Financial Literacy Working Group for Indigenous Peoples: Member biographies
Simon Brascoupé
Co-Chair
Senior VP of Education, Communications and Services, First Nations Education Administrators Association
Simon Brascoupé (Anishinabeg/Haudenosaunee – Bear Clan) is a member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, Maniwaki, Quebec. Simon is the working group co-chair and Senior VP of Education, Communications and Services at the First Nations Education Administrators Association. Previously he was Director of Capacity and Membership, First Nations Health Managers Association; Vice President of Education and Training, AFOA Canada; Chief Executive Officer, National Aboriginal Health Organization; Director, Primary Health Care Division, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada; and Director, Aboriginal Affairs Branch, Environment Canada. He has written and worked in the field of Indigenous knowledge, financial literacy and is on Trent University’s Ph.D. Indigenous Knowledge Council. Simon is also an Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton University. He has a B.A. and M.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo and obtained his Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator (CAPA) designation in 2014. In 2013 Simon authored Literature Review of Indigenous Financial Literacy in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
Melanie Assiniwe, CPA, CA
Director, Capacity Development & Intervention, First Nations Financial Management Board
Melanie Assiniwe is an Anishnaabe-kwe from Wiikwemikoong, located in Northern Ontario. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA), holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from Laurentian University, has extensive finance and accounting experience having been a Senior Accountant at KPMG, as a professor at Cambrian College, and as a Director of Finance at a Northern Ontario First Nation.
Melanie is the Director of Capacity Development and Intervention with the First Nations Financial Management Board (FMB). Working with her team, the FMB supports First Nations by assisting with their journey to achieve Financial Management System Certification. The team accomplishes this by way of providing coaching, mentoring, and training, in areas such as governance over the financial management system, finance, human resources, and information management.
Lisa Forbes is from Winnipeg and is a member of Peguis First Nation in Manitoba. She received her Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from the University of Manitoba. Lisa manages business support programs at SEED Winnipeg, a non-profit organization that works toward financial empowerment for people living on low incomes. In addition to training entrepreneurs, she provides support to non-profit enterprises and is a program developer. Lisa has led SEED’s financial literacy and women’s self-employment training curriculum development teams. She is part of a team that implements the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations at SEED. Lisa is the founding coordinator of SEED’s Indigenous Community Collaborations initiative and contributes to its work in consulting with Indigenous People to create Indigenous youth literacy and Indigenous women entrepreneur training. She has worked for over 17 years in the community economic development field including as an independent facilitator, writer and researcher and has also been a community development worker at the City of Winnipeg.
Griffin Marsh
Consulting Program Director, Martin Family Initiative
Griffin Marsh is the Consulting Program Director for the Economic Well-Being programs with the Martin Family Initiative. He is responsible for leading partnership and community relationship development to support the implementation of the Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Program and related Financial Literacy resources within MFI. Originally from Victoria, British Columbia, Griffin has a Bachelor of Arts and Science from McMaster University with a Minor in Indigenous Studies. Prior to joining MFI, Griffin served three federal Ministers in a variety of senior roles, including as the Director of Policy to both the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and the Minister of Indigenous Services, continually focused on relationship building and policy development with Indigenous communities.
Pamela is passionate about reconciliation, social innovation and research. She is an experienced facilitator, project manager and relationship builder. She is focused on supporting Indigenous communities to self-determine their own priorities, supporting colleagues with the tools to engage in reconciliation and bridging world views and mindsets. Pamela holds a PhD in Indigenous Studies from Trent University, where her academic work explores the complexity and richness of Indigenous (Anishinaabe) approaches to ethics in research and using traditional Anishinaabe governance systems to inform contemporary organizational structures. Previously, Pamela also worked at The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, a private philanthropic organization which funds programs that support Canadians in building a more innovative, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient society. She also worked at the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC), Canada’s most significant off-reserve Indigenous service delivery infrastructure, with a network of 101 Friendship Centres from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
Elizabeth Robinson is the Director of Programs at ABC Life Literacy Canada. She works with a remarkable team of educators, programmers, and communicators to develop and share literacy programs with communities across Canada. She is proud of the impact ABC and the sector has had in supporting Canadians to develop new skills and increase confidence in managing their money. Elizabeth has worked in adult education for over 15 years, with prior experience as a university faculty member and legal information technology project coordinator before joining ABC.
Zindu is the President and CEO of Families Canada. Prior to that she was the Director of Operations for several years. Zindu has over 20 years of experience internationally and in Canada in areas such as family support, democratic governance, human rights, and civil society development.
Before moving to Canada, she worked with the United Nations Development Program as a Governance Specialist. Zindu holds a Master's degree in International Development and Management from Lund University, Sweden and a Bachelor's degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Waikato, New Zealand.
Robbie joined Prosper Canada in 2024 bringing over a decade of experience in social impact work. Within Prosper’s Program Delivery and Integration team, he plays a key role in advancing strategic initiatives that expand access to high-quality financial help services for individuals facing financial vulnerability. His work includes a strong focus on improving the financial well-being of Indigenous community members and supporting Prosper Canada’s mission to foster economic empowerment.
He is a published social researcher, community program developer, financial educator, and an Accredited Financial Counsellor (AFCC®). His contributions to the field have been recognized with multiple awards. Robbie holds a Master of Applied Health Sciences from the University of Waterloo, a Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies, from Brock University, and a Certificate in Business Management from Centennial College.
Relay is the Finance Manager at the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA), a membership-driven national organization for a network of Aboriginal Financial Institutions. NACCA supports the network which offers financing and business services to First Nations, Métis and Inuit businesses. Relay has over a decade of experience working in SMEs and listed companies across England and Canada.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, is a Certified General Accountant Ontario (CPA, CGA) and a fellow with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) UK.
Her key strength has been the ability to bring finance and operations together, streamline, develop and implement sustainable processes which support timely information used for decision making.
Relay is a member of Toastmasters International, volunteers with Junior Achievement Ontario and mentors new migrants into becoming well integrated and functional members of their community.
A Couchiching First Nation member, Brent Tookenay has been the Chief Executive Officer for Seven Generations Education Institute for the past 3 years. Brent also worked for the Rainy River District School Board as the Superintendent responsible for Indigenous Education for 8 years. As CEO of Seven Generations Education Institute, Brent is responsible for providing education and training programs for the people of the Treaty #3 area. Brent has spent his entire career working and supporting the First Nation communities of Treaty #3 in all areas and levels of education.
Li Zhang
Director, Social Impact, and Financial Literacy Leader, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada
Li Zhang manages CPA Canada’s financial literacy program and CPA Canada’s Indigenous Mentorship Program. Through CPA Canada’s financial literacy program, she has overseen the development of community education, publications, and consumer resources, and hosted national conferences on financial literacy. She has trained thousands of CPA volunteers across Canada to deliver these programs in their local communities. This program has won 18 international awards. CPA Canada’s Indigenous Mentorship Program works with schools and Indigenous communities/organizations to support Indigenous students on their path of academic success and mentors them to achieve their career goals. Li holds an International Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours, a Master of Business Administration, and is a Project Management Professional.
Page details
- Date modified: