Kear Porttris

OWNER, FOUNDER

Kear is a Métis-Chinese professional who has been walking in multiple worlds since he was born. His Father is Métis and his mother is a Chinese immigrant from Hong Kong. He grew up in Treaty Four Territory in Regina, Saskatchewan. With a civil engineering background, holding an undergraduate and Master of Applied Science Degrees in Civil Engineering. He merges education, personal, and professional experience with a solutions based lens. He has extensive experience developing partnerships between industry and Indigenous Communities. He focuses on using a collaborative approach to bolster and support Indigenization and engagement across disciplines and find unique and effective solutions for his clients. He is able to combine his professional training with his unique perspectives and network to support clients. He is involved with a number of interesting and innovative projects that are pushing the limits of Indigenization in industry. Kear sits on the board of Métis Nation of Greater Victoria, helping to represent Métis People throughout lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Territories.

Lindsay Wilson

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Lindsay is Snuneymuxw through her father and paternal grandmother, Icelandic through her paternal grandfather and Swedish through her mother. 

Raised in Victoria within the traditional territory of the Scia’new Nation by her adoptive parents, Lindsay reconnected with her biological family as a teenager. Having been welcomed back to the community she sought to gain traditional knowledge from elders and immersed herself into Indigenous Studies at Langara College and Simon Fraser University. She completed her Public Relations Certification through the university in 2015 before beginning work in the private sector and eventually moving on to work with public owned companies. She has predominantly worked in the mineral resource sector. 

She is passionate about building and fostering relationships between industry and Indigenous communities with the sharing and incorporation of traditional knowledge. She seeks to encourage curiosity in her clients to help construct partnerships that are authentic and reciprocal. She remains dedicated to continued professional and personal learning in order to bring continued value to her clients and to the communities she serves.

Natasha Parrish

ASSOCIATE

Natasha is Kyaanuuslii Haida through her mother and maternal grandmothers and English through her father. She was born and raised in Teechamitsa Lekwungen Territory in a large, loving family. She graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelors of History, a Postgraduate Degree in Secondary Teaching, and later a Master of Arts in Indigenous Nationhood. Her interests lie in Indigenous education, policy development, and Indigenizing professional development for non-Indigenous people. She is interested in the intersections between our shared history, social and ethical responsibilities, and the realities of our modern world. She brings experience as an Indigenous educator working within larger institutions to her work creating a safe and brave space for clients.