Lynda Gerow
Interm Executive Director
Lynda is from the Tsil’Kaz’Koh Wet’suwet’en Nation in Burns Lake, British Columbia. Her teachings are mostly Anishinaabe and Mohawk. Mukade Miiagan is her spirit name which means Black Wolf. Lynda was one of the founding members of our precursor organization, the Kingston Indigenous Language Nest. Lynda’s education and professional experience are in social work, community programming, harm reduction and early childhood education. Lynda holds many positions of responsibility throughout the community, as a Firekeeper and Powwow Dancer, President of the local Ontario Native Women’s Association chapter, and is a member of the Katarokwi Grandmother’s Council. Lynda is a mother, a Kookom ( grandmother) and an Auntie both in her own family and in the community. Lynda’s vision for the Centre is that it becomes a safe place for the community to gather, grow, learn, heal and celebrate together.
Constance Carrière-Prill
Director, Strategic Development (she/her)
Constance is the Director of Strategic Development of the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest (KNCLN), having first served as the organization's Executive Director from 2022 through 2024. Constance led the organization through rapid operational growth and its transition from the grassroots to ratification as a Friendship Centre. Constance is now spearheading the development of the organization's Justice program and our long-term building strategy, and representing KNCLN in a collaborative community project to develop an Indigenous Care Centre as part of the City's Homelessness Collective. Constance also provides strategic advisement to the organization's executive.
Constance has over two decades of experience in leadership, business and management as well as investigations, risk assessment and senior level advisement. She worked for over a decade in the federal government and has an Honours degree from Queen’s University, with a major in Global Development Studies and minor in Indigenous Studies, along with a Law Certificate from Queen’s Law School. She is also a full time graduate student at the Queen's University Faculty of Law, where she is a third year JD Candidate, with a focused interest at the intersections between human rights and criminal law. Constance also works as a private consultant with organizations focused on being more responsive to the needs of marginalized clients and groups. Constance has expertise in working with Indigenous communities, incarcerated populations, at-risk youth and SOGIESC communities.
Constance is a wife, daughter, aunt, sister and mother of four amazing young adults.
Kearstie Snary
Intergenerational Strength and Resiliency Coordinator
Kearstie is our Intergenerational Strength and Resiliency Worker. Keartie is a graduate of the Child and Youth Worker program at St.Lawrence College, she is an artist, poet, and mother. She has a passion for working with people and supporting our community with a focus of navigating and maintaining our wellness and healing.in her free time you can find her at the lake, playing with the children, crafting and learning new recipes in her kitchen.
Kearstie comes from the front lines of community healing work. Keep your eye out for amazing opportunities to engage in the coming months with Kearstie’s ISR program!
Jade
Youth Program Coordinator
Jade is joining us part time one day per week as our Youth Program Coordinator. Jade is Anishnaabe Bear Clan from Batchewana First Nations, and grew up here in Kingston! She is a St. Lawrence College graduate, who currently works at Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre at Queen’s to help facilitate cultural programming, create new initiatives, provide resources, and is responsible for ensuring Four Directions runs smoothly!
Jade is passionate about advocating for and creating opportunities for Indigenous youth to learn and grow, and is so excited for this opportunity to join KNCLN, and to further support Indigenous youth by creating a safe, supportive environment for kids to discover new talents, learn new skills, and expand on their own knowledges!
Samuel Powless
Cultural Bundles Coordinator
Samuel Powless is our Culture Bundles Coordinator. Sam is Kanyen’kehá:ka Bear Clan from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. He is a Kanyen’kehá language learner and a Trent University graduate in Indigenous Studies and Philosophy.
Samuel is currently in Graduate Studies at Queen’s University, studying Law. Prior to his Law studies, Samuel spent a time working at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, where he grew up! Samuel plans on furthering his language learning and enrol into the two-year Kanyen’kehá program with TTO!
Claire Scruby
Garden Coordinator
Claire Scruby is our new Garden Coordinator with KNCLN, working with us part time two days per week on this program.
Claire is Algonquin from Pikwàkanagàn First Nations, a Queen’s University ITEP graduate, and a language learner. Claire is currently working on her Masters of Education, with research focus on children in care and their progression and success through the education system, through the lens of the 7 Grandfather Teachings. She will be moving on to her PhD this fall!
Claire has experience as a work study student through ITEP tending to their Traditional Medicine Garden, and has been an active volunteer in different community settings.
Christine Allan
Executive Assistant
Christine is our Executive Assistant and a member of the Métis community. She holds an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Medical Assisting from Ross Medical Education Centre in Michigan. Christine worked for many years in group homes and with Traumatic Brain Injury/Spinal Cord injury patients. She also has professional background in administration and bookkeeping. An avid traditional woman's dancer, Christine feels very connected to her culture and hopes to pass on what she has learned to her 5 children and 4 grandchildren.
Sarah Dunkley
Intergenerational Wellness Coordinator
Sarah holds a Master of Social Work degree, Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency, is a learner of the Mohawk language, and has both professional and academic expertise in childhood development and working with community members of all ages.
Yessica
Care Support Worker
Yessica is currently a Registered Practical Nurse and a Teaching Artist with a diverse background in healthcare, education, and multidisciplinary arts.
Yessica has been involved with a wide range of communities of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds with hands-on personal care as well as providing healing through a multidisciplinary arts connection; predominantly drumming and singing. Her work has spanned across Turtle Island (North America), with a focus on Ontario Canada, Hawai'i USA, and Michoacán México.
She is an avid Náhuatl language learner and has a love and appreciation for all languages and cultures. She remains deeply rooted to her cultural heritage, family, and community ties from the tail end of Turtle Island; México. One of her goals was to find a position that encompassed community, arts, culture, health, wellness and she feels she has found that at Kingston Native Centre & Language Nest in the Life Long Care Program.