Ela Smith

Aanii, my name is Gee waniway eekwe (Whirling wind woman). I am bear clan displaced through colonization. My home community is Waterloo Region.  I am a graduate of the Early Childhood Education Diploma program, Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Master of Social Work, Indigenous Field of Study. Much of my career has focused on working within mental health and advocacy. I am a Teaching and Learning Consultant - Indigenous Education with Mohawk College.  I work from a wholistic trauma-informed Indigegogy perspective that works to empower people to critically reflect on how their practice impacts the world. I am also sessional faculty with the University of Toronto in the Indigenous Trauma and Resilience MSW program as well as Renison University/University of Waterloo in the Social Development Studies Program. I currently sit on the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies Board of Governors impacting change from a provincial focus for Indigenous children and families.