Our Team
Cheryl Brooks
President
Cheryl Brooks (she/her) is of Sto:lo ancestry from both Sts’ailes and Shxw’ow’hamel First Nations in the Fraser Valley of BC. She founded Indigenuity in 2000 and is the company President and works as part of the consulting team. Prior to this role, she was an Associate Deputy Minister with the BC Ministry of Energy & Mines, the founding Manager of Aboriginal Relations and Employment Equity at BC Hydro, a loans analyst at Western Economic Diversification, a Program Manager at the Secretary of State, and the Executive Director of the Quesnel Tillicum Society. She served in numerous voluntary positions including President of the National and Provincial Association of Friendship Centres, Director of Professional Native Women’s Group, Director of an Indigenous Economic Development Corporation. She attended a leadership program at Simon Fraser University and a curriculum design and instructional program at Royal Roads University as well as Management training with the federal government. She has taught Indigenous leadership, conflict resolution and negotiations at Royal Roads University and the Justice Institute of BC and has published numerous articles and the book, In Celebration of Our Survival, the First Nations of British Columbia. Cheryl enjoys reading, cultural events, playing piano, traveling and learning from and working with the wonderful and interesting people she encounters through her work.
Janis Brooks
Vice President
Janis Brooks (she/her) is of Sto:lo ancestry from both Sts’ailes and Shxw’ow’hamel First Nations in the Fraser Valley of BC on her maternal side, and of mixed European ancestry on her paternal side. As the Vice-President, Janis works with clients to lead, design, and deliver various projects, and also manages client relations. Janis has been with Indigenuity since 2006. In addition to her role with the consulting team, she has also worked with the Wauthurong Aboriginal Co-operative and the Aboriginal Education department at Deakin University, both located in Geelong, Australia. She has also served in various volunteer and Director capacities with the Young Indigenous Professionals, the Columbian Centre Society, Ch’nook Scholars, and Haven Society. Janis holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Management from Vancouver Island University, as well as a certificate in Event Management. She has also completed a national Women’s Leadership Program with the Coady Institute at St. Francis Xavier University, as well as conflict resolution programs through the JIBC. Most recently, Janis has undertaken a certificate program with Cornell University with a focus on Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her two dogs, cooking and baking, traveling, and fostering connections with family, friends, and her culture. Janis enjoys helping clients find creative solutions to their challenges, with a focus on building meaningful connections between people that help to create lasting change and a positive impact on workplace and community culture.
Catherine Palmer
Senior Associate, Harris Palmer Ltd.
Bio coming soon.
Brock Endean
Senior Associate
Brock Endean (he/him) is of Métis and European ancestry. As a Senior Associate, he works directly with clients to design and facilitate engagement projects and values oriented solutions. Brock has been part of the Indigenuity team since 2010 and has also worked in varying leadership and advisory capacities with post secondary institutions and non-profit organizations in BC. Brock’s diversity of education and training includes studies in tourism management, sustainable agriculture, creative facilitation, program design, economic development, and public engagement. He has received provincial and national recognition for his work leading youth focused projects and sustainable development initiatives. Brock was introduced to volunteerism at a young age by his grandparents and currently sits on the board of eight organizations throughout the province. Brock is regularly found outdoors with his husband and dogs, creating adventurous experiences regardless of the season. Brock is motivated to help our clients and their teams connect to the work that we do on both professional and personal level, with a focus on connection, reflection, and opportunity for continuous growth.
Gaileen Flaman
Project Coordinator
Gaileen Flaman (she/her) is of Cree, Métis, and Scottish ancestry on her mother’s side and of mixed European ancestry on her father’s side. She has over 20 years of community development experience within municipal government, strategizing and co-creating a better world with equity-seeking groups including newcomers, older adults, Indigenous peoples, youth, and persons with disabilities. A student of both Indigenous Economic Development and the Professional Project Administration with Royal Roads University, she is gaining practical experience to build her consulting business grounded in feminine, Indigenous, and embodied wisdom. Gaileen is a certified Volunteer Administrator, Program Planner, Dance Your Ability Instructor, and limousine driver. Traveling and working on cruise ships led to meeting her partner of 16 years and, with their two children, choosing Cowichan Valley as their home. Gaileen volunteers with the Indigenous District Parent Advisory Council of School District 79 and with Treesisters.org. She is a fierce 5Rythyms dancer, a savvy Spotify playlist-curator, a rewilding woods-walker, and has a cat familiar named Cleo. Gaileen has a desire to steward others into actualizing their dreams and believes thriving in this world is a co-creative project.
Dogs of Indigenuity
Stella
Gunner
Karla
Huey
Lewis
