Marla Klyne Kolomaya is a certified counsellor and parent consultant offering services for families struggling with making sense of often-perplexing behaviours commonly seen in children and adolescents. Marla specializes in providing consulting and professional development for parents, educators and helping professionals who are yearning to make sense of the kids in their care. Marla now serves on the faculty of the Neufeld Institute and has returned to her roots, supporting families within community through the Gathering Our Medicine model, and it is a most natural fit. She is eternally grateful to Dr. Gordon Neufeld and Denise Findlay for their teachings and wisdom. Marla approaches her consulting and teaching work rooted in the understanding that every child and adolescent has a unique capacity to flourish and reach their full potential when the conditions for this unfolding are provided for and supported. Marla proudly descends from both French and English Metis ancestry and lives in the beautiful northern Interlake of Manitoba on a small cattle ranch.

Shanelle Bath is a nehiyaw iskwew (Cree woman) of mixed ancestry from Treaty 6 & 8 Territory and also English and Norwegian settler ancestors. Her Kokum (grandmother) and mother are from Wapsewsipi, Swan River First Nation in Alberta. Her late Moshum (grandfather) was raised speaking Cree fluently, and living on the land in Alberta and is connected to Papaschase Cree Nation and also has Métis ancestry. Shanelle was born and raised on Coast Salish territory and has a large family with kinship ties to many First Nations communities in BC. She is an Auntie, and mother to french bulldogs. She is currently in her 4th year at the University of Victoria completing a bachelor of arts in Child and Youth Care (CYC). Shanelle has worked with youth since 2014 and spent the last 5 years working in support of youth with complex challenges at the Maples Adolescent Treatment Centre in the role of Indigenous Cultural Coordinator.