Know History is Canada’s leading historical services firm. Our mission is to research, document, and share stories that need to be told. We have worked with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit throughout Canada to uncover the truths of the past. We are the only Canadian company to be recognized for Excellence in Consulting by the American National Council on Public History and the first private firm to receive the Canadian Historical Association’s Prize in Public History.

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Arlene Lahti is the Co-founder and Office Manager of Woodland Heritage Northwest. Her experience in archaeological assessments and cultural resource management was developed through years of field work, artifact identification and curation. For 13 years, Arlene has been involved in all four stages of archaeological assessments in northern Ontario. Her expertise is in field work, project management in northern boreal forests, and the regulations which dictate work in Ontario. Being of Métis heritage herself, she believes in fostering partnerships with Indigenous communities. Promoting education of archaeology is important to success when working in northern Ontario.

Lily Chouinard is Cree from the James Bay Territory. She is a Support Worker for Weecheetowin Support Services, and in her free time she enjoys sewing and beading.

Jessica (Robinson) Mamakeesick is an Oji-Cree woman with roots in Sandy Lake and Keewaywin, Ontario. She first enjoyed sketching and getting creative as early as school art projects, but found she had less time for it as she grew older. For the past fifteen years, Jessica has built a career in healthcare, supported the growth of a small business with her husband, and enjoyed raising a son. In 2021, Jessica woke up feeling inspired after a dream of creating native art. She began her first painting that day, and hasn’t stopped since. Painting has been her healing and growth, and she’s excited to share the visions that bring her so much peace and fulfillment and connect her to her culture. Jessica currently lives and works in Thunder Bay, Ontario alongside her husband, son, and two dogs.

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Sol Mamakwa is Anishinaabe and a member of Kingfisher Lake First Nation and a resident of Sioux Lookout. He is fluent in Anishininiimowin (Oji-Cree). Sol began his career as a health advocate. He remains committed to improving health delivery throughout Treaty 9, 3 and 5 territory and the whole Kiiwetinoong riding. Sol has committed his time in public office to advocating for the North as a whole. Both within the legislature and beyond, Sol has addressed issues including the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the child welfare and justice systems, the youth suicide crisis, vaccine hesitancy, and the Northern doctor shortage.

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The Thunder Mountain Singers are International recording artists from Thunder Bay, Ontario. They have traveled throughout North America over the past 20 years recorded numerous albums. They received their drum name from the late Margaret Pierre of Fort William First Nation. It was her vision that through the drum, the First Nation youth would return to their traditional culture. The Thunder Mountain Singers continue to share their traditional teachings and songs with the youth.

Elder Donna Debassige - Anishinaabe kwe of the Fish Clan from Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island), and a member of the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, Elder Debassige has more than 35 years' experience working at the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Tribal Council. She is a fluent speaker of Ojibway, and a member of the Rain Dance Lodge.

Derek Congram, PhD, is a distinguished forensic archaeologist and board-certified forensic anthropologist with extensive experience across more than 25 countries. His work includes collaboration with organizations such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, focusing on the investigation of disappeared persons. Derek emphasizes the importance of including families of missing individuals as vital partners in forensic and humanitarian efforts, treating them as peers in the search for answers. In 2016, he contributed to a multi-author book on this critical issue, highlighting the context of Indian Residential Schools in Canada. Currently residing in Costa Rica, Derek supervises the country’s sole forensic anthropologist's PhD and co-directs the International Scientific Advisory Committee for Colombia's Missing Persons Search Unit. He is also an Adjunct Faculty member at Simon Fraser University and teaches in a master’s program in Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology in Peru, furthering education and research in this essential field.

Claudine is a Project Manager and bilingual researcher at Know History. As a Project Manager, Claudine has managed numerous research projects with Indigenous communities across Canada. Claudine specializes in oral history and community engagement with experience conducting oral history projects across Ontario.

Beth is a Director at Know History, North America’s largest historical research firm. She oversees residential school research projects in collaboration with working groups across Canada. An experienced project manager, Beth works with Indigenous clients to uncover the truth about Indian Residential Schools in Canada by developing research plans, gaining access to historical records, and organizing large-scale data. Beth has worked with Indigenous organizations including the Office of the Special Interlocutor, the Survivor’s Secretariat, the Council of Yukon First Nations, and other First Nations researching their Missing Children and Unmarked Burials.

CABA is a learned society of international scholars and students whose aim is to promote and increase awareness and understanding of physical (biological) anthropology among its membership, as well as to supporting institutions and agencies and the public at large. Physical anthropologists study adaptation, variability and evolution in a biocultural context. The Canadian Association for Biological Anthropology is part of the Alliance to Support Indian Residential School Missing Children Investigations.

David Norris, Phd. Woodland Heritage Northwest David Norris is the senior archaeologist and co-founder of Woodland Heritage Northwest.His passion is developing capacity in northern Ontario First nation communities in regard to archaeology, heritage, regulations and development. For over 28 years David has been involved in both research and consulting archaeology. Gaining his HBA from Lakehead University, David moved on to compete his Master’s at the University of Saskatchewan and finally finishing his PhD at the University of Western Ontario. His expertise lies in the northern boreal forests of Ontario. As a field archaeologist, David sharpened his skills addressing archaeological concerns within a development context. As a co-founder of Woodland Heritage Northwest, David’s strives to foster partnershipswith Indigenous communities ensuring their voice is heard. It is essential that their concerns are first and foremost on project development.

Mark Mackisoc, Mark has 29 years experience as a police investigator and is permanently attached to the Chief Coroner for Ontario where he is the Team Leader of the Residential Schools Death Investigation Team. The team has been in place since early 2022, and focuses on building relationships with Survivors and communities and using the legal authority of the Chief Coroner in order to gain access to documents relevant to residential school deaths. Mark holds a PhD in History and International Relations and lives in Kingston, Ontario.

Talon Fire Bird was born in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. Though living most of his life in Thunder Bay. Talon is a member of Noatkamegwanning First Nation (Whitefish Bay) and also very connected to his culture and identity as an indigenous man. Practicing and sharing his teachings whenever the opportunity comes around. He enjoys making new friends and connections while traveling the world for all types of opportunities. Which enable him to gain new perceptions and insights from all walks and stories of life. Helping him to further his own understandings and teachings everyday in his walk to lead a good life. In his spare time, he also emcees for powwows, conferences, gatherings, and even weddings. While dabbling in hip-hop as a performer under the stage name Mightybigbird.

David Mittelman is the founder and CEO of Othram Inc, the world's first private DNA laboratory built specifically to apply the power of modern parallel sequencing to forensic evidence.  Biotechnology company Othram was founded by Kristen and David Mittelman in 2018. The laboratory specializes in recovery, enrichment, and analysis of human DNA from trace amounts of degraded or contaminated materials. Mittelman has studied and developed DNA testing methods his entire career.