Interim Executive Director/ Financial Controller
Lena Green (all pronouns)
Email: lena@edmonton2s.
Lena Green hails from Edmonton, situated on the ancestral lands of Treaty 6, where her family heritage is woven through a tapestry of names such as Huppie, Desjarlais, Oakanese, Batoche, Cardinal, and Tremblay. Though adopted into her stepfather’s family as a child, she proudly bears the name Green today.
As the Chief Interim Executive Director and Financial Officer, Lena plays a pivotal role in a multifaceted mission. Her work encompasses a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) initiative, which involves establishing three crucial councils: an Elders Council, a Youth Council, and a Matriarch Council. Lena collaborates closely with Indigenous organizations to combat GBV in their community.
Lena’s roots trace back to a lineage of labor activism, a legacy she continues to uphold. Her dedication to labor and human rights has led her to spearhead the formation of a Human Rights Committee for District 3, encompassing all provinces west of Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. As a 2S (Two-Spirit) person, Lena champions the importance of elevating 2S voices, ensuring they are not only heard but seated at the table. Her core values of respect and honesty are unwavering principles she carries into every facet of her life and her time at E2S.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Lena thrives in the embrace of nature. She revels in the serenity of camping and the artistry of fly fishing, passions that come alive during her beloved summer season. Her heart finds its truest contentment in the company of her cherished wife, Christine Braakman.
Administrative Assistant
Ruben Yarn (They/He)
Email: administration@edmonton2s.com
Ruben Yarn (They/He) is a two-spirit individual and proud member of Opaskwayak Cree Nation. On their maternal side, The Pas MB is home for their kokum (Mary Head), while their late Mosom (Stan Sinclair) originates from York Factory First Nation MB. Their mother spent most of her days growing up alongside polar bears in the polar bear capital (Fort Churchill, MB) as her father Stan trained to be a firefighter. Ruben’s father is a moniyaw settler who travelled on his own to Amiskwaciwâskahikan from Gander NL. His late Mum is from Marystown NL and late Pop is from Saint Jacques NL.
Ruben grew up around Edmonton and has been actively working towards taking on the many roles and responsibilities of a helper in ceremonial spaces and within community for the past few years. Through a 2S lens, they have come to understand how dire the need is in Amiskwaciwâskahikan for accessible ceremonial and communal third spaces.
Now that they are in a helper position as Administrative Assistant at Edmonton 2 Spirit Society they are looking forward to providing support to the growing E2S team as well as the general public. They strive to utilize this privilege to bring prosperity to their community through advocating and sharing insight with those willing to listen. Ruben’s goal at E2S is to build and maintain relationships in order to strengthen the community as a whole.
In Ruben’s free time they enjoy hiking, creating miniature homes with recycled materials, tending to their plants and cooking for friends and family.
Program Coordinator
Beth Omeasoo (She/They)
Email: programcoordinator@edmonton2s.com
Beth is a proud 2 Spirit member of the Maskwacis, Samson Cree Nation on her maternal side, and the Fishing Lake Métis Settlement on her paternal side, both located on Treaty 6 Territory.
Growing up with a disconnect to her own culture, Beth understands the importance of cultural, traditional, and spiritual resurgence. She continues to humbly explore and discover all the different characteristics of the Plains Cree people and their relatives. In doing so, she hopes to honour her bloodline by helping guide those who were not as privileged to grow up in their cultures.
As Program Coordinator, Beth is focused on continuing to build upon the structure that has been established by the Edmonton 2 Spirit Society. In doing so, they ensure that the system they work upon is based on cultural & spiritual growth, the 7 sacred teachings, and the organizations promise to commit to their connection with the community. Beth is dedicated to investing their time and energy into helping create a space that 2SLGBTQIA+ folks feel safe to exist in.
Housing Manager
Ashleigh Cardinal (She/They)
Email: housingmanager@edmonton2s.com
Ashleigh is a dedicated public educator, facilitator, and multi-disciplinary artist who is proud to serve as the new Housing Manager for the Edmonton Two Spirit Society. Hailing from Saddle Lake Cree Nation/Whitefish Lake First Nation #128 on their maternal side and Kikino Métis Settlement on their paternal side, their work is deeply informed by their lived experience, grassroots advocacy and a passion for holistic wellness.
Ashleigh has a strong background in leadership, having served five years as Co-Chair of the E2S Board of Directors. They currently serve as theVice-Chair for the Premier’s Council on MMIWG2S+ and were recently appointed as a member of the National 2SLGBTQQIA+ Committee, bringing their valuable insight to a national stage. With a love for public speaking, Ashleigh is committed to creating positive change and supporting their 2SLGBTQQIA+ kin.
Housing Assistant Manager
Rob Gurney RSW (He/Him)
Email: assistanthousing@edmonton2s.com
Rob Gurney walks the Red Road with poise as a proud 2-Spirit nehiyaw from Montreal Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan (Treaty 6 territory), drawing on deep cultural grounding to inform his practice. As a registered social worker and survivor of the Sixties Scoop,
Rob has dedicated his career to supporting houseless and vulnerable Indigenous community members, bringing profound compassion and resilience to his work. In his current role, he provides essential social work expertise to the housing manager and team, with a focus on comprehensive psychosocial support.
