Our herd

Darian R. Edwards

Consultant

Darian Edwards (he/him+) is a proud member of the Secwepemc Nation, from Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, with over 15 years of experience working and studying in the aviation industry. He began his career at the Kamloops Airport (CYKA) at just 16 years old, eventually rising to the role of Ramp Supervisor. Since then, he has worked across multiple ministries within the Government of British Columbia, including Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI), Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD), and Children and Family Development (MCFD).

His professional focus spans emergency management, major capital project delivery, climate action, social services, and program analysis. Darian is passionate about advancing Indigenous-led climate initiatives and bringing together Indigenous Ways of Knowing with policy and infrastructure development. He currently sits on the Board and Executive Committee of the Native Youth and Innovation Council (NWIC), supporting urban Indigenous youth programming, and serves as a Delegate for the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples in B.C.

Darian is also pursuing a diploma in Airport Operations at BCIT, deepening his technical and operational knowledge of the sector. His work is grounded in community, cultural revitalization, and environmental stewardship, with a deep commitment to uplifting Indigenous Peoples and protecting the lands we all share.

Aubrey-Anne Laliberte-Pewapisconias (she/her) is a nêhiyâskwew from Canoe Lake Cree First Nation (Treaty 10 Territory) and Little Pine First Nation (Treaty 6 Territory). She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance, an Indigenous Governance and Politics Certificate, and a Master of Sustainability in Energy Security from the University of Saskatchewan.

Aubrey-Anne is deeply engaged in community work, contributing to organizations such as the City of Saskatoon Indigenous Technical Advisory Group, the Indigenous Leadership Circle, and Leading Change Canada. As a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental stewardship, she has led initiatives including the installation of an EV charger in northern Saskatchewan, the development of energy literacy toolkits grounded in Indigenous knowledges, and her current work with Tatâga Inc., advancing Indigenous prosperity alongside its clients.

Committed to bridging collaboration between Indigenous Peoples and climate action efforts, Aubrey-Anne has represented Canada on global platforms, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) and the 2023 G20 Youth Summit as Canada’s Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction negotiator. Her leadership in sustainability has earned her recognition as a 2023 Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalist and a 2024 Corporate Knights 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leader.

Audra Foggin (she/her) is a proud member of Frog Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 and a Sixties Scoop thriver, known for her relational, land-centered approach to healing, education, and systems change. With a background in Child and Family Services and clinical social work, she has spent her career advancing Indigenous knowledge, decolonization, and community-led wellness across Turtle Island.

A Registered Social Worker and member of the Alberta College of Social Workers, Audra holds a Master’s in Clinical Social Work from the University of Calgary. Her work spans mental health, anti-racism, cultural reclamation, and program development, grounded in deep collaboration with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community leaders.

Audra has spoken locally, nationally, and internationally on Indigenous child welfare, intergenerational trauma, and cultural reconnection. She is a former member of the Indigenous Advisory Circle to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, where she contributed to Indigenous health equity and systems reform.

Her personal connection to land and culture is expressed through her lifelong involvement in rodeo, equine therapy, and film, with appearances in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Dreamkeeper, and Into the West. She is a kokum and Nikawi to three, a committed mentor, and a recipient of the Esquao Award for Indigenous Women in Education, recognized for her leadership in advocacy, cultural revitalization, and community support.

Tatâgagan (Tom Snow)

Elder

Tom Snow is a respected Îethka Nakoda (Stoney, Assiniboine) Elder from the Stoney Indian Reserve in Morley, Alberta. For decades, he has carried and shared Traditional Nakoda teachings and ceremonial knowledge across Alberta, British Columbia, and Montana. Tom’s work centers on healing, cultural revitalization, and supporting the well-being of Indigenous youth and families through both community-based and institutional roles.

He spent 11 years managing a child services agency where he provided youth mentorship, family reunification support, language instruction, and transportation services. He later developed a wellness program for Wesley First Nation that addressed addictions through culturally grounded practices, and served as a ceremonial Elder with Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society—where he led circles, supported cultural education for staff, and reconnected families with their Nakoda language and traditions.

Tom created a 96-page presentation on Historical Trauma to help illuminate root causes of many systemic issues facing Indigenous Peoples. He has contributed as a Knowledge Keeper to Alberta Child Services' Youth Suicide Prevention Policy, and is an Elder advisor for the Kihciy Askiy project in Edmonton, supporting the development of a ceremonial and cultural gathering space for Indigenous Peoples. He also serves on the Edmonton Urban Indigenous Framework committee.

