Meet the Team

For sponsorship opportunities, if you are interested in volunteering before or during the summit, please contact:

  • Wahpikwanees Mary Kappo is a queer Nehiyaw woman and a proud member of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory. Now residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Treaty 1 territory, she is a dedicated mother, dancer, and artist. Wahpikwanees holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, grounding her work in a deep understanding of community, culture, and social responsibility.

    Driven by a profound passion for environmental stewardship and cultural preservation, Wahpikwanees expresses her values through Indigenous art. Her creative practices—beading, sewing, and upcycling—are more than hobbies; they are acts of resistance, renewal, and storytelling that uphold Nehiyaw law while promoting sustainable ways of living.

    Wahpikwanees is especially dedicated to uplifting the next generation, using art as a bridge to connect youth with culture, land, and identity. Through her work, she strives to inspire pride, resilience, and a shared commitment to protecting both the environment and Indigenous traditions for future generations.

SevenGen Manager (Current)
wahpikwaneesmary@sevengen.org

Meet the SevenGen Council

The SevenGen Council is made up of Indigenous youth leaders from the north, south, east, and west, who work together to guide and develop SevenGen Energy’s programs, which includes the SevenGen Summit and the ImaGENation Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program. We act as the vision holders and leaders of the SevenGen Summit 2024.

RAYLENE MITCHELL

Raylene Mitchell (she/her) is a proud Inuk woman from Labrador. She currently lives in Toronto working on her PhD at the University of Toronto in mechanical engineering researching energy storage solutions, more specifically for northern, Indigenous communities. She believes in indigenizing the engineering process, and is working toward a future where Indigenous knowledge and science are at the forefront of engineering designs. Raylene is passionate about community-led energy projects and accessible energy education for all. She is especially looking forward to the upcoming summit this October in Iqaluit to discuss the future of energy with other Indigenous youth from across the country.


ROBERT BURNS

Robert is from the Gitxsan and Heiltsuk First Nation and is currently in his final year of Indigenous Studies at the University of British Columbia. Having spent the last ten years in youth programming and community development his focus has been on building relations. Understanding the conflicts of living in two worlds, Robert grew up outside of his community and has been navigating the connection to his nations and living in western society. Currently a participant in the Audible Indigenous Writers’ Circle, his writing has focused on Indigenous resistance, exploring identity and the relationship to our ancestors. Bending space and time to understand our relationship to kin, community and land. An advocate for Indigenous youth, as manager of SevenGen Energy he is focused on supporting the next generation of Indigenous youth stewarding our relationship to land.


JANELLE LAPOINTE

Janelle Lapointe is an Afro-Indigenous climate justice and Indigenous rights organizer from Stellat’en First Nation. She is currently the interim co-lead of Public Engagement and Mobilization at the David Suzuki Foundation and a guest on Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) territories. Janelle is also an organizer with Common Horizon, a regular contributor on CBC Vancouver’s The Early Edition climate panel, a member of the Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group and a council member of SevenGen Energy. She leans on her lived experience growing up on her small reserve in Northern British Columbia to ensure that intersectionality is at the forefront of environmental narratives, to build power and help others see their stake in fighting back against the status quo.

JUSUA NATHAN KETTLER

Joshua Nathan Kettler, also known as Jusua, is an Inuk from Inukjuak, a northern community along the coast of Hudson Bay in northern Québec. He has worked for over three years as a hydroelectric power plant operator at the Innavik Hydroelectric Project, supporting clean and reliable energy for northern and remote communities, including his home community. Joshua brings hands-on operational experience alongside a strong commitment to Indigenous youth leadership, land stewardship, and community self-determination. He serves as Vice-President of the Board of Directors for Nurrait | Jeunes Karibus, a Nunavik-based after-school ski program that supports youth wellness, leadership, and connection to the land. Joshua is also involved in developing Discussin’ with Cuzzins, a TED Talk–inspired platform amplifying Indigenous youth voices. As a father of two daughters, his work is grounded in responsibility to future generations and life on Inuit Nunangat.


