Our Team

Carmen is mixed European and Secwépemc on their mother’s side, and Chinese and Japanese on their father’s side. They were raised and currently live along the river on the agricultural flats of Burnaby on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), sc̓əwaθen (Tsawwassen), Qayqayt, q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Kwantlen, & Stó:lō peoples. Carmen has a B.Sc. in Global Resource Systems from UBC and nearly 10 years of experience working with nonprofits. They enjoy exploring the region on their motorcycle, cooking with friends, and spending summers on the softball diamond.

carmen@eya.ca
 236-334-0587

Erica is 2nd generation Japanese on her mother’s side and 6th generation mixed European on her father’s side. She grew up as an uninvited guest on the traditional lands of the Skwxwú7mesh Peoples in North Vancouver where she fell in love with nature. An upbringing on these lands inspired Erica to pursue a degree in Natural Resource Conservation, then a Master’s in Education for Sustainability at UBC. Erica can now be found in Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) with her partner Brennan and dog Valley, where she spends her time cooking Japanese food, spending time outside with family, and tending to her garden.

erica@eya.ca
604-318-1272

Aril is first-generation Chinese Malaysian, with parents being born close to Kuala Lumpur. They love to connect to their cultural roots through food, community, and conversations. Aril comes from a culinary background and is a recent UBC graduate from the faculty of Forestry. Aril was born and Raised on traditional, unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) first nations. Their focus in this role is to show a fun approach to ecology in a low barrier and trauma informed setting. Aril specializes in fungi and plant ID so if you see them around they would love to chat about it! Outside of work, Aril loves cooking Malaysian food and organising mushroom events around the city.

aril@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Cy is second generation Taiwanese-Canadian, born and raised in BC on the unceded territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt, and Tsawwassen First Nations. With a deep passion for creative arts and nature & wildlife, Cy pursued a Graphic Design degree in Toronto before moving back to BC and completing a Fish, Wildlife & Recreation program. Cy’s goal is to synthesize the fields of art and science and to use the power of storytelling to make a meaningful difference. In his spare time, Cy is usually playing video games, drawing, walking his dog (Somi), or cuddling his cat (Boki).

cy@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Emily is Métis with Cree, Dene, and European ancestry. Emily grew up on traditional Sahtu Dene & Métis territory in Tłegǫ́hłı̨ (Norman Wells). Today Emily is grateful to be living on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territory. Emily relocated here to attain her Bachelor of Commerce from UBC, but has since been dedicated professionally to youth empowerment. Emily enjoys being outside whether it be walking, skiing, or indulging in a picnic at the beach! Emily loves connecting through food; you can often find her cooking a new recipe for her loved ones or trying out a new restaurant.

emily.h@eya.ca
604-689-4446

karmella is a two-spirit plant lover, gardener, occasional artist and co-founder of the art ecosystem collective. They are of mixed Afro-Brazilian and Mistawasis Nehiyawak (Treaty 6 Cree) decent, and were born and raised in diaspora as an uninvited guest on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. In their free time, you can find karmella lazing around with their cat bell, wandering around the forest, working with plant medicines, playing with clay and sporadically making art/films with friends. karmella holds a BA in Psychology, Counseling & Human Development from Simon Fraser University, and is passionate about the relationship between land, people and intergenerational healing.

karmella@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Keenan Marchand is of Syilx, Secwepemc and Mixed European heritage and grew up on traditional, ancestral and unceded land of the q’ʷa:n̓ƛ̓’ən̓, q̓ic̓əy̓ and səmyámə peoples as well as summers on Nkmapelqs, Head of the Lake in Syilx territory in the Interior. They are currently living on səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Stó:lō land. They are a multidisciplinary artist with a deep love of nature and revitalizing Salishan cultures and languages and can often be found compulsively making art, music and writing. They are grateful to be able to learn, create and work on traditional, ancestral and unceded land of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

keenan@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Kristian is Xicanx having grown up on the traditional territory of the Kumeyaay on what is now called San Diego. His grandfather is from the town of Cuauhtemoc in Colima Mexico. Kristian also has setter canadian roots on his mother’s side. Kristian moved to the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) in 2013 to study and has a Bachelors of Science from UBC, as well as an Associates of Science from Capilano University. Kristian enjoys practicing and teaching the grappling sports. He can be found volunteering at Judo clubs, and with Sumo Sundays.

