Meet our Team!
Clarence Cachagee
Executive Director/Founder
He/Him
Cree
Clarence Cachagee, from Chapleau Cree First Nation, is a community leader, author, and founder of Crow Shield Lodge, a non-profit organization focused on land-based healing and teaching. He has worked in social services, supporting Indigenous communities in areas like homelessness and education. His biography, North Wind Man, shares his personal journey of overcoming trauma and oppression, and his path to becoming a helper and leader.
Hunter Johns
Land Steward/Facilitator
She/They
Oneida/Ojibway
Hunter Johns is a Haudenosaunee(Oneida) and Ojibway (Wikwemikong) professional with a passion for leadership, sport, and traditional crafts. With a Diploma in Security and Investigation from Mohawk College, Hunter brings a strong analytical and supervisory background to their current role as the Lead of the Lands Team at CSL. This leadership was build on four years of practical experience in commercial roofing, where she advanced to the position of Service Technician Supervisor. A talented athlete, Hunter is heavily involved in the sports community, coaching at both the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) and Conestoga College. Their favorite sports include basketball, hockey, and lacrosse. Hunter also maintains a keen interest in woodworking, leather work, and traditional beading.
Tom Karges
Land Steward Team
He/Him
German/Polish/Irish
Tom is a retiree from a long career in the tool and die industry, now bringing his passion and love for the outdoors to the Lands Team at Crow Shield Lodge. He values the opportunity to collaborate with what he describes as “the best people” on the team, highlighting the supportive and inspiring work environment. Outside of his professional role, Tom loves bushcraft, camping, bike riding, hiking, snowshoeing and traveling around Canada.
Carleigh Cachagee
Financials
She/Her
Cree
Carleigh is the CSL financial advisor, handling the behind the scenes that ensures our programming can stay operational. Carleigh is of Cree/Dutch Mennonite background from Chapleau Cree First Nation. Much like the rest of the family here at CSL, she enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and paddle boarding, and can even be found baking or crafting should the mood strike.
Shelley Schanzenbacher
Program and Administrative Support
She/Her
German/Scottish/Irish
Shelley has a background in Mediation and Conflict Management and Leadership Coaching Certification (CPPC ACC). Her commitment extends to supporting the Grand River Water Walk, where she contributes to environmental and community wellness initiatives. Shelley embraces life's lessons from her loyal dog, Findlay, learning daily how to be a better human.
Sydney Keedwell
HR & Lodge Lead
She/Her
French/ English /Métis
Sydney is a seasoned hospitality professional with 10 years of experience in the industry. Known for her strong organizational and administrative skills, she excels in streamlining operations. As a member of the Wisahkotewinowak Collective, she is dedicated to addressing food insecurity and supporting sustainable food systems in underserved communities.
Nick Bejarano
Grant Writer/Helper
He/Him
Mestizo Chicano and German/Irish
Nick is a PhD student at University of Waterloo. In addition to his commitment to academia, he enjoys reading and is always eager to learn new things. He enjoys hiking and engaging in outdoor activities, reflecting his love for nature and exploration. Nick’s enthusiasm for learning and the outdoors is a driving force in both his professional and personal life.
John Small
Outreach and Program Support
He/Him
Cree/Ojibway
John is originally from Moose Cree First Nation, John has lived in the tri-city area for 13+ years. John currently works on the HART Hub team and is also working on the Migisi Bizindan Eagle’s Nest youth diversion program. John has worked as a Child Wellness Navigator for Anderson Therapy Services, and a Supervisor at Indigenous Family Centre. John has worked as Manager of Business and Partnership Development for the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples in Ottawa. Through his indigenous outreach work, John has volunteered in several indigenous advisory committees and volunteered during the indigenous celebrations at Multicultural Festivals. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to the trailer and coaching his son’s ball hockey team.
Justin Dusseault
Land Steward Team Member/ Facilitator
Napew
Justin is Cree, British and Scottish born in Kitchener, ON and is a member of Cowessess First Nation. Justin is an important part of our land team and a returning CSL team member. You can find him outdoors, maintaining our land sites to ensure cleanliness and safety for community members accessing workshops and ceremonies. His passion for the outdoors keeps him adventuring in nature when he’s not at the lodge.
Dana Young
Indigenous Support Worker, Mental Health and Justice
She/Her
Cree from Fisher River Cree Nation in Manitoba
Dana is currently attending the University of Guelph, and working towards completing my BAH degree with a double major in Sociology and Anthropology. Previous formal education - Native Community Care and Counselling, Communications Operator (911 operator). Dana is also trained and worked as a reflexologist, and numerous other holistic practices such as Reiki, Indian Head and facial rejuvenation Massage, Ayurvedic Foot Massage, Hot Stone Therapy and Raindrop Therapy. She believes that Health and wellbeing is circular - all aspects of our being need to be cared for - Mental emotional, physical and spiritual.
Scott Norton
Lead Outreach Coordinator
He/Him
Anishnaabe/ Mixed Ancestry
Scott is a proud Father, Friend, and Uncle with over 30 years of dedicated service to his local community as a helper (Oshkabaywis). He currently serves as the Lead HART Hub Outreach Coordinator, where he continues to support and uplift others through culturally
grounded care and connection. Deeply rooted in tradition, Scott is also a singer and grass dancer who carries his teachings with humility and pride. Scott also enjoys spending time outdoors and cherishes moments with family and friends.
