Jane “Setsuné” Dragon
(she/her)
Resident elder
Mrs. Jane Dragon C.M., O.N.W.T., is the resident Elder for FOXY & SMASH and is a pillar in her community. Mrs. Jane Dragon is a member of the Order of the Northwest Territories and the Order of Canada for her contributions to education and the North. Lovingly referred to as “Setsuné,” she is renowned and beloved throughout the North for maintaining and sharing traditional knowledge and skills with the next generation, notably for her expertise in garment creation. For decades, she has been devoted to social causes, Indigenous cultural activism, and creating resources for students and youth. For this, she has earned the Queen’s Jubilee Silver, Gold, and Diamond medals for her community service and stewardship of the traditional Aboriginal way of life. Mrs. Jane Dragon is Chipewyan and has lived in Fort Smith most of her life.
Candice Lys
(she/her)
Executive Director
Candice Lys grew up in Fort Smith in a very large Métis family, and has lived all over the world, including a brief stint on a ship in the Pacific Ocean. Candice has a Masters degree in Health Promotion and holds a PhD in Public Health. She is an Ashoka Canada Fellow, a mom to Luca & Mira, dog mom to Maple, and an avid almost-gardener.
Amanda Kanbari
(She/her)
Deputy Executive Director
Amanda Kanbari grew up in British Columbia and moved North after completing a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Amanda is passionate about creating inclusive spaces for young people to learn about sexual health, as well as violence prevention and intervention. She is a certified trainer in Restorative Practices who enjoys teaching Lindy Hop to anyone willing to try swing dancing!
Kiera BR
(All pronouns)
Program Coordinator
Kiera is a francophone Canadian who was born in northern Alberta and grew up in Hay River, Northwest Territories. Following a brief stint down south to complete their B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies and Sociology, Kiera decided it was high time to head home to the North! Kiera loves working with FOXY and SMASH because it gives them the opportunity to use creativity to connect with and empower youth all over the North.
Cassi Atamanenko (they/she)
Program coordinator
Cassi is a queer, multidisciplinary artist who grew up in Yellowknife before moving to Edmonton in 2015 to attend the University of Alberta. They completed their B.A. with a major in Drama and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies in 2020, and has since worked in arts-based non-profits as a youth support worker. Cassi is thrilled to be moving back up North and to be working with FOXY, as she is incredibly passionate about education surrounding sexuality and gender identity, as well as both sexual and mental health!
Jessie Shaw
(She/her/they)
Program Coordinator
This is Jessie! Jessie originated in Nova Scotia, circa 1995. She moved to Yellowknife in 2006 with her family, and has only briefly left to Alberta to pursue further education after high school. She has a passion for sexual and mental health, and healthy relationships, and was one of our first ever Peer Facilitators back in the day! After a stint of just under a decade, Jessie has rejoined the FOXY team as one of our Program Coordinators and is excited to get back into the FOXY swing of things! When she’s not working, you can find her hanging out with her family, or practicing funny faces in the mirror.
Nys Sanders
(She/They)
Facilitator
Nys was born and raised in Yellowknife, NT and has been working for FOXY since 2020. They graduated from École Sir John Franklin High School in 2023. Once finished with High School they moved to Edmonton AB to further their education. Nys is a proud bilingual, speaking both English and French. They are passionate about the arts and human rights, and often look for ways to incorporate the two into their daily life. This is one of the reasons they love FOXY and SMASH!
Alexandria Banksland (She/They)
Facilitator
Alexandria is an Inuk women, born and raised in the Northwest Territory. The majority of her life was spent in Ulukhaktok. She has been involved with FOXY since 2017! She has traveled across Canada’s southern regions for her education and all across the North to bring awareness to mental and sexual health for our youth! They spend their time deep-diving into traditional art forms and creating their own unique pieces. Alexandria’s most recent project gave youth across the arctic the opportunity to reconnect with their roots and to create their own traditional jewelry.
Billy Goose
(He/him)
Peer Facilitator
I am Inuvialuk from Ulukhaktok, NWT which also resides in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. I graduated from Helen Kalvak Elihakvik School in 2023 and am currently working as a Supervisor at the Arctic Fox Youth Centre and Gym running evening programs for the youth and children of Ulukhaktok. I am also a Peer Facilitator with FOXY/SMASH. I love, appreciate and respect my Inuvialuit Culture. I learn from our Elders and knowledge holders of our Inuvialuit culture and practices.
Amber Adjun
(she/her)
Peer Facilitator
I have been a FOXY Peer leader since 2016 and love being a part of this amazing team! I recently moved to Cambridge Bay, NU for the Office Administration Certificate course. I enjoy baking, sewing, and spending time with friends and family.
Millie Strachan-Legere(She/her)
Peer Facilitator
Millie grew up and still resides in Yellowknife. She is bilingual (French/English) and her hobbies include writing, acting, and swimming. She hasn’t yet decided what she want to be when she is older, but becoming an author is one of her top choices. Millie works with FOXY because the community is “amazing”, and she loved every minute of the Peer Leader Retreats, especially making new friends!
Lydia Angidlik
(She/her)
Peer Facilitator
Samuel Kodakin-scott
(he/him)
Peer Facilitator
Samuel is a First Nations Dene who is from Deline, NT and grew up in Fort Smith, NT. He loves learning more & more about his culture and hopes that one day he will be able to pass down his knowledge to younger generations and share his personal life experiences along the way. Samuel loves working with SMASH because it helps him acquire new skills and allows him to help guide others in search of new found knowledge just as he is.
Jas Conde
(ANY PRONOUNS)
Peer Facilitator
Jas is a Filipino who lives in Yellowknife, NWT. She’s always eager to learn new things and teach others, which is a big reason why she joined Foxy! When she isn’t reading or studying, Jas is usually making crafts or writing stories. Jas loves traveling around the North and meeting new people. She also loves volunteering at the theatre and around the community.
Rick Aningaat
(He/him)
Peer Facilitator
Ileigh Rehm
(She/her)
Peer Facilitator
Tthën Catholique
(She/her)
Peer Facilitator
Lucas Kitekudlak
(He/him)
Peer Facilitator
Bio coming soon!