Learning Opportunities

Hello, my name is Michaela Allen-Gullion.  I too am from Swan River and Flying Dust First Nation.  I also am English/Italian from my father’s side.  As a result of my mothers’ experience and personal experience I am an inter-generational trauma survivor who also suffers from PTSD.  This has not slowed me down.

With the support of friends and family I have had the opportunity to play college ball at St. Mary’s college in Calgary and Olds college.  I was very excited to have won Nationals in 2018 with my team.  These basketball experiences have given me the opportunity to play abroad.  I played in Australia and just returned from Germany this past May which allowed me to play professional basketball.

When I am not on the basketball floor either playing, coaching or officiating I am a server a Local.  I have also had the pleasure of speaking professionally in numerous events.  These include; welcoming newcomers into Canada, speaking at a Town hall for Australia regarding the colonial history of Canada and co-hosting a fireside chat about the personal experience of being First Nation person in Canada.  I enjoy coaching 1:1 mentally, emotionally and physically youth.  I enjoyed coaching as an Assistant at the North America Indigenous games held in Halifax last July 2024.

Hello, my name is Jean Pierre Wilsonne, I was born in Haiti, on the south side of the island.  I immigrated to Canada with my family when I was 13 years old under a refugee status after we experienced the hardship of gang members who almost took my father’s life.  As a black man, who originated from an island that was once known as a slave colony, I was taught the destructive impacts of colonialism during it’s peak time and the remnants we are still experiencing 400 years later. 

Such indignation has led me to a path of majoring in Equity Studies at the University of Toronto.  During my formation at such a prestigious school, I was lucky enough to take multiple courses focusing on Indigenous Peoples, their approach to life and healing.  Although I still have much to learn, it has been a pleasure to work alongside my colleague Eileen to educate more people on the destructive impact of colonialism, as well as the resiliency of Indigenous Peoples.