Madison Cachagee
Grant Team Lead
She/Her
Cree/Dutch
Madison is the Grant Team Lead at Crow Shield Lodge, supporting funding partnerships that help sustain and grow CSL’s land-based programming. She is Cree/Dutch Mennonite from Chapleau Cree First Nation and is deeply committed to Indigenous sovereignty and advancing self-determination within Indigenous communities. In her free time, she enjoys diving into a good book, trying out different craft adventures, and spending time on the land and by the water.
Elise MacDonald
Grant Team member
She/Her
European Mixed Ancestry
Elise MacDonald was born and raised in Kitchener and is of mixed European ancestry. She holds a degree in Anthropology with a focus on Indigenous studies and has experience working in the nonprofit sector, particularly in grant writing and community programming. Elise is passionate about walking the journey toward reconciliation through listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships. She enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, sharing good coffee, and building community, and is grateful for the opportunity to support and work alongside the team at Crow Shield Lodge.
Meet our Accountability Circle
Katrina Graham
Katrina is Mahiikan Dodem (Wolf Clan) and a proud member of Moose Cree Frist Nation with Cree, Scottish and Irish roots.
Katrina grew up in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and now resides in the Centre Wellington area. Katrina graduated from the McMaster University BScN program in 2012 and focuses her nursing career on palliative care and Indigenous health and wellness. Katrina has experience as a case manager, home visiting nurse, hospice nurse, clinical resource nurse, Indigenous Patient Navigator and now the Director of Care at Hospice Wellington.
Indigenous cultural and spiritual practices have been integrated into her practice by incorporating traditional healing modalities, advocating for indigenous health and wellness and supporting and connecting community members to local traditional healers and elders.
Katrina has studied energy therapies such as Reiki, Crystal Reiki, Healing Touch and Holistic Life Coaching.
She is actively involved in her community and has served on many health and advisory groups in the Waterloo-Wellington region. Katrina is currently working with the Guelph-Wellington Ontario Health Team, Truth and Reconciliation Working group, Waterloo Wellington Indigenous Relations Working Group, and the Quality and Risk Committee with Hospice Wellington. Katrina dedicates her time to ensuring that Indigenous communities have access to and receive quality, equitable health and social care.
Her passions include spending time with her family at the trailer, travelling, drumming and being on the land.
Katrina is honoured to be a part of the CSL Accountability Circle to help support this amazing organization and community.
Dave Skene
Dave Skene is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Ontario, with both Métis and Scottish ancestry. He has over 30 years of experience as a grassroots education innovator, he has led teams of Canadian youth on international volunteer and education projects and has taught about justice and community development from an Indigenous perspective across Canada and abroad.
While working with Indigenous youth, Dave found that many struggled with a sense of belonging. This is what inspired him to co-found the Wisahkotewinowak Collective, which now runs multiple gardens throughout the Waterloo-Wellington region. The collective helps people connect with the land and provides food for the Indigenous community in the region. Dave loves to share his knowledge of traditional foods, including his love for making and teaching the process of creating maple syrup.
Dave's current work focuses on land-based education, Indigenous agricultural practices, land and food sovereignty.
Clarence Cachagee
Clarence is from Waterloo Region and has an undeniable spirit for change. With a primary focus on working with the Spirit within, he is a helper, visionary and author who is known for investing his whole self into his community. Clarence originates from Chapleau Cree First Nation and calls Cambridge his home. He has faced his fair share of struggles and chooses to serve and support those living on the margins of society.
Clarence continues to engage with his community through land-based teaching and healing as an Indigenous Community Educator, public speaking and facilitating groups to encourage healing. Clarence says, “It is said that Mother Earth has all the medicines for every disease there is. Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island are land-based people. They have received teachings from the animals. Their creation stories are about Mother Earth, and it’s said that you can go anywhere on Turtle Island and find the medicine you need. Understanding land-based philosophies help us become better connected and feed our spirits”.
Clarence is the first full-time staff person and the visionary behind Crow Shield Lodge which is a place for reconciliation, land-based teaching and healing.
Nicole Robinson
Nicole identifies as having mixed Haudenosaunee and European ancestry. She is a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames in Southern Ontario and lived most of her life in Ontario’s ‘Near North’. Nicole moved to the Waterloo Region in 2006 to pursue graduate studies and has worked at the Waterloo Region District School Board as the Equity and Inclusion Officer – Indigenous Focus since 2008. Nicole’s passion for raising Indigenous awareness in classrooms is what drives her work in this role. Much care is given to building bridges between WRDSB staff/students and the Indigenous communities within the region in order to create classrooms that can become agents of change that we hope to see as we move forward toward reconciliation.
Ryan MacTavish
Shé:kon, my name is Ryan MacTavish. I am a Mohawk man from Six Nations of the Grand River and a member of the Crow Shield Lodge Accountability Circle. My work is rooted in the belief that healing happens in relationship — with the land, with community, and with ourselves.
I serve Crow Shield Lodge as a guest facilitator, supporting land-based healing programs, cultural education, and community gatherings.
My approach is guided by Indigenous teachings, protocols, and values, and shaped by my journey as a social worker. I have completed my Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Waterloo and will begin my Master of Social Work (Indigenous Field of Study) at Wilfrid Laurier University in the fall.
It is my hope to help create spaces where people can reconnect with the land, share in the circle, and walk together in a good way.