Emina is a settler who sought refuge in Canada from the former Yugoslavia with her family. After briefly settling in Prince Edward Island, Emina spent most of her life in Hamilton. She received her Master’s of Nursing from the University of Toronto in 2020, along with a Master’s of Science in eHealth from McMaster University in 2016. Emina has 10 years of experience in Emergency Medicine and uses her knowledge to help individuals avoid unnecessary visits to the emergency department. She believes wellness comes from integrating traditional healing with Western approaches to holistic health. Most importantly, Emina is dedicated to a lifelong practice of being a culturally safe accomplice and co-resistor with the Indigenous community.

Dr. Suzanne Shoush is a First Nations/Black physician, mother, and advocate who lives and works in Toronto’s downtown core. She has spent more than a decade working in the city’s shelter systems. She is the Indigenous Health Faculty Lead at the DFCM, University of Toronto, and holds degrees in Engineering and Medicine. Dr. Shoush has supported Auduzhe from the start and continues to provide her expertise in Auduzhe’s expansion into Primary Care.

Nicole is Plains Cree from the Treaty Six Territory in Saskatchewan. She has been a nurse for 19 years in hospitals, public health, primary care, and First Nations communities. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health program at the University of Toronto, with a focus on Indigenous Health. Nicole is a nurse at Auduzhe, supporting the community with its health needs.

Devon (He/Him) identifies as a settler with Trinidadian Heritage. In 2018, Devon completed a double major in International Development and Health Studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. In 2020, he completed his Master of Public Health in Indigenous Health degree at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Devon manages all daily operations at Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong. Devon is honoured to be working with an amazing team at Auduzhe.

Kinji grew up in Japan. After working for the government and non-profit agencies, he came to this land seeking an opportunity to work for a community-based initiative where people feel safe and care for each other. This is why Auduzhe is a haven for Kinji. Kinji has a Master of Human Sciences degree from Osaka University, where he studied human rights and equity issues among 2SLGBTQ+ youths in education. As Clinic Coordinator, Kinji truly enjoys sharing a small moment of joy and comfort with anyone walking through the door of Auduzhe.

Ruth Trinier identifies as a settler here with their family originating in Ireland. Ruth worked for a number of years at SickKids Hospital in Toronto in Cardiology and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. Following completion of their Masters of Nursing at Athabasca University, she worked as a Community Health Nurse in an expanded role in a number of remote communities in the Sioux Lookout region. Completion of a Nurse Practitioner Post Master’s Diploma led to a role working with complex clients in the hamlet of Gjoa Haven, Nunavut. Ruth feels privileged to have been given the opportunity to serve the clients of Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong as a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner since September of 2023.

Allysha (She/They) is a Two-Spirited/Queer Anishnawbe and French Canadian. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honours at Trent University. Allysha has prior experience working in an acute-care setting. She began working at Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong in December 2020, responding to the community’s need for culturally safe and accessible COVID-19 support. In April 2022, Allysha shifted positions and became the RN at Na-Me-Res, supporting in-house residents and clients, but continues to collaborate with the Auduzhe team. She is striving to co-create an exceptional model of care to best support our community members experiencing homelessness.

Sabrina Cicansky is a Carrier Dene from the Tl’azt’en Nation in BC. In addition to working at Auduzhe, Sabrina is in her fourth year at York University for psychology, where she will complete her honours degree and enter the master’s program for social work.

Trina was born in Toronto and grew up in Northern Ontario. She is Cree and Scottish. Her first nation is Constance Lake in Calstock, ON. Trina previously worked at the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre as the Coordinator of the Community Action Program for Children. She then worked as a Casual Support Worker at Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services. Trina now works at Auduzhe as an Administrative Assistant. A fun fact is she loves to cook!

Calvin is of mixed heritage, with Anishnaabe and African ancestry on his father’s side. He is a Caldwell First Nation community member and belongs to the Turtle clan. Calvin completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from Western University in 2017 and has clinical experience as a Registered Nurse, working in the areas of mental health and primary care. Additionally, Calvin has experience working in Indigenous health policy and community engagement. Calvin is pursuing a combined Master of Nursing and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner program at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). 

Dr. Janet Smylie is Metis with Red River and Cree kinlines. She has spent most of her life in Southern Ontario on the homelands of the Anishnawbe, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, and Mississauga peoples.  Dr. Smylie has practiced and taught family medicine for 30 years, serving First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples across urban, rural, and remote geographies in Ontario and Saskatchewan.  She completed her medical training at Queen’s University in Kingston, which was followed by residency in Family Medicine in Ottawa and an additional third year of post-graduate clinical training as a Women’s Health Scholar at Women’s College Hospital and Anishnawbe Health Toronto.  Dr. Smylie also has a Masters of Public Health degree from John’s Hopkins University.  In addition to working as a family doctor part-time on the Auduzhe team, Dr. Smylie is the Director of the Well Living House Action Research Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital and holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Advancing Generative Health Services for Indigenous Populations in Canada.  She is a full professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.  Dr. Smylie acknowledges her family, teachers, and ceremony lodge.