Our team

People who walk alongside community

Name: Kingston Native Centre & Language Nest
Address: 218 Concession Street, Kingston, ON, K7K 2B5, CA
Telephone: 613-544-3065

A diverse team brings language, culture, education, care, operations, and lived experience to the Centre.

KNCLN staff

Meet our team

The people supporting programs, language, culture, learning, wellness, and community at KNCLN.

Brandon Maracle
Executive Director
Kanyen’kehá:ka from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory; a passionate advocate for language revitalization, holding a Juris Doctor and a linguistics degree from Queen’s.
Deb St Amant
Elder in Residence
A founding Grandmother of the Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest, lifelong educator, and first-degree mide in the Minweyweygan midewewin lodge.
Kyrie Bouscal
Executive Assistant
Keeps things moving behind the scenes and, drawing on a background in law, helps shape the Centre’s emerging Legal Centre.
Desiree Trousdale
Receptionist
The friendly face and voice of the Centre, with 15+ years in front-desk administration; lineage from the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.

Taylor Arndt
Alternative Secondary School Coordinator
Fosters culturally relevant, land-based education for Indigenous youth at the Katarokwi Learning Centre; a beadwork and multi-media artist.
Dakota-Marie Oliver
Akwe:kon Coordinator
Rising Roots Physical Wellbeing
Mohawk Bear clan, born and raised in Kingston; leads the children’s group (ages 7–12) with creativity and cultural pride.
Hank Perrin
Wasa-Nabin Coordinator
Rising Roots Physical Wellbeing
Leads Wasa-Nabin youth programming (ages 13–18). More about this team member coming soon.
Kearstie Snary
Family Wellness & Mental Health Manager
Provides holistic, culture-based mental-health and addictions support — peer counselling, sharing circles, and land-based activities toward a Good Mind.
Kynderly Auger
Indigenous Mental Health and Wellness Worker
More about this team member coming soon.
Molly Cassiano
Indigenous HIPPY Home Visitor
Supports parents as they become strong first teachers of their children; holds an ECE diploma and a Bachelor of Social Work.

Omar Khalid
Apatisiwin Coordinator
More about this team member coming soon.
Yessica Rivera Belsham
Community Care Manager
A Registered Practical Nurse and teaching artist bringing healing through hands-on care, drumming, and song in the Life Long Care Program.
Annie Wapachee
Kitchen Coordinator
A proud member of the Cree Nation of Oujé-Bougoumou from Eeyou Istchee, cooking nourishing, culturally rich meals for community.

Lynda Gerow
Traditional Ways Liaison
A founding member of the Language Nest — Firekeeper, Powwow dancer, and community Kookom whose vision is a place to gather, grow, heal, and celebrate.

Careers

Learn about current opportunities and how to apply.