SERENE PARENTEAU

Serene Parenteau (she/her) is a Red River Métis woman with roots in Pukatawagan and Duck Bay, and a third-year Environmental Science student at the University of Winnipeg. Her work is grounded in land protection, forest ecology, and Indigenous-led climate action. Serene is a Program Assistant with the Energy and Water programs at the international institute for sustainable development experimental lakes area, supporting just transition and clean energy research, including relationship-building with Treaty 3 communities through the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA). She is also a Generation Power participant with Indigenous Clean Energy, and has experience in dendrochronology research through the University of Winnipeg’s P2GS Program. Serene is driven by Indigenous self-determination, community-led futures, and protecting the land for future generations.


AY’DEN ABRAHAM

Ay’den Abraham (25) is an active member of his home community of Frog Lake First Nations located in Treaty 6 territory. As a young Albertan he saw the disparity between environmental protection standards and the production of oil in his homelands. In his reserve as he grew up he noticed the number of oil wells and sites was larger than the amount of houses that were livable in his lands around him.

In his youth while in school he would lead environmental efforts via volunteer work to start the conversation around environmental protection and advocacy. In his later life in 2023, he participated as a volunteer at his local fire department and undertook the trading to be certified as a firefighter and ensure the environment was protected.

He now holds the role of Climate and Resources Liaison in his nation while being a keen participant within Indigenous Clean Energy programming.

With his work of bringing a level 3 50kW fast charger into his homelands at his local gas station and now leading the Solar Initiative at his local highschool with his team consisting of Michael and Samuel Marty, he and his team hope to bring opportunities for Indigenous youth in and around his nation. In December of 2024 he was awarded with the honor of being a Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalist via The Starfish Canada now considered an alumni. Ay’Den believes in our commitment to not only protect the land but also give back to it.


JORDAN BROWN

I am a young Inuk woman from Nunatsiavut, Labrador, currently completing my Bachelor of Kinesiology in St. John’s, Newfoundland. While growing up in rural Labrador, I became passionate about protecting the land, water, and community health. I first became involved in climate action and land stewardship in high school after participating in a project led by Actua. With this project, we built a hydroponic system and tracked local weather patterns. The inspiration from this project led me on a journey towards other impactful initiatives where I am able to share my voice and listen, learn, and collaborate with other motivated youth. An especially life-changing experience was during my participation in the Inuit Connection Program that took place in my ancestral homelands of the Torngat Mountains (Tuurngait) - known as the place of spirits. The strength of connection to the untouched land and intact biodiversity showed me how important it is to preserve our land and adopt a collaborative approach for future generations. In the coming years, I hope to work in Indigenous-specific health care and land wellness, providing support to those in isolated northern communities. In my spare time, I volunteer at a therapeutic horse riding centre, Rainbow Riders, and spend time on the land as a way to reconnect and find balance throughout my work.


ANDREA WARREN

Andrea Warren is a proud member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation and the Governance Coordinator for Fort Nelson First Nation. A young mother of three and dedicated community advocate, Andrea brings passion, precision, and heart to every role she undertakes.

With a background in business and communications, Andrea has played a key leadership role in advancing community-driven economic development initiatives, including clean energy, geothermal innovation, forestry development, and food security programming. She previously served as Project Coordinator and Communications Lead for Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal - a 100% Indigenous-owned and women-led clean energy project - where she supported strategic planning, funding applications, budgeting, community engagement, and regulatory processes.

Andrea is deeply committed to Indigenous energy sovereignty, economic diversification, and building opportunities that support future generations. She has contributed to national conversations as a member of the Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) Advisory Council, ensuring Indigenous voices help shape clean energy programming across Turtle Island.

Andrea believes in women leading change, uplifting one another, and bringing their communities forward together. Her work is rooted in family, culture, and a deep commitment to building resilient, self-determined Nations.