Jeska Slater

Jeska Slater

Jeska Slater (she/her) is a Nehiyaw iskwew (Cree woman) whose Mother is from Fisher River Cree Nation, part of Treaty 5 in Manitoba. Jeska’s Father is a first-generation English settler. Her traditional name is Wapaske Paskwaw Mostos Iskwew which means White Buffalo Woman.

Jeska has been working in and for both urban and land-based Indigenous communities for over 12 years. Her relationship with Vancouver Foundation began as a grantee in her role co-leading Skookum Lab; one of the first Indigenous-led social innovation labs on turtle island. The research of Skookum Lab led to successfully mapping the complex social issues & uplifting community voices as well as activating champions working at different levels to create change.

Now as the Director of Indigenous Priorities, Jeska oversees the implementation of Vancouver Foundation’s Indigenous Priorities strategy which includes the development and implementation of the Thriving Indigenous Systems Fund (TISF). TISF offers First Nations including Hereditary groups to apply for up to 100K per year for 3 years in the focus areas of land, healing, rights and culture.

Jeska has developed an arts-based engagement practice based on reciprocity, accountability, transparency, and systems thinking. Jeska is passionate about how Indigenous leadership theory, protocols and worldviews can enhance and foster healthy organizational cultures. Her education includes undergrad studies in Leadership and Project Management, and she is currently pursuing an MBA in Indigenous Business Leadership at SFU’s Beedie School of Business. Jeska is a beadwork and portrait artist and is a mother to a Cree & Syilx, lively and creative son named Johann Waseskwan. Her work aims to model Indigenous ways of knowing, learning and being for the next generations.