Who we are
Indigenous-owned. Indigenous-led. The Warshield team is made up of experts who understand the objectives of Indigenous peoples, government, and industry. We are committed to working together to find solutions. We believe in meaningful engagement and consultation, and building partnerships that lead to measurable results for all parties.
Warshield’s team has experience in strategy, policy, negotiation, communications, consultation, and more. Each unique project requires its own unique Warshield team, made up of experts with the skills required to execute successfully.
Max Fineday
Warshield CEO, Partner
max@warshield.com
Max FineDay is a policy, communications, and government relations professional, and a citizen of the Sweetgrass First Nation in Treaty 6 Territory, Saskatchewan. With over a decade of experience working for Indigenous peoples, Max specializes in navigating governments, developing organizational capacity, and working with Indigenous communities to achieve their goals.
As CEO of Warshield, he is dedicated to advancing the rights of Indigenous communities through building partnerships with industry, civil society, and government.
SCOTT HITCHINGS
Warshield Vice President, Legal & Negotiations
scott@warshield.com
Master of Laws (LLM) Indigenous Commercial Law, University of Saskatchewan
Tristan Smith
Warshield Chief Strategy Officer
tristan@warshield.com
Recognizing their contribution to the not-for-profit sector, Tristan was named one of Canada’s top 21 Young Impact Leaders in 2019 by Future of Good. As a queer, nonbinary person with living experience of disabilities, Tristan brings over a decade of community engagement and operations experience in the not-for-profit sector, having served as a senior executive at regional and national charities. In addition to their work with Warshield, Tristan teaches about responsible investing for Carleton University’s School of Public Policy & Administration and serves on the boards of the Mount Royal University Alumni Association and Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity.
KARI-DAWN WUTTUNEE
Warshield Consultant
kari@warshield.com
MA, Arts & Health Leadership, Royal Rhodes
BSc, Land Use & EnvironmentalStudies, University of Saskatchewan
BA, Psychology, University of Saskatchewan
Kari-Dawn Wuttunee is nêhiyaw iskwew from the Red Pheasant First Nation in Treaty Six Territory. She spent many years with the Saskatchewan Health Authority advocating for Indigenous wellness and health before shifting her focus to Primary Care, as Regional Manager, Primary Care at the First Nations Health Authority in Victoria, BC. A member of the National Indigenous Young Women’s Council, Kari’s work is grounded in an anti-racist, anti-colonial and Indigenous young women-led and informed governance frameworks, and through community action projects. Kari is dedicated to tackling issues such as HIV, harm reduction strategies, poverty, and gender-based violence prevention. Founder of Young Indigenous Women’s Utopia (YIWU), she shares Indigenous ways of knowing to challenge gender-based violence by fostering the collective strengths, imagination, and love of her younger sisters. Kari is also a representative of the Networks 4 Change Partnership – an international dialogue on policy making led by girls and young women addressing sexual violence in Canada and South Africa.
Amanda Benevides
Warshield Consultant
amanda@warshield.com
Human Resources Diploma (St. Lawrence College)
Music and Digital Media Diploma (St. Lawrence College)
From Katarokwi, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat, Amanda Benevides is a multilingual, classically trained musician with additional qualifications in Human Resources & Business Administration. She is an active community volunteer and, as classical guitarist, has performed with many different ensembles. Amanda received her post-secondary education from St. Lawrence College and is dedicated to strengthening and developing meaningful engagement for Indigenous peoples and partners in all communities.
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Jacqueline Woods
Warshield Consultant
PhD Candidate, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
Jacqueline’s career in strategy and communications spans nearly two decades, during which she’s provided branding, marketing, policy development, writing, research, and facilitation services for a range of community, government, industry, education, and non-profit organizations. She is a PhD Candidate at the University of Saskatchewan’s Johnson Shoyama Graduate School (JSGS) of Public Policy, where her research centres around reconciliatory research processes, Indigenous development, and community decision-making. An active volunteer, Jacqueline dedicates her time to Reconciliation Saskatoon’s ConnectR project, the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, and Ritornello Chamber Music Festival. Most recently, her work has focused on Indian Act Sectoral Legislation, Treaty Land Entitlement, Land Claims, Resource Sector Policy & Development, and Indigenous Economies.
Jennifer Laewetz
Warshield Consultant
jennifer@warshield.com
A member of George Gordon First Nation, Jennifer is a policy analyst and communications professional from Northern Saskatchewan. She obtained an undergraduate degree in Political Studies from the University of Saskatchewan as well as a proficiency in Indigenous Governance. During her time at the U of S, she sat as a member on the anti-racism and anti-oppression committee helping to ensure an inclusive learning space for students. She is currently a Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies student at the University of Saskatchewan, worked in federal politics for five years and has many years of additional experience in the private sector. Jennifer is a huge advocate for self-determination and Indigenous policy across Canada. Jennifer believes that grassroots involvement is a pillar to a healthy community, having sat on various boards and volunteering in multiple capacities throughout her life.
DAKOTA NORRIS
Warshield Consultant
A member of the Gwich’in First Nation, Dakota Norris is a Master of Environment and Sustainability student, and Coordinator for Northern and Indigenous Sustainable Energy Initiatives at the University of Saskatchewan. He advocates for Indigenous development as a Youth Climate Lab Associate, is the Indigenous Representative on the federal Sustainable Development Advisory Council, and Fellow at the Global Catastrophic Risk Institute. Dakota brings several years of experience working across business, policy, youth, Indigenous and climate spaces, often leading research and projects at their intersection. His undergraduate research focused on northern entrepreneurship, and he has continued investing in this area throughout his graduate studies. Dakota has contributed to curriculum development with projects of the University of Saskatchewan, and the First Nations University of Canada.
Monique Harjani
Warshield Consultant
monique@warshield.com
MPPA (Public Policy), Carleton University
MicroMasters Data, Economics, and Development Policy, MIT
BComm (Business), University of British Columbia
With deep interests in environmental and social issues, Monique Harjani has studied business, economics, and public policy with the goal to solve real-world problems in a rational and ethical manner. She has worked as a policy analyst and a research and data analyst at the Canadian federal government and has won a policy design competition and several youth venture challenges focused on eliminating barriers for people in marginalized and underserved communities. Monique also brings her varied experience as a curator of several TEDx events in British Columbia, a researcher of open innovation and the digital economy, and a course developer for the Sauder School of Business and a children’s leadership and public speaking program operating in six countries.
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