Currently, Tom is the Elder-in-Residence at kihêw waciston, MacEwan University’s Indigenous Centre, where he offers cultural guidance, ceremonial support, and mentorship to students and staff. His work continues to bridge ancestral knowledges with contemporary systems, advancing healing and cultural continuity.

When not in ceremony or community work, Tom enjoys spending time with his wife and family, hunting, fishing, camping, and exploring Indigenous antiquity throughout North America.

Raylene Whitford  

Executive Advisor

Raylene Whitford (she/her) is a Nêhiyaw (Cree) Métis leader in finance, sustainability, and Indigenous rights. A member of the Otipemisiwak Métis Nation, she brings over two decades of international experience, including as a former Partner at Deloitte. She currently serves on the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB), where she contributes to advancing Indigenous inclusion within national sustainability frameworks.

Raylene is a trusted advisor to public and private companies, Crown agencies, and regulatory bodies—supporting efforts to build authentic, accountable relationships with Indigenous communities. Her work focuses on embedding Indigenous rights, values, and worldviews into corporate systems, governance structures, and sustainability reporting. She helps institutions move beyond performative gestures to implement practices that foster long-term reconciliation, economic justice, and mutual benefit.

Raylene holds a Chartered Accountant (FCA, ICAEW) designation and an MBA from Robert Gordon University. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce with distinction from the University of Alberta, where she is currently completing an interdisciplinary Ph.D in Indigenous Studies and Business. Her research focuses on corporate disclosure practices within the TSX Composite Index, with the goal of shifting financial systems toward Indigenous-informed accountability and transparency.

Ali Tapaquon

Principal & FOunder

Ali Tapaquon (he/him+) is a proud Nêhiyaw and Ethiopian First Nations person from Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation, Treaty 4 Territory. As a former Indigenous youth in care and adoptee, he is committed to cultural reclamation and supporting youth, with an emphasis on climate stewardship. Ali’s primary focus lies in Indigenous commerce, with particular attention to the intersection of macroeconomic systems and their impact on Indigenous and equity-deserving communities.

As a management consultant, Ali is known for his tangible and effective approach to strategy—grounding high-level planning in practical outcomes that create measurable, long-term impact. He led the development of the Reconciliation Assessment Report (RAR) Program, a proprietary process developed by Tatâga Inc. which helps organizations assess their current practices, implement Indigenous focused strategies, and take meaningful steps toward reconciliation.

Ali brings a commitment to community through his leadership and volunteer governance roles. He previously served on the board of Indigenous Youth Roots, a national organization supporting Indigenous youth leadership across Canada, and currently sits on the board of The Howl Experience, a registered charity connecting youth to the outdoors through land-based learning and immersive programming.

Ali’s work is shaped by intersectional experience and cultural mentorship, including his adopted kinship as mîchis (son) to Elder Tom Snow. Ali’s experience continues to grow, through his personal and professional experiences, and the Herd he walks alongside with.

Joseph Tapaquon

Artist in Residence

Joe Tapaquon is a Nêhiyaw (Cree) artist and visual storyteller based in Regina, Saskatchewan, and a proud member of George Gordon First Nation. His artistic journey began at an early age, inspired by his late father, renowned artist Joseph Bitternose Sr., whose influence continues to guide his creative path.

Joe’s work is rooted in his cultural heritage and shaped by deep familial connections. His art draws from ancestral teachings, personal experiences, and the beauty of Cree traditions. With a natural gift for visual expression, his pieces have been featured in galleries and private collections across Canada and the United States. In 2024, Joseph provided the artwork of Deloitte’s Renewed Reconcilitation Action Plan.

He is the uncle of Ali Tapaquon, Founder of Tatâga Inc., and shares in the broader commitment to cultural reclamation and community empowerment through art and storytelling. Joe continues to create from his home in Regina, where he lives with his family, contributing to the legacy of Indigenous visual art with heart, depth, and spirit.

Supporting Indigenous Students

Tatâga believes in supporting the education and advancement of Indigenous Youth in their career and life aspirations. Tatâga’s business model of sharing includes the participation of Indigenous Students in Project Work through a subcontracting strategy.

Indigenous Students take part in working with Tatâga’s clients to build their experience, receive compensation, and grow their network in their dedicated fields of interest. As Indigenous Youth and Students prepare for the future, Tatâga believes that organizations and businesses carry a role in providing opportunities for these young people to grow and learn in an environment that supports them.