Who We Are

Meet our dedicated team of Indigenous leaders, community advocates, and cultural stewards working together to strengthen communities and preserve traditions.

Our Team

United by purpose, guided by tradition, and committed to positive change.

John

John K. Odolon is an international consultant with over 27 years of experience in public health, WASH, strategic planning, M&E, and capacity building across Africa and the Pacific. He holds an MSc in Health Care, a BA in Social Sciences, and multiple professional certifications. John has held senior NGO roles, including Country Representative for WaterAid Uganda, Programme Manager for AAHI in Sudan, and Resident Hygiene Advisor at Plan Uganda. Beyond NGOs, he has consulted widely for public, private, faith-based, and international organizations, contributing to strategy, training, policy, and program evaluation. He has co-authored sanitation and food security studies, contributed to Uganda’s National Sanitation Guidelines and WHO’s Sanitation Toolkit, and presented at international WEDC conferences. In 2022, he introduced The Etesot Father behavioral transformation model. Alongside his professional work, John serves as Ebuku (Head of Clan) of the Ikaregwok Iriokobukui among the Iteso people. He is recognized for combining academic depth, field expertise, and participatory approaches that empower communities.
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Areas of Expertise:

Strategic Planning Community Development Indigenous Relations Program Management

Steph Romaniuk

Project lead Sharepower Canada Pilot

Steph Romaniuk

Project lead Sharepower Canada Pilot

Stephen “Steph” Romaniuk is a college professor of Environmental Studies at Canadore College, specializing in earth sciences, environmental assessment, water treatment, and sustainable energy systems. A lifelong naturalist and citizen scientist, his passion for the environment began in childhood with birdwatching, canoe trips, and outdoor exploration. Formerly with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Steph discovered his calling as an educator, championing hands-on and outdoor learning to inspire future environmental stewards. Currently pursuing his MSc, he is completing his placement with Odenaansan, an Indigenous-led organization in Parry Sound–Muskoka, where he lives. Through SHAREpower, he is helping pilot community-led energy solutions focused on cooperative utilities, Indigenous-guided climate resilience, and home energy assessments. Rooted in sustainability, reconciliation, and community action, Steph continues to blend science, teaching, and organizing to build a just, resilient future..
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Areas of Expertise:

Youth Development Program Design Mentorship Community Engagement

Mary

Mary is a passionate advocate and transformative voice for women's empowerment across Africa. She is deeply committed to creating a future where women are not only heard but empowered to lead, thrive, and shape the destiny of our continent. Her work is rooted in the belief that when women rise, communities and nations flourish. Through Odenaansan, Mary stands as a catalyst for change , driven by vision, courage, and an unshakable resolve to see African women claim their rightful place in every space of influence and leadership.
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Areas of Expertise:

Community Relations Partnership Building Public Speaking Network Development

Kevin

Founder Odenaansan & ICD Developer

Kevin

Founder Odenaansan & ICD Developer

Kevin brings technical innovation to community development projects. He specializes in creating sustainable solutions that leverage modern technology while respecting traditional values. Kevin has a background in environmental engineering and has helped implement numerous successful technical projects in Indigenous communities.
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Areas of Expertise:

Technical Solutions Environmental Engineering Project Management Innovation

Hope

Senior Visual Producer & Team Lead Odenaansan Africa

Hope

Senior Visual Producer & Team Lead Odenaansan Africa

Hope is a filmmaker who is involved in scriptwriting, directing, and a lot more stuff involved in film production. Hope is also passionate about community building of vulnerable communities and enhancing the lives of underprivileged community people in whatever way she can. Hope is capable of achieving objectives both individually and in a team environment. She is also a result-driven achiever and proven relationship builder dedicated to achieving the very best in whatever she does.
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Areas of Expertise:

Curriculum Development Indigenous Education Adult Learning Cultural Integration

Cathie

Senior Writer

Cathie

Senior Writer

Cathie ensures that all our programs are delivered with excellence and meet the highest standards of quality. She has extensive experience in program management and has successfully overseen numerous large-scale community development initiatives. Cathie is known for her attention to detail and ability to manage complex projects effectively.
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Areas of Expertise:

Program Management Quality Assurance Team Leadership Strategic Planning

Peter K.

Digital Systems Builder

Peter K.

Digital Systems Builder

Peter is a seasoned Digital Systems Builder with over 7 years of expertise in designing and implementing scalable data structures, automating business workflows, and creating real-time management dashboards. His key responsibilities include building data cores for sales, operations, and IoT-enabled systems; integrating business systems through modern tools like Zapier and APIs; developing insight-driven dashboards for smart decision-making; rapidly prototyping solutions using AI-powered app builders; and supporting vendor selection and project rollouts. Peter combines his technical expertise with a deep commitment to ensuring quality delivery of community development initiatives that truly serve the people they're designed for.
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Areas of Expertise:

Program Management Quality Assurance Digital Products Strategic Planning

Cassie Horley

Cassie Horley is a visual artist from Canada with a unique experience of the socio-economic, cultural and environmentalist realities of southern Ontario. She graduated her Fine Arts BFA in 2020 and now finds the time is right to practice her art. Cassie finds her time with Odenaansan aligns with her passions for community, health, spiritual connection and the right of all beings to clean water, housing and nutritious food. Her top priority is her young family, whom she lives with in northern Ontario..
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Areas of Expertise:

Research Design Analytical Thinking Visual Arts Community-Based Research

Council Members

Meet our governing council - click any profile to learn more about them!

