Who we are
pîkiskwêwin means language in Cree. This website, and the podcast series’ in the Indigenous languages of Saskatchewan showcased here, are made possible with funding provided by the Government of Canada to the First Nations University of Canada.
pîkiskwêwin Project Team
Shannon Avison
Project Sponsor, First Nations University of Canada
Shannon was raised in Whitehorse, Yukon before she moved to Regina to complete a BA (Philosophy) at the University of Regina in 1983. Shannon discovered the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC) when she was hired to tutor a group of summer students in Logic. She registered at SIFC and graduated from the Indian Communication Arts (INCA) program in 1988; and she was hired as a lecturer in the program in 1989. She went on to complete an Indian Studies BA (Honours) in 1994, the year her son Liam was born. She completed an MA (Media Studies) at Concordia in 1997 and in 1998 her daughter Ariel was born. Both children were raised at SIFC/First Nations University of Canada. Shannon has helped hundreds of talented INCA students find careers in Journalism and Public Relations. She has managed numerous training and media projects, but none as ambitious as pîkiskwêwin. She says even though she has been involved with communication for decades, it was this pîkiskwêwin project that made her appreciate the beauty and power of Indigenous languages and the importance of using Indigenous languages to conduct research and tell stories.
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Ali Nicholls Asikinack
Senior Digital Consultant
Ali was born and raised in Regina on Treaty 4 Territory. She is a service design professional with over 20 years experience working on numerous innovative projects.
Ali has always had a creative spirit and spent her teenage years building websites in her bedroom. After landing a job at a design agency right out of school, she honed her skills as a graphic designer.
A couple of years later, she began her nearly decade-long career with the Government of Saskatchewan working on numerous high-profile digital initiatives. As a core member of Government’s Digital Team, she helped deliver saskatchewan.ca, MyGov Online Services Account, and most notably, was a core member of the Income Assistance Redesign team and led the delivery of an online application tool targeted at the province's most vulnerable population.
She then left the government to help build a new business where she was VP of Marketing and Operations of Brain Snacks Co, a parent-friendly workspace and snack bar. Since then, she’s had the honour of joining the pîkiskwêwin team as a Senior Digital Consultant. She’s enjoyed learning about the vast languages of her people. The biggest gift has been the surprise re-connection to her birth family, as she was adopted as a young child.
She currently works on the Design System Team for the Government of Alberta as a Service Design Consultant.
In her spare time, she loves to hike, play board games, create delicious vegan recipes that she shares on her blog - Plant Tribe Food and spend quality time with her partner Steve and their little dog Lilu.
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Belinda Nelson
Producer
Belinda Nelson, a proud member of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, and a single mother, embarked on a journey of self-discovery and education in 1999 when she moved to Saskatoon. Her pursuit of knowledge led her to the First Nations University of Canada, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and worked towards an Indigenous Communication Arts certificate.
In 2003, she returned to her community, serving in various roles and making significant contributions. Her proudest achievement is the establishment of CKRE 104.9 FM, a community radio station that serves as a voice for her people.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Belinda is a devoted mother to four wonderful children and a kokum to eight beautiful grandchildren. These family ties are a source of joy and inspiration in her life.
Feeling the need for a career change and a renewed sense of purpose, Belinda returned to university in 2023. She completed the INCA certificate and is currently pursuing the INJC Diploma.
Belinda’s ultimate goal is not just personal growth, but also communal upliftment. She is committed to learning her native Cree language and playing a pivotal role in revitalizing language and art within her community. This journey, she believes, will not only enrich her life but also ensure the preservation and celebration of her rich cultural heritage.