Outside of his direct advocacy, Rob is well-known as a drag queen, using his artistry to creatively raise awareness and funds for numerous community initiatives.
Housing Team Lead
Rachelle Gladue (they/them)
Email: housingteamlead@edmonton2s.com
Rachelle, whose spirit name is standing on a rainbow, is a proud member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation, located on Treaty 8 Territory in Fort Chipewyan, with paternal ties to Cote First Nation on Treaty 4. Born in Fort McMurray and raised between there and Edmonton-where they have made home for the past two decades. Rachelle is a two-spirit parent raising a two-spirit non-binary child, walking a shared path of cultural and spiritual reclamation and reconnection.
After growing up disconnected from their Indigenous roots due to colonial systems and displacement, Rachelle has spent the last few years reclaiming their nehiyaw identity, language, and worldview alongside their child. They bring a relational approach embodying the cree teachings of wahkotowin-the interconnectedness of all relations.
Rachelle holds a diploma in Correctional Services and is completing their Bachelor in Indigenous Social Work. They have extensive frontline experience working in the shelter system, community outreach, supportive housing, supervised consumption, and detox support. Much of their work revolves around advocating for harm reduction, housing justice, Indigenous sovereignty, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, and anti-criminalization efforts.
Their professional path includes roles that bridge between healing, identity, and community informed by their lived experience, and grounded in relational accountability and anti-colonial perspectives. They have served in leadership and research capacities, including Vice-President of the Social Workers Association of Alberta (SWAA), and contributions to Pillar Four of Canada’s National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Their activism and community work, including co-founding an Indigenous and queer-led outreach and advocacy group, tawaw outreach collective, have spanned collaborations with grassroots outreach collectives, the Pride Centre of Edmonton, elected officials, and other organizations addressing systemic oppression and human rights.
Their work is rooted in a vision of a safer, more inclusive world that honours all our relations-walking this path not only for their community, but for their child and the generations yet to come.
In their new role with the Edmonton 2-Spirit Society, Rachelle continues to walk in community, guided by their ancestors, their child, and the belief that healing is most powerful when done in relationship-with one another, the land, and spirit.
Housing Case Worker/ Support worker
Wapi Kiniw (Chase Campeau) Pronouns: Any
Email: caseworker@edmonton2s.com
Born in Wetaskiwin and raised in Maskwacis Alberta specifically the Ermineksin Cree Nation, Wapi Kiniw calls treaty 6 his home however traditionally his bloodline and roots come from Keeseekoose First Nation which is Treaty 4 territory in Saskatchewan. On his maternal side his nikawiy (Michelle Minde) and nokum (Florence Whitebear) come from Keeseekoose FN, and his nosom (Gordon Willier) comes from Sucker Creek Treaty 8 FN. On his paternal side his notawiy (Shane Severight) and nokum (Florence Severight) come from Cote FN, and his nosom (Blair Pelletier) origin is unknown. His roots are Saulteaux/Ojicree however his upbringing and home territory has been predominantly learning Cree culture and ways of knowing. He has lived in Amiskwaciywaskahikan since spring 2025.
Living on the reservation half of his life and transitioning to urban spaces, Wapi Kiniw has faced many adversities getting to where he is today such as leaving the reservation due to bullying, discrimination and GBV, facing finding space as an indigenous 2S in urban queer spaces that were predominantly white and oppressive, surthriving intense DV, to experiencing housing insecurity thus resorting to addictions. It is with his lived experience facing these hardships that Wapi Kiniw has since then found purpose extending that love, compassion, and unbiased support to fellow indigenous peoples and his fellow 2S kin with a strong sense of empathy and deep understanding.
Blending lived experience with western academic methods such as having certificates in the indigenous family and youth services field, Wapi Kiniw has worked for multiple organizations as a peer support and liaison as well as being involved in numerous community grassroots initiatives such as creating Mohkintstis’ (Calgary) first ever 2S Sharing Circle for youth that is still held today and has gained growing capacity. It is with these gifts and teachings he hopes to take on the Case Manager role with grace and integrity fostering autonomy, identity, confidence, and self love for all of the kin in hopes that their stories are celebrated, heard and continue to be told and continue to grow into who they authentically are inside and out.
On his down time Wapi Kiniw enjoys many things such as travelling when he can to new places around the world and learning about their culture, watching horror movies, playing with his fashion and taking the odd modelling gigs, play numerous sports in sports clubs, and try new things as he thinks it’s fun to do things that scare you or challenge you or seem out of the norm. He is also a father to two beautiful fur babies named Nikosis and Nitanis.
For any emergency support please call 911, or visit your nearest emergency center.
For suicide prevention, you can contact:
• The Distress Line: 780-482-4357 (HELP).
• Brite Line: 1(844) 702-7483
***At this time, we do not have any supports in place for crisis intervention. If you are experiencing a crisis, please refer to Brite Line or call 911 in an emergency.***
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