As part of our staff feature series, we are thrilled to profile the Gordon Foundation’s Program Manager, Michelle Malandra!
Michelle joined The Gordon Foundation in 2019. She has a BSc in Life Science and an MA in Geography (with a focus on Indigenous food sovereignty).
Here is a short Q&A to introduce Michelle.
Please tell us a bit about yourself.
While working toward my MA, I lived and worked with a community in the Northwest Territories, partnering on community-defined projects related to Indigenous food sovereignty and climate change resilience. That experience is what led me to join the Gordon Foundation and work on programming that helps Indigenous communities empower their youth with the knowledge and skills needed to take the lead on treaty implementation work.
Here is a video that introduces my MA research work with Northern Water Futures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQhOGRnpEXY
I have an Old English Sheepdog, Freddie, who occasionally joins us at the office in Toronto.
Michelle Malandra at the 5th National Treaty Simulation.
What motivates you in your work?
Our team collaborates with communities, Indigenous Nations, organizations and governments to engage emerging Indigenous leaders in treaty negotiation and implementation work through a hands-on Treaty Simulation. This programming is a hands-on learning experience, similar to a model UN activity.
My favourite part of the Treaty Simulation events is seeing young people learning from Elders and experienced advisors in their communities. Knowledge transfer between generations is an essential part of our programming. I also love hearing from the participants at the end of the event about how the experience pushed them out of their comfort zones in a safe and fun way.
Michelle Malandra (left), Mandy Bayha (middle), and Molly Stollmeyer (right).
What excites you most about your role as Program Manager?
My role involves expanding the reach of our Treaty Simulation programming, building relationships with new and existing program partners, and strategic planning. I enjoy meeting new people, learning about their communities, and discovering how we can work together. I also enjoy working on skill-building and empowerment with my fellow team members; it is exciting to partner together on individual and collective program goals.
Our programming and our team have both grown tremendously over my five years at the Foundation, and I am thrilled to be involved in planning our next steps to meet the growing demand for our Treaty Simulation events!
Freddie, Michelle’s Old English Sheepdog.
