Who we are

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

Scott is a lawyer specializing in Indigenous rights and Indigenous business and commercial law, with years of experience working with Trust Agreements, Settlement Agreements, Specific Claims, and financing agreements. His Masters of Laws research and thesis focused on increasing access to capital for First Nations located on reserved lands. Prior to joining Warshield, Scott was the Legal Counsel for First Nations Bank of Canada and FNB Trust. As Warshield’s VP of Legal & Negotiations, Scott is dedicated to advancing the rights of Indigenous peoples with a specialized focus on wealth creation.

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
jacqueline@warshield.com

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.

Brontë Campbell

Warshield Consultant
bronte@warshield.com

A passionate individual focused on advocating for the equality and equity of minority and underrepresented groups, Brontë is part of the Métis community and throughout her career, has led Indigenous-related conversations within a variety of sectors, including the federal government, non-profit and global corporations. She has made significant contributions to Indigenous strategy committees and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) committees, ensuring that EDI efforts are embedded into every element of an organization. Using her passion and experience, Brontë also supported the creation of the first Indigenous internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) program in Canada. Brontë is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in journalism and minor in political science. During her time at TMU, Brontë freelanced for the student paper as an Aboriginal Affairs Correspondent and covered topics related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

DAKOTA NORRIS 

Warshield Consultant
dakota@warshield.com

MA, Environment and Sustainability (in progress)
B. Comm. (Management) with Honours, University of Saskatchewan

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.