders' home.
She is also an experienced entrepreneur, having sold a curated selection of clothes, shoes, and other items, connecting with diverse communities and reservations and understanding their needs.
Community service is essential to Annie, and she finds fulfillment and purpose in helping KNCLN to grow and in using her skills and passion for community engagement to make a positive impact.