Our Team

Dr. Jeffrey Reading

Senior Advisor, Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, First Nations Health Authority Chair in Heart Health and Wellness at St. Paul's Hospital

Dr. Jeff Reading is an Indigenous researcher of Mohawk ancestry with more than two decades experience in enhancing knowledge in Indigenous health issues, both in Canada and globally. As the inaugural Scientific Director of the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health at CIHR from 2000 to 2008, Jeff led a movement calling for a national advanced research agenda. Dr. Reading's research has brought attention to issues including: social determinants of health, health promotion and disease prevention, environmental health, heart health, diabetes, tobacco misuse, and accessibility to health care among Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Read Profile

Anita Manshadi

Senior Research Manager, MPH

Anita Manshadi is a settler of colour with Persian ancestral ties who was raised on the Haisla territory and currently resides as an uninvited guest on the traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən people. Anita is a recent graduate with a Masters of Public Health, specializing in Indigenous Peoples Health from the University of Victoria. Anita has over 6 years of professional experience working with First Nations communities and organizations, most recently at the First Nations Health Authority. She is passionate in exploring structural racism, embedding cultural safety and humility in health policies and systems, ecological health, and First Nations health and wellness indicators.

Read Profile

Elizabeth Hunter

Research Analyst

Elizabeth (Liz) Hunter is Stoney Nakoda from GoodStoney First Nation located in Mînî Thînî, Alberta. She currently resides as an uninvited guest on the unceded and occupied territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. 

Liz is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences with a minor in Indigenous studies at SFU. She has over 5 years of experience working within Indigenous health organizations, most recently the First Nations Health Authority. Most recently, Liz became a certified doula grounded in Indigenous teachings and worldviews.

She is passionate about exploring sleep, women's health, sustainability, biodiversity, disability, traditional food systems and Indigenous food sovereignty.

Read Profile

Georgia Huggan

Project Manager

Georgia Huggan is a settler of Ukrainian and Scottish descent, who works and lives on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. 

Georgia completed her BA in Gender, Sexuality, Feminism and Social Justice at McGill University. She continued her educational journey at Central European University, in Vienna, Austria, where she completed her MA in Gender Studies with a focus on health equity. Her research centred on anti-Indigenous racism within maternity care practices in rural and remote communities in British Columbia.

In her current role as Project Manager, Georgia is dedicated to promoting Indigenous health and wellness through the Indigenizing Health Research Ethics project. 

Read Profile

Katen Kelly

MSc Student in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology

Katen Kelly is Woodlands Cree with mixed ancestry. She is from Saskatchewan and belongs to the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. Katen is a Master’s student in SFU’s Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology department. She recently graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Katen is specializing in Neuroscience, and her research focuses on brain health in Indigenous groups. Her current study aims to improve access to culturally appropriate care for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. She believes that by creating a safe place for Indigenous people to share their thoughts and opinions on healthcare, we can generate positive change within our community. Katen is passionate and determined to encourage researchers, healthcare professionals, peacekeepers, and other members of the community to listen to the diverse experiences and knowledge of Indigenous peoples.

“ kikiskinowâsohtâkân – you learn by listening to people.”

Read Profile

Taylor Atwater

Faculty of Health Sciences PhD Student

Taylor Atwater is Semà:th First Nations with mixed ancestry and grew up in Pemberton BC.  She brings a diverse background to her work with a foundation in clinical exercise physiology, investigating the effects of high altitude on the coronary vascular system in her undergraduate research to exploring the lived experience of First Nations in BC with diabetes with the First Nations Health Authority. She is currently pursuing her PhD under the supervision of Dr. Krista Stelkia, focusing on First Nations-specific approaches to ethical health research in British Columbia.

Taylor boasts over four years of quantitative and qualitative research experience, using a Two-Eyed Seeing approach throughout various projects. Her dedication to advancing the well-being of Indigenous peoples is evident in her passion for promoting cultural safety and humility, as well as her commitment to exploring structural racism.

She resides on the unceded and occupied lands of the Líl̓wat Nation, where she remains deeply connected to this community.

Read Profile

Tara Erb

Faculty of Health Sciences PhD Student

Tara is of mixed Moose Cree First Nation from Moose Factory and French European ancestry and grew up in Toronto, Ontario. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at the University of Victoria (UVic) and a Master of Arts in Sociology (UVic), with a research focus on facilitating Indigenous cultural safety and anti-racism training. Tara is currently completing her PhD in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University under the supervision of Dr. Krista Stelkia and with a research focus on Indigenous Cultural Safety in Research Environments/Structures, specifically ethics and ethical processes. Her research interests include: Indigenous health and wellness, Indigenous cultural safety, anti-Indigenous racism and social theory.

Currently, Tara is the Network Coordinator of the BC NEIHR residing as a guest on the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEC peoples territory.

Read Profile

Dr. Evan Adams

Indigenous Scholar, Tla'amin First Nation 

Evan Tlesla Adams is a two-spirit, Coast Salish physician from Tla’amin First Nation near Powell River, BC, Canada.

Dr. Adams completed his Medical Doctorate at the University of Calgary and a residency in the Aboriginal Family Practice program at UBC in Vancouver. Dr. Adams has a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the Deputy Provincial Health Officer for BC (2012 to 2014), the Chief Medical Officer of the First Nations Health Authority (2014-2020), and then the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of First Nations & Inuit Health Branch, Indigenous Services Canada (2020-2023).

He will spend a year (24/25) as a Harkness (research) Fellow at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu, HI. On a personal note, Evan is married to Allan, and they have 6 children.

Read Profile

Dr. Ana Lúcia Pontes

Allied Scholar, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Ana Lúcia Pontes is a Brazilian medical doctor specialized in "Education and Health" and "Preventive and Social Medicine" (2003-2006). She holds both a master's degree and a doctorate in "Public Health" from the National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca. Currently, she is a researcher at the National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/Ministry of Health in Brazil, and a member of the Indigenous Health Thematic Group of the Brazilian Association of Collective Health. She is also a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University within the Faculty of Health Sciences until july 2025.

With over 20 years of experience, she has been actively engaged in research, education, and technical work in Indigenous health in Brazil, particularly focusing on Indigenous Health Agents and the enhancement of Indigenous Health Policy. Additionally, she is passionate about advocating for and supporting Indigenous organizations and leaders in their fight for health rights and against racism, as well as supporting Indigenous health researchers.

Read Profile