Facilitator Bio: Marissa Magneson is a Cree-Métis artist, photographer, educator, and workshop facilitator whose work is informed by Indigenous practices and a commitment to cultural reclamation and conciliation. With a BFA honours degree from York University and a master’s degree in Canadian and Indigenous Studies from Trent University, Marissa has dedicated herself to educating, photographing, consulting, and creating in meaningful ways. Her master’s research focused on Indigenous re-search methodologies using beadwork as visual storytelling, and her work is centered around decolonizing education, strengthening community, and reclaiming cultural practices. Through her collaborative efforts with various organizations, Marissa has made a significant impact in the communities she works with, such as post-secondary Indigenous Student Centres across Turtle Island, both private and public schools in the GTA, Corporate and Non-Profit Organizations, and her own community, the Métis Nation of Ontario and Toronto and York Regional Métis Council, where she sits as the elected Youth Representative.

Currently a doctoral student in the Faculty of Education at York University, Marissa is researching beadwork as pedagogy, a bridge toward cultural reclamation and (re)conciliation. She remains committed to making a positive impact in both her personal and professional endeavors, especially in the lives of youth and Indigenous peoples. 

Instagram: @MagnesonStudios / @MarissaMagnesonPhotography
Website: https://www.marissamagneson.com