Suzanne Dzus
Redwood Meadows,AB
Summary
Advocate for Indigenous Peoples on municipal, provincial, and federal levels while Building collaborations across cultures, countries, organizations and Nations to effect change at a grassroots level.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Indigenous Organizer
Industrial Areas Foundation North West
12.2019 - Current
- Used excellent communication skills to delegate tasks and achieve successful event outcomes.
- Utilized project management skills to meet event deadlines and complete requirements.
- Fostered collaborative efforts to schedule, host, and facilitate events and identify further opportunities to reach members of community.
- Coordinated volunteer activities and facilitated distribution of promotional and marketing materials.
- Participated in strategy development and planning to grow organizing program and advance campaigns.
- Developed systems-based approach to establish successful completion of event tasks.
- Identified community organizations and leaders to establish and nurture relationships to help build awareness and win reforms for public.
- Collaborated with event planners and other stakeholders to encourage teamwork and achieve successful outcomes.
- Entrusted to handle confidential and sensitive situations in professional matter.
- Provided staff coaching, mentoring, and consultation to enhance performance and professional development.
- Participated in team meetings and staff training sessions.
- Broad-based community organizing within the IAF Northwest region (Canada, United States, Australia and Aotearoa) Working as support for affiliates beginning to work with Indigenous Peoples in their area. Guiding affiliates to understand Indigenous perspectives, ways of knowing and doing.
- Development of a ten-hour training entitled “Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization.”It is an introduction to the history of colonization from an Indigenous perspective. It also gives an overview of the current challenges Indigenous Peoples are facing. This training was developed to educate and inform non-indigenous peoples about the historical impacts of colonization and the current day's impacts while preparing them to enter into “right relations” as broad-based community organizers.
- Facilitator for all the Wrestling sessions held for each of the affiliates in the IAF Northwest. This training is used for leaders and staff in each region.
- Development of training for small group leaders required in the “wrestling training.”
- Facilitation of training for small group leaders.
- Ongoing support for each of 11 affiliates.
- Travel to Australia as a knowledge-sharing venture and collaboration initiative.
Research Assistant and Program Developer/Group Facilitator
Healing Home Counselling Services
09.2016 - 12.2019
- Performed statistical and quantitative analysis.
- Worked both independently and collaboratively.
- Collected research data through surveys and leading focus groups.
- Collaborated with other researchers to develop successful research strategies.
- Attended seminars and symposiums to improve overall knowledge and understanding.
- Created surveys and questionnaires to collect data for research projects.
- Reviewed documents and data to identify trends and patterns.
- Gathered, arranged, and corrected research data to create representative graphs and charts highlighting results for presentations.
Community Liason
Calgary Urban Aboriginal Initiative
01.2018 - 12.2018
- Networked with local organizations, leaders, and consumers, resulting in establishment of new and lasting partnerships and relationships.
- Communicated with community members to assess concerns or current issues and identify corrective measures.
- Developed long-lasting partnerships with local leaders, management team and peers with active engagement, exemplary communication and consistent issue resolution.
- Surveyed local program participants to ascertain problematic areas requiring improvement.
- Developed presentations and media to promote community resources and organizational initiatives at seminars and other local events.
- Assisted by researching local issues, participating in local events and creating action plans to tackle obstacles.
Education
Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies - Intercultural Communication And Human Safety
Royal Roads University
Victoria, BC12.2024
Skills
- Relationship Building
- Excellent Communication
- Documentation and Reporting
- Project Leadership
- Team Leadership
- Community Engagement
Languages
Nehiyaw (Cree)
Elementary
Kanienke'ha (Mohawk)
Elementary
Volunteer
- Board Member: Wilderness International. Sept 2022 - Present
- Committee Chair: Reconciliation Action Team. Sept 2016 - June 2023
- Executive Board Member: Alberta Restorative Justice. November 2015 - 2022
- Justice Domain Chair: Calgary Urban Aboriginal Initiative. June 2012 - January 2015
- Committee President: Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women. January 2009 - May 2015
Timeline
Lead Indigenous Organizer
Industrial Areas Foundation North West
12.2019 - Current
Community Liason
Calgary Urban Aboriginal Initiative
01.2018 - 12.2018
Research Assistant and Program Developer/Group Facilitator
Healing Home Counselling Services
09.2016 - 12.2019
Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies - Intercultural Communication And Human Safety
Royal Roads University
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