Indigenous members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from communities across Canada are helping shape the future of Indigenous outreach, leadership and fellowship through a new Indigenous Leadership Council (ILC) established by the Canada Area Presidency.
Created in the fall of 2025, the council brings together Indigenous leaders and Church leaders to share perspectives, provide counsel and strengthen relationships. Its work focuses on supporting faith in Jesus Christ, strengthening Indigenous leadership and helping the Church better understand and serve Indigenous communities throughout Canada.
The council currently includes eight Indigenous Church members representing diverse Nations and communities across Canada, including Coast Salish, Blackfoot, Cree, Anishinaabe and Mohawk.
- Charity Fleming (left), Chair of the Canadian Indigenous Leadership Council and member of Wabauskang First Nation, and Cindy Quinney of Onion Lake First Nation are among the Indigenous leaders serving on the newly established council. The Canada Area Presidency created the council to help shape Indigenous outreach, leadership, and fellowship across Canada.
- Anne Wildcat, a member of the new Canadian Indigenous Leadership Council, is from the Ermineskin Cree Nation.
- Sharon Olsen, a member of the new Canadian Indigenous Leadership Council, is from the Coast Salish Nations of Squamish and Tsartlip. This photo was taken at an Elders Island luncheon held on the Songhees Nation near Victoria, British Columbia, in July 2026.
- Grant Spotted Bull, a member of the new Canadian Indigenous Leadership Council, is from the Blackfoot Nation.
- Eric Michael, a member of the new Canadian Indigenous Leadership Council, is from Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation.
- Natalie and Timothy Lahache, members of the new Canadian Indigenous Leadership Council, are from Kahnawà:ke, Mohawk Nation.
- Elder James E. Evanson, General Authority Seventy, and Elder Robert W. Mendenhall, Area Seventy, act as the priesthood advisors to the new Canadian Indigenous Leadership Council.
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Indigenous Leadership
Elder James E. Evanson, General Authority Seventy and member of the Canada Area Presidency, said, “Helping elevate Indigenous leadership and leadership opportunities is an important part of the council’s purpose. Indigenous members bring unique and effective leadership skills that can contribute to Church leadership in Canada.”
“There’s a desire to help the leadership in the Church be more aware of the culture of Indigenous peoples so that we can be more helpful in extending opportunities for them to serve,” Elder Evanson emphasized.
As chair of the council, Charity Fleming, an Anishinaabe member of Wabauskang First Nation, has helped guide the council in defining its priorities. Those priorities include connecting Indigenous leaders across Canada, supporting outreach and ministering, identifying opportunities for humanitarian service and providing cultural perspectives and counsel to Church leaders.
“One of the roles of the council is to consider how Church programs and resources can support Indigenous people within their cultural settings,” said Elder Robert W. Mendenhall, Area Seventy and priesthood advisor for the ILC.
“Council members share challenges facing their people and work together to identify resources and approaches that can strengthen Indigenous communities,” said Cindy Quinney from the Plains Cree Tribe of Onion Lake. “Serving on the Indigenous Leadership Council has allowed me to witness others who share the same hope and love for our people.”
Other council members include: Sharon Olsen, Coast Salish Nations of Squamish and Tsartlip; Grant Spotted Bull, Blackfoot Nation; Cindy Quinney, Onion Lake First Nation; Anne Wildcat, Ermineskin Cree Nation; Eric Michael, Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation; Timothy Lahache, Kahnawà:ke, Mohawk Nation; Natalie Lahache, Kahnawà:ke, Mohawk Nation. These council members bring a range of Church and community leadership experience. They are supported by priesthood leaders, including Elder Evanson and Elder Mendenhall.
Foundations of Faith
Grant Spotted Bull remarked how Indigenous culture and discipleship in Jesus Christ come together naturally in his experience on the council. He said, “I’ve seen the Spirit at work leading the members of the council and have felt deep compassion — Kimmapaiiyiptssini in Blackfoot — as I’ve strived to follow the impressions of the Spirit and example of the Saviour.”
Elder Evanson said he has observed meaningful connections between Indigenous cultural traditions and teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. “Learning more about those traditions and experiences helps Church leaders better understand the faith of Indigenous members,” he said.
Elder Mendenhall said, “The council’s central purpose is to better understand how Indigenous members and friends of the Church can come closer to Jesus Christ through participation in ordinances, making covenants and continuing in the work of salvation. The council’s work is focused on strengthening faith.”
For Quinney, one of the most meaningful parts of council meetings happens before the discussion begins. She said, “One of the things that I enjoy is when we pray together for guidance before we start our meetings.”
Circle of Understanding
“This Indigenous Leadership Council provides a platform and a safe place for us to have open conversations about how we can work collectively, even with all of our diversity,” said Quinney. “It gives us an opportunity to get to know one another, respectfully collaborate, share ideas and learn from each other so we can better serve one another.”
Elder Mendenhall said the council operates within an Indigenous concept of a circle. Members take turns leading discussions, taking care to ensure each participant has an opportunity to contribute. “Each is an equal participant, each is heard, and each is helped by others to be heard,” he said.
The approach has also made an impression on Elder Evanson. “These circles allow everybody in the council to have their voice and to be heard,” he said. “Council members share views, experiences and stories while listening attentively to one another.”
Ideas shared in those circle conversations inform the council’s advisory role. Elder Mendenhall noted that these discussions have included topics such as Indigenous youth, family history, humanitarian projects, participation in ordinances and expressions of faith within Indigenous cultures.
“It’s a genuine council where they want everybody to be heard,” Elder Evanson said. “It’s something we can definitely learn from.”
The council also helps facilitate relationships between Indigenous leaders and Church leaders. Michael, also the first counsellor in the Saskatoon Saskatchewan Stake presidency, said he has experienced that willingness to learn in his interactions with Elder Evanson and Elder Mendenhall. “As we have shared our perspectives and experiences, their humility and desire to learn from us is a special blessing,” he said.
Elder Evanson acknowledged the importance of “understanding long-term and generational hurt experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada.” The council’s work comes as Canadians continue to advance the process of reconciliation as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.
Moving Forward
Fleming noted, “Over the past decade, I have served in many Church-affiliated roles supporting Indigenous people across Canada, but I have never witnessed the spiritual momentum I feel today that is happening through the Indigenous Leadership Council.”
She emphasized that what she is experiencing today feels different. “I have felt the Spirit of the Lord in our sharing, ministering, planning and working together,” said Fleming. “This work reflects the promise that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for ‘every nation, kindred, tongue, and people’ (2 Nephi 26:13). I believe we are witnessing that promise unfold in meaningful ways.”