Tour Guides

About The People Behind The Walks

JAIME KOEBEL

Jaime Koebel is excited to be able to bring Indigenous Walks to Ottawa. She is a knowledgeable and experienced educator who is also an artist, a mother and a dancer. Throughout the seasons, Jaime manages the walks, researches and writes the tours as well as looks for partnerships, trains guides and advocates for local Indigenous heritage.

Jaime is a Michif woman with Nehiyaw and German ancestry originally from Lac La Biche, Alberta living on unceded Anishinaabe Territory (Ottawa, ON) since 2000.

Jaime’s post-secondary background is in Canadian and Indigenous Studies as well as studying Art History from Carleton University. She has worked for the Native Women’s Association of Canada, the National Aboriginal Health Organization, the Métis National Council, Métis Settlements General Council and has taught courses at Carleton University as well as Algonquin College. She is currently employed at the National Gallery of Canada as an Educator for Indigenous Programs and Outreach.

In 2009, Jaime joined Canada’s Governor General on an official state visit to Guatemala, Costa Rica and Mexico. In 2015, Jaime was the recipient of the Emerging Indigenous Artist Award through the Ontario Arts Council, and joined Student’s on Ice for a 2 week expedition to Greenland and Nunavut as an on-board artist in residence. In 2017, she was the recipient for a citizen’s award in the Ottawa-West federal riding and curated her first exhibition at the Karsh-Masson Gallery called: “Wapikwanew: Blossom” which is up until 30 July 2017.

Alanis originally hails from the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve on beautiful Manitoulin Island. Alanis is a storyteller and playwright, 3 Plays, published by Fifth House was launched last fall. She has written, directed and produced numerous plays for Anishnaabe theatre for more than 25 years. She is an e-merit certified Heritage Interpreter and Tour Guide and a graduate of the Aboriginal Cultural Ambassador program here in Ottawa through Aboriginal Experiences. Alanis is a past Artistic Director of Askiy Productions, Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company, Native Earth Performing Arts, Debajehmujig Theatre Group and currently Mazinaw Rocks Productions. She has been a Guest Lecturer, Drama Teacher and performing arts program developer to numerous educational institutions in North America. Alanis is the only female Aboriginal graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. Alanis is a proud grandmother to Declan Zibi and is thrilled to join the Indigenous Walks team in Canada’s capital city!

(Photo Courtesy of Derek S. Rickert)

SUMMER TWENISH

Summer-Harmony Twenish is an Algonquin Anishinabekwe from Kitigan Zibi, Quebec. She is a second-year Art History student at Carleton University, with a minor in Indigenous Studies. While not in school she is an artist, working primarily with watercolour paints. She has also begun the process of reconnecting with traditional mediums like birchbark and glass beads.

Summer is excited to be a part of Indigenous Walking Tours, and believes whole-heartedly in the initiative to Indigenize the histories of the monuments and locations featured on the tours.

KRISTINE MCCORKELL

JENNIFER DAVID

Jennifer David (Chapleau Cree First Nation), a skilled and exerienced communicator, project manager, planner and facilitator, is committed to creating and portraying an accurate and positive narrative of Indigenous people in Canada. She’s also an avid reader of Indigenous literature, and loves to play basketball (though never at the same time.)

For 2016-2017, Jennifer is President of the NVision Board of Directors.