Meet the U&U Team
We are a team of Indigenous and settler public health leaders, scholars, health care practitioners, and students.
Dr. Danièle Behn Smith
MD, MPH, CCFP, IFMCP (she/her)
Bio
Taanshi, Dágǫndı́h, Greetings with gratitude on the territories of the Lekwungen peoples of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations! I’m Métis from the Red River Valley and Eh Cho Dene from Fort Nelson First Nation. I am a mom, a daughter, a spouse, and an auntie. I have the honour and privilege of working as the Deputy Provincial Health Officer Indigenous Health. At the BC Office of the PHO, we are working towards an environment of cultural safety, anti-racism and trustworthiness. Mussi cho/Maarsi.
Dr. Kate Jongbloed
PhD (she/her)
Bio
I am a white occupier living on the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I am an epidemiologist and mixed methods health researcher with 15+ years of experience documenting and responding to the impacts of settler colonialism on health and wellness. Recently, I completed a two-year CIHR Health Systems Impact Post-Doctoral Fellowship mentored by Dr. Danièle Behn Smith in the BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer. Now, I am a Senior Scientist at the BC Centre for Disease Control working to grow an “unlearning and undoing white supremacy and Indigenous specific racism lab” (U&U Lab) for population and public health in BC. Two of my other roles are Adjunct Professor at University of Victoria’s School of Public Health and Social Policy and Associate with Qoqoq Consulting Ltd.
Jorden Hendry
PhD (c), MPH (she/her)
Bio
Jorden is First Nations/Settler, from Tsimshian Nation and a member of Lax Kw’alaams band. Her work is dedicated to promoting the rights and health of Indigenous Peoples by actively working to dismantle Indigenous-specific racism and white supremacy within public health. Jorden holds a BSc and MPH from the University of British Columbia (UBC). She has continued her studies at UBC where she is completing a PhD that examines health system transformation, focusing on colonial structures and their role in perpetuating racism and health inequities. Jorden works as a researcher at the Unlearning and Undoing Indigenous-specific Racism and White Supremacy Lab. Her leadership is characterized by a commitment to incorporating anti-racism and Indigenous ways of knowing into multiple levels of governance in the education and health systems.
Kirsten White
MPH, RN(c) (she/her)
Bio
I am a white occupier gratefully living on the unceded traditional territories of the K’ómoks First Nation. I’m a Registered Nurse with 13 years of experience working in emergency departments, northern and remote Indigenous communities, and inner-city health. Throughout my career I’ve witnessed the ways our settler-colonial health systems continue to harm Indigenous Peoples and communities, rooted in Indigenous-specific racism and white supremacy. I am working to understand and fullfill my role in challenging and dismantling these systems, and am honoured to be a member of the U&U Lab team.
U&U Students and Alumni
We have a fluid and ever growing team of First Nations and Métis students.
Nicole Jules
BHK (she/her)
Bio
Weykt, I am Secwepemc & Nlaka’pamux gratefully living in the unceded territory of the Malahat Nation and Hul’qumi’num. I grew up in Cstelnec, otherwise known as Adams Lake. I am working at the BC Office of the PHO as a Junior Policy Analyst, within the Indigenous Youth Internship Program, on the Unlearning and Undoing White Supremacy Project. I am honored to work towards an environment of cultural safety, anti-racism and trustworthiness, with love and care, alongside an incredible team.
Chelsey Perry
PhD (c), MSc (she/they)
Bio
N̓it, I am a citizen of the Nisg̱a’a First Nation registered through the village of Gingolx in the Nass Valley. I currently live, work, and learn on the traditional unceded homelands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and Səl̓ílwətaɬ Nations. I am a doctoral student in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. At the Indigenous Equity Lab and the Unlearning and Undoing Lab, my research focuses on Indigenous health, access to healthcare, 2SLGBTQQIA+ health, sexual and reproductive health, climate change, and untying colonial knots in pandemic health policy. I am on the National Steering Committee for Indigenous Climate Action, a Nisga’a traditional dancer, and an artist.
Jocelyn Benji
BSc (she/her)
Bio
With Tl’etinqox & Punjabi roots, I am grateful to currently reside on the unceded territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples. Born and raised on Quw’utsun (Cowichan Valley) territory, I have strong connections to the community and enjoy spending time hiking, on the water, and exploring nature. I completed my BSc in a Combined Major at UBC and am currently in my second year of medical school at UBC’s Island Medical program.
Juanessa Prince
(she/her)
Bio
Juanessa Prince is Plains Cree from Treaty 8 Territory with she/her pronouns. Born in Prince George B.C. she grew up in Grande Prairie Alberta near her reserve. Juanessa has been living on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw people in Nanaimo since 2017 where she attended the Vancouver Island University. She is 3 years into a sociology degree and is currently a Junior Policy Analyst intern at the Public Health Office through the Indigenous Youth Internship.
Dr. Priscilla Lawson-Pires
MD (she/her)
Bio
Brandi Dan
NP, RN (she/her)
Bio
Pierce Gorun
BSc (he/any)
Bio
Amber Louie
MPH, RN (she/her)