January 30, 2023
Patty Musgrave Quinn is currently working as the Indigenous Affairs Coordinator at Mount Allison University and is always focused on students first. A graduate of Holy Angels High School in Sydney, NS, Class of 83 and Nova Scotia Teachers College, Class of 85, Patty has Mi'kmaq ancestry from paternal grandmother (Newfoundland) Conne River and St. George's and is a ceremonial and traditional woman who has spent the past number of years as a life-long learner. She credits her students over the past twelve years for keeping her young and up to date with Generation X and has recently completed an International Certification with the Addiction Academy in Florida on Adolescent Addiction and Mental Health. Patty also spent over ten years with RBC as Atlantic Chair of the Royal Eagles, as Account Manager and part of the National Problem Resolution team. She has two children and lives in Riverview, New Brunswick. As lead of the Future Wabanaki program through Post Secondary Training and Labour for Mount Allison, she is focused on finding internships for students to gain Experiental Learning as well as to assist them with financial supports.
"Students are priority and advocating for their wellness and ensuring that they have what they need to succeed is the most important factor. Accidental support and unconditional acceptance is key. They know they can contact me at any time and I'll be there; they can tell me anything without judgement."
Chelsey is a dietitian and masters of science candidate at Mount Saint Vincent University. She is a member of Acadia First Nation, having grown up both on and off reserve between Yarmouth and Liverpool, Nova Scotia. Chelsey's thesis project uses art-based methods (photo-taking) to explore past, present, and future access to food with Indigenous people living with HIV/AIDS in Mi'kma'ki, in collaboration with Healing Our Nations. She also has experience working with Indigenous youth in Mi'kma'ki and across Canada through the Canadian Roots Exchange: an Indigenous youth-led national organization that offers funding, policy education, research mentorship, and cultural programming for Indigenous youth. In her spare time, you can find her in the woods or by the ocean trying to learn about edible plants and fungus, or reading. Chelsey hopes to bring her interest in Mi'kmaw food sovereignty, art, and education into her work with MK to help create caring and empowering programming for post-secondary students.
Melissa Reid is a member of the Wagmatcook First Nation who is currently living in the Sydney area. She worked for 10 years at Native Council as the APTEC case manager (Aboriginal People Training & Employment Commission) and went on to work with the Nautical Institute under the A’paqt project as the employment specialist and did a 3 month term as the Indigenous student advisor. She is a certified career development practitioner with Nova Scotia Career Development Association and has also recently graduated from Coady Institute at St. Fx, from the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program. She is an independent, confident Indigenous woman with strong leadership skills. Her goal as the Post Secondary Navigator for Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, is to be an advocate for our communities in Post Secondary Education. Her vision is to bridge the gaps and barriers that students face and to ensure proper supports are set in place, for a smooth transition into Post Secondary Education.
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