Alex Hutton

Engineer Advisor

Alex Hutton

Engineer Advisor

Alex is a Professional Engineer with over 18 years of experience in the sustainable building design field. She specializes in sustainability and change management with a focus in the past five years on energy and carbon management within the healthcare sector. She is responsible for securing and strategically spending over $1 million each year in funding to aid the health sector in reducing carbon emissions. Alex uses her role as Energy Manager to champion and advance the practice and implementation of sustainable, resilient and regenerative design principles within healthcare. She does so by focusing on the possibilities for creative solutions that achieve a 'triple top line' and by applying a collaborative and holistic approach.
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Areas of Expertise:

Cultural Education Traditional Knowledge Elder Relations Healing Practices

Anida Decoursay

Cultural Advisor

Anida Decoursay

Cultural Advisor

Anida, a member of the Wolf Clan from Barrier Lake, belongs to the Algonquin Anishinaabe who inhabit the Ottawa River watershed. Raised traditionally, she has worked for her people since her youth and now serves as an elected councilor and Director of Education in Rapid Lake. Passionate about preserving land-based culture, she assists the Grandmothers of Parc La Vérendrye in gathering medicine.
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Areas of Expertise:

Cultural Education Traditional Knowledge Elder Relations Healing Practices

Dmitri Ashawasegai

Cultural Advisor

Dmitri Ashawasegai

Cultural Advisor

Dmitri Ashawasegai, an Anishinaabe nini from the French River Indian Reserve, is dedicated to the Odenaansan project, which promotes Anishinaabe sovereignty and culturally appropriate development. He contributes his expertise in Anishinaabe-aadziwin, youth work, Indigenous relations, education, program development, and local politics to support the initiative and empower his community.
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Areas of Expertise:

Cultural Education Traditional Knowledge Elder Relations Healing Practices

Gkisedtanamoogk

Cultural Advisor

Gkisedtanamoogk

Cultural Advisor

Gkisedtanamoogk is from the Wampanoag Community of Mashpee, Massachusetts, served as one of five Commissioners on the Maine Wabanaki State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He taught Native American Studies at the University of Maine for a decade. His work focuses on cultural and legal theory, advocating for Indigenous rights in law, science, linguistics, and education.
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Areas of Expertise:

Cultural Education Traditional Knowledge Elder Relations Healing Practices

Sheny Rodquigues

Cultural Advisor

Sheny Rodquigues

Cultural Advisor

Sheny, a Maya from Cantebal, Guatemala, moved to Canada as a teenager, speaking only Spanish. In 2006, she initiated a project with community leaders to build a school in San Lucas, enabling young women to study safely. As an adult, she focuses on re-indigenizing, embracing Anishinaabe culture as well as her Mayan heritage, while serving as a community leader and business owner.
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Areas of Expertise:

Cultural Education Traditional Knowledge Elder Relations Healing Practices

Solomon Wawatie

Cultural Advisor

Solomon Wawatie

Cultural Advisor

Solomon Wawatie grew up observing his family's traditional practices and learning Anishnabek history. After enduring seven years of abuse in a residential school, he returned to his roots, mastering skills like tanning leather and hunting. As an adult, he strives to restore his people's place on Turtle Island, actively preserving their culture, traditions, and language.
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Areas of Expertise:

Cultural Education Traditional Knowledge Elder Relations Healing Practices

Wendy Phillips

Cultural Advisor

Wendy Phillips

Cultural Advisor

Elder Wendy Phillips belongs to the 7th Fire and is a member of the Bald Eagle Clan. She is a proud graduate from York University with a Master's in Anishinaabe Traditional Governance and Sustainability from the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change Studies, and is the current Chief Executive Officer of the 8th fire cultural center.
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Areas of Expertise:

Cultural Education Traditional Knowledge Elder Relations Healing Practices

Kevin Best

Cultural Advisor

Kevin Best

Cultural Advisor

Kevin Best is a producer, consultant, activist, and businessman dedicated to environmentalism and Indigenous rights. He began focusing on sustainable communities in 1975 and, while working in corporate marketing, collaborated with First Nations and Greenpeace. As managing director of Rivercourt, he developed the ICD approach, which underpins Odenaansan's work, before leaving to fully commit to the initiative.
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Areas of Expertise:

Cultural Education Traditional Knowledge Elder Relations Healing Practices

Nikita

Cultural Advisor

Nikita

Cultural Advisor

Nikita is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous youth empowerment and cultural preservation. With a strong connection to her heritage and a passion for community development, she works tirelessly to bridge traditional knowledge with modern opportunities for young people. Her commitment to fostering cultural pride and creating pathways for Indigenous youth to thrive in contemporary society while honoring their roots makes her an invaluable member of the council.
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Areas of Expertise:

Cultural Education Traditional Knowledge Elder Relations Healing Practices

John

Cultural Advisor

John

Cultural Advisor

Cultural Education Traditional Knowledge Elder Relations Healing Practices

Our Approach

We believe in the power of collective action rooted in traditional values. Our work is guided by the Seven Fires teachings and the principle that every decision should consider the impact on seven generations to come.

Who We Are

Meet our dedicated team of Indigenous leaders, community advocates, and cultural stewards working together to strengthen communities and preserve traditions.

Our Team

United by purpose, guided by tradition, and committed to positive change.

John

Steph Romaniuk

Mary

Kevin

Hope

Cathie

Peter K.

Cassie Horley

Council Members

Meet our governing council - click any profile to learn more about them!

Alex Hutton

Anida Decoursay

Dmitri Ashawasegai

Gkisedtanamoogk

Sheny Rodquigues

Solomon Wawatie

Wendy Phillips

Kevin Best

Nikita

John

Our Approach

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