Team bios

Gabby (she/her) is the Administrative Coordinator at Finding Our Power Together. She first joined the organization as a student intern and has since taken on a variety of roles across research, mental health, and programming. Earlier this year, she served as Project Lead for FOPT’s community visits to Nibinamik First Nation this year, helping to coordinate and support meaningful connections.

With degrees in Child and Youth Care and Criminology, Gabby brings a strong foundation in trauma-informed and person-centred care. Originally from Guatemala, she was exposed to Mayan Indigenous culture from a young age, which has shaped her understanding of the importance of cultural identity in well-being and community care.

Gabby prioritizes strengths-based approaches and believes in the power of culture as a key part of identity and wellness. In her role, she ensures that FOPT’s work is rooted in relational, inclusive, and holistic care, while continuously deepening her understanding of how to support Indigenous communities in ways that are respectful, reciprocal, and grounded in community voices.

Tristan Peterson (she/her) is the Project's Manager at Finding Our Power Together and the Project Coordinator for the Building a NAN Early Years IELCC Framework Project. 

A settler of Irish, German, French, and Scottish descent, Tristan grew up in Caledon, Ontario, on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat peoples.

Tristan holds a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Social Science in Political Science and Law from the University of Ottawa. Her work focuses on critical policy analysis and Indigenous early learning, combining her academic background in political science and law with a commitment to decolonizing education and mental health supports for Indigenous communities across Canada.

Lauren Harney is a settler of British, Irish, Slovak, and French descent who makes her home in Toronto. She acknowledges that she lives and works on the lands of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples and carries a responsibility to act with respect and accountability in her relationships with community and place.
She holds a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Studies from the University of Guelph-Humber, and a diploma in Early Childhood Education from George Brown College. With over a decade of experience working as a Registered Early Childhood Educator, Lauren has focused on creating inclusive, supportive environments for children and families while mentoring aspiring early childhood educators. Her graduate research explored peer mentorship in early childhood education, examining its potential as a relational and liberatory practice within the field.
Lauren is currently a Project Coordinator with Finding Our Power Together (FOPT), supporting Indigenous-led early years initiatives and mentorship programs. Her work contributes to strengthening community-driven approaches to education, training, and wellness, with a focus on equity and relational ways of working.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors, and being with her family and two young children. She finds joy in weaving her personal passions into everyday family life.

Felicia Morin is an Anishnaabe student from Beausoleil First Nation. She lives outside of Toronto. She is entering her third year as an undergraduate student currently pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University. Opportunities within her program such as visiting a remote fly First Nation community and visiting Aotearoa (New Zealand) which were both Indigenous focused visits, continues to inspire and reinforce her journey towards reconnection to her culture. While also guiding the her passion of supporting youth who need support with mental health and substance misuse. Her goal is to pursue her Master of Social Work. She is always eager to any opportunity to further her knowledge and skills to better support people in her future work.

Keelin Eastveld (she/her) is Red River Métis with ancestral roots in the Lakota Nation. Keelin holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences with a specialization in Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics. Her academic and research work spans topics in disability inclusion, patient experiences in primary care, Indigenous health equity , and healthy aging.   At FOPT Keelin works as a research assistant with the Indigenous Healing Lodges Study. Her role involves both data analysis and community-driven research to support Indigenous healing and self-determination. As an aspiring physician, Keelin is committed to integrating holistic healing, traditional knowledge, and culturally safe care into her practice. Her experiences working in palliative care and disability support have reinforced the power of relationship-based, person-centered healing. Keelin approaches her work by listening first and working to create a space where people feel safe, heard, and empowered.   In her free time, you can find Keelin painting watercolour nature and anatomy pieces, doing beadwork, playing her violin or piano, or kayaking with her family. 

Breanna (she/her) is Kanyen’kehá:ka and Omàmiwininì, with familial roots in Tyendinaga and Pikwàkanagàn. She is passionate about Indigenous mental health and wholistic wellness knowledge, and supporting Indigenous young people in accessing support for their mental health and wholistic wellbeing. Currently, Breanna works as a Research Assistant with Finding Our Power Together. She holds an i.B.A. in Sociology and Gender and Women’s Studies, and is a BSW student.

Michelle (she/her) is an Indigenous Latina researcher, educator, and community worker whose work centers climate justice, early childhood, and community well-being. Michelle’s identities as an Indigenous Latina woman of colour shape her commitment to social justice, cultural resurgence, and supporting young children and families—particularly those navigating inequities within education and environmental systems. She is currently completing her PhD, where her dissertation uses critical autoethnography to explore climate justice education for young children of colour in the Canadian context. With a background in research, program development, policy design, and multilingual education, Michelle has contributed to several peer-reviewed publications and has led interdisciplinary projects focused on curriculum, community-informed programming, and equity-oriented evaluation. Her work reflects her lived experience and her dedication to relational, community-driven, and culturally grounded approaches. In her role with Finding Our Power Together (FOPT), Michelle supports research, program coordination, and knowledge development that uplifts Indigenous youth voices and strengthens culturally safe mental health and educational supports. Her approach is rooted in relational accountability, trauma-informed practice, and the belief that culture, language, and land-based knowledge are vital to healing and empowerment. Michelle aims to contribute to FOPT’s mission by supporting projects that prioritize self-determination, community leadership, and meaningful, reciprocal relationships. Michelle is fluent in English, Spanish, and French and brings strengths in communication, collaboration, and reflective practice. Outside of her work, she finds joy in hiking, eating good food, and spending time with her family.