Meet the Team

Esther Kim

Co-head editor

Esther is a settler of Korean descent who is grateful to currently be living on the traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples. She recently completed a Master of Public Health at the University of Toronto, with specializations in Indigenous Health and Environment & Health. Her research interests include the continued implementation of culturally safe primary care services, the intersections of food security and community well-being, and the impacts of climate change on individual and community health. She also has a BA&Sc in Cognitive Science from McGill University. When Esther is away from the computer, she enjoys reading, going on hikes, and playing the piano.

Hiliary Monteith

Co-head editor

Hiliary Monteith is a founding co-editor for the journal and a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow in Anthropology at McMaster University supervised by Dr. Dawn Martin-Hill and Dr. Adrianne Xavier. She has a PhD in Nutritional Sciences in partnership with Sandy Lake First Nation from the University of Toronto. Her work focuses on socio-ecological factors supporting Indigenous health and wellbeing using community engaged practices. She is currently collaborating with Anishinabeck and Haudenosaunee communities in Ontario with a focus on early life factors impacting health and wellbeing, water security initiatives, and traditional ecological knowledge for climate action. Dr. Monteith is also a Registered Dietitian and aims to support the integration of knowledge to practice within community environments and policy. Hiliary is a settler of Scottish, Irish, French, German, and English ancestry currently residing in Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe territory, land that is part of the dish with one spoon agreement and the two-row wampum. 

Sharon Tan

Co-Editor/Social Media Lead

Sharon Tan (she/her) is a settler with Chinese ancestry. Sharon holds a Master of Public Health in Indigenous Health with a collaborative specialization in Aging and the Life Course.  Sharon was a Research Coordinator and Program Coordinator at the Waakebiness Institute for Indigenous Health. She was involved in projects and initiatives related to the justice system, cultural safety, and aging. Sharon values relationship building and community engagement in her approaches. 

Hannah Feldbloom

Social Media Assistant

Hannah is a non-Indigenous settler Canadian living in Tkaronto. She holds a Bachelor's degree from York University and recently completed her master's degree at Wilfrid Laurier University. Her research focuses on Indigenous education in Ontario schools. She is excited to be a member of the TIJIH team and collaborate with members of the community to enhance our understanding of Indigenous peoples’ health.

Brianna Poirier

Editor

Brianna is a non-Indigenous settler Canadian who is currently working as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with the Indigenous Oral Health Unit at the University of Adelaide. Brianna's current research relates to the impact of neoliberal political and economic ideologies and structural racism on Indigenous oral health, social and emotional wellbeing, and health sovereignty utilising a range of critical, qualitative, and decolonising methodologies. Over the past 5 years, Brianna has had the honour of partnering and working alongside First Nations Communities in Canada, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in Australia. Brianna is currently working on the editorial team with TIJIH. 

Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles (he/they)

Regional Coordinator (British Columbia)

I’m an assistant professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Victoria. My research focuses on the ways in which Indigenous cultural heritage and resources can help Indigenous nations adapt/mitigate the effects of climate change on their environments and communities. I run the Geographic Indigenous Futures Collaboratory at UVic, a research group that focuses on desirable geographic and environmental futures for Indigenous nations across North America. I’m a citizen of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and serve my nation as a member of the board of trustees of our tribal college. I also serve as a member of the editorial board of Native American and Indigenous Studies, as a member of the executive board of the Canadian Association of Geographers, and as the co-chair of the CAG’s Indigenous Peoples’ Working Group, alongside my roles at TIJIH.

Ashely Simpson

Editor

Ashley Simpson is a Wet'suwet'en/English/Scottish woman, mother, and researcher, living on unceded and ancestral Coast Salish territories. Ashley holds a Master of Public Health degree with a specialization in Indigenous Peoples' Health and a BA in Indigenous Studies. As a health researcher, she works alongside Indigenous communities and organizations across British Columbia to support self-determination in health and health care through research that facilitates Indigenous-led health systems change. Her work focuses on Indigenous maternal, child, and family health, harm reduction, and Indigenous research methodologies. Ashley joined the TIJIH team in 2023 and supports this work as an co-editor.

Madison Cachagee

Editor

Madison is a Mushkegowuk woman who is currently working as a Research Officer with the Indigenous Oral Health unit at the University of Adelaide. Madison’s current research and passions are working with Indigenous Communities and improving Indigenous health sovereignty. Madison is currently working on the editorial team with TIJIH.