Miistáki Iinníí'naa: Mountain Buffalo Warrior - October 2026

Harley Crowshoe’s ancestry is Blackfoot and originates from the Piikani Nation Reserve in southern Alberta. 

Harley has extensive Aboriginal Policing experience with First Nations people in Alberta and British Columbia. Throughout his RCMP career he held supervisory positions as a Detachment Commander in “K” and “E” Divisions, as well as investigating serious crimes. After more than 20 years of service with the RCMP he retired at the rank of Staff Sgt. 

Harley had the opportunity to participate in a major project that developed and built Canada’s second diamond mine in the Northwest Territories. While employed by Diavik Diamond Mines he developed policies and programs for Site Security. 

Harley joined the Aboriginal Policing Directorate as the Regional Manager, responsible for Alberta and North West Territories. This provided him the opportunity to continue working closely with the First Nations communities in Alberta and NWT. 

Harley has worked for AHS for many years, first serving the AHS Wisdom Council as chair; then the AHS South Zone as the Indigenous Health Senior Advisor; the AHS South Sector as Indigenous Health Provincial Director; and now continues to support AHS health projects as an Indigenous Health Advisor. 

He is currently working parttime with Piikani Health Service as a Accreditation Coordinator. 

Harley is a board member sitting on the Windy Slopes Health Foundation and Fresh Start Recovery Centre and recently he has been appointed on the National Advisory Committee on Missing Children and Unmarked Graves. 

Harley is a recipient of the Order of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation, and a 25 year service award from Public Service Canada. Harley was presented a soapstone sculpture and sacred eagle feather in recognition of contributions to the First Nations people of Canada and was inducted as an Honorary Chief of the Piikani (Blackfoot) Nation - including traditional transfer of a sacred eagle headdress

Kluane Adamek – Aagé (she/her), is a proud citizen of Kluane First Nation and served as the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Yukon Regional Chief from 2018 -2025. She deeply appreciates and respects the Matriarchs who welcomed her into the Dakl’aweidi Clan. Her Grandmother, the late Ch’aalį um, always reminded her to be proud of who she is, and where she comes from; her Southern Tutchone, Tlingit, and non-Indigenous ancestry, postsecondary education, and her lived experiences. From a young age, her Grandfather taught her to be consistent, stay focused and to never compromise integrity. These teachings have given Kluane the unique ability to walk in what her Grandma described as ‘both worlds’, and to lead with humility and courage. 

Kluane has professional experience in the public, private, and non-government organizations. She is known as a facilitator and able to navigate complex issues with diplomacy, integrity, and compassion. She has served on various national and regional boards and committees including as a Trustee – Kluane First Nation Trust and recently appointed by the Prime Minister to the Indigenous Advisory Council, Major Projects Office. 

She is functionally bilingual in English and French and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University and a Master of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. Most recently, she obtained a Certificate in Indigenous Governance from the University of Arizona and is completing her Institute of Corporate Directors certification. 

In 2020, she was named one of the Top 25 Canadian Women of Influence in recognition of her contributions to the next generation of women in leadership and climate action. She is passionate about supporting youth and led the founding of ‘Our Voices,’ a Northern Indigenous Emerging Leaders Collective. Leading from her values is incredibly important to her, and she is described as a driven, strategic, and diplomatic leader who builds strong relationships and cares about people. 

Between 2018-2025, while serving as Regional Chief, Kluane Adamek and the AFN Yukon team hosted over 20 Chiefs Summits, in addition to quarterly AFN Yukon Executive Meetings. Together, with Yukon First Nations, (YFN) she has increased the accountability, regional engagement, modernization, and relevance of the Yukon region nationally and internationally. 

With nearly eight years serving in political office, Kluane Adamek has proven to be a consistent and strong voice for Yukon First Nations priorities and solutions regionally, nationally, and internationally

Daryl Kootenay is a Traditional singer, dancer, artist, & facilitator. Daryl is married to his beautiful wife Ariel Crawler and together they have 4 beautiful children (Nakoda, Marazu, Hashke, & Wagiya) from the Stoney Nakoda Nation of Treaty 7 in southern Alberta. Daryl is also a part of the Dine (Navajo) Nation in New Mexico from his father’s heritage. 

After graduating high school, Daryl travelled globally to volunteer his time in countries such as Africa, Peru, and Nicaragua, working in cross-cultural community- based programs with Canada World Youth (CWY) for many years. He was then a delegate for his nation and CWY at the World Conference of Indigenous Peoples (Sept. 2014), and The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights (UNPFII 2017), at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. 

Daryl successfully continues to lead and work with intergenerational indigenous leaders, activists and researchers in the journey to attend and effectively participate at the UNPFII. This work continues to bring Daryl around the globe to work and advocate for indigenous rights and recognition. He has the tremendous honour of being awarded the Governor General’s “Sovereignty’s Medal" in June 2017 for his work. Daryl, alongside his wife Ariel, were both recognized as the Alberta's Council for Global Cooperation's Top 30 under 30 in 2019. 

Daryl has actively volunteered in his community of Mini Thni (formerly Morley), Alberta, in a variety of roles which include co-founding the Stoney Nakoda Youth Council in 2014 and Co-Directing the Intergenerational Mini Rhrpa Collective. 

Daryl's more recent roles locally and globally are Co-Convener for the Min Ki Wakan World Indigenous Peoples Summit, Co-Founder of Bald Eagle Consultation, Faculty member at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Indigenous Leadership, former North American Focal Point for the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus to the United Nations, a Co-Founder and served as Co- Executive Director for the National Youth Charity known as the Howl Experience for 3 years. Most recently, Daryl completed the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Indigenous Fellowship program 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Megan Lewis is a queer, mixed Kanien’kehá:ka woman and member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, currently serving as Director of the Centre for Indigenous Policy and Research at Indigenous Youth Roots. Based in Ottawa, she leads national initiatives that center Indigenous youth voices in policy and research. 
Megan’s approach draws on lived experience as a vital part of advancing equity, self-determination, and community-led solutions. She is committed to making policy spaces more accessible and to uplifting youth leadership through advocacy, research, and relationship-building that help shape more equitable and responsive policy systems.

Heather O’Watch (She/Her) is a Nakoda and Nehiyaw woman from the Okanese First Nation in Canada. She has paternal ties to Carry The Kettle First Nation. Heather is enrolled in a Master’s Degree in Public Policy (MPP) at the University of Saskatchewan. She holds a BA in Indigenous Studies from the First Nations University of Canada. She works with Indigenous Peoples Rights International, a global Indigenous led organization that works to amplify justice for Indigenous peoples and communities facing criminalization and impunity. 

Heather has experience in research, policy and international affairs. Heather was selected as one of four young Canadian delegates to represent Canada in the Y7 Summit, the official youth delegation to the G7 summit in Japan 2023. Her contributions were submitted in the youth communique which was accepted by the 2023 G7 Presidency. She joined the Young Diplomats of Canada as EDI Lead to further support other young aspiring global leaders. She also is connected to the Global Youth Biodiversity Network- the official youth network of the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat. Heather recently founded Timpsina Society, a local Indigenous youth-led initiative which seeks to empower Indigenous youth in building capacity regarding policy and advocacy amongst the prairie region of Canada.