kristian@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Mahki is Indigenous and mixed-settler: Métis and Cree descent with roots in the Qu’Appelle valley on their father’s side as well as Romanian and Irish descent through their mother. Born and raised primarily on Stó:lō territory, their love for trees and native plants led Mahki to pursue a degree in Environmental Sciences at SFU. Nowadays Mahki lives with family on Katzie, and Qayqayt territory in Surrey where they volunteer with the Surrey Indigenous Youth Advisory Council. An artist by blood, Mahki spends freetime beading, crocheting… and jigging – so don’t be alarmed if you hear sudden horse gallops!

mahki@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Niki is a 3rd/4th generation settler of western European ancestry. She spent her childhood on unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory. Before becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant, Niki wrote a Master’s thesis in English Literature on the pedagogy of Indigenous ecological principles in fiction by First Nations’ authors. Inspired by the teachings of northwest coast Indigenous voices, Niki transplanted herself to Coast Salish territory in 1997 where she enjoys growing beans in the community garden that she founded, as much as she loves counting beans for EYA.

niki@eya.ca
604-872-7745

Savannah is a Jamaican of mixed Guyanese, Scottish, Iberian, and West African descent who has spent most of her life in the diaspora. First in the United Arab Emirates before moving to unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations to pursue a BA in Cultural Anthropology and African Studies at UBC. Driven by a commitment to her ancestors, Savannah believes in the power of art, transformative justice and youth empowerment toward our collective liberation. At heart, Savannah is an island girl who cherishes moments with community, time spent at the beach and fresh ripe tropical fruit.

savannah@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Sayan is a second-generation East Indian and British with parents from England and Uganda. She was born and raised on the traditional lands of the Attawandaron, Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga (Haudenosaunee) and ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ (Anishinabewaki) peoples and the Treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation in Guelph, Ontario. An avid nature lover, Sayan has a degree in Environmental Sciences and a passion for outdoor education and advocacy. She moved to BC in 2023 with her partner to spend more time exploring the great outdoors and can now be found gratefully living on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territory. When not working, Sayan can be found camping, trying out new recipes and in the sun with a good book.

sayan@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Sharon is of Nigerian descent, specifically from the Oyo and Ijebu Ijesa peoples. After growing up there, she moved to Canada when she was 12 years old and now lives on the unceded territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen and Semiahmoo First Nations. Sharon is grateful to learn and grow in her major of Environmental Science (Geoscience) at the University of Waterloo which is situated on the Haldimand Tract. She contributes to her passion for environmental action in her school community as a member of the UW Climate Council. And when she’s not staring at rocks in Waterloo, she is back home in BC, dedicating most of her time here to the BC Youth Parliament by engaging in their motto of youth education and service. In her free time, she enjoys indoor hobbies that keep her warm like crocheting, knitting, baking, reading and singing/screaming musical soundtracks at karaoke with friends.

intern@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Sophia is second-generation Vietnamese on her father’s side and mixed European on her mother’s side. She was raised on a small farm and continues to gratefully reside on the unceded traditional territories of the Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), Kwantlen, S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Semiahmoo First Nations. Sophia studied Global Environmental Systems, Resource & Environmental Management, and Sustainable Community Development at Simon Fraser University. She is passionate about engaging youth and those who experience marginalization in local environmental action. Sophia has eight years of experience working in environmental nonprofits, focusing on environmental education for children, youth, older adults, and immigrants, as well as on ecological restoration, sustainable agriculture, and community outreach. When she isn’t working, you can find Sophia outdoors—whether she’s gardening, camping, snowboarding, or teaching yoga!

sophia@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Trisha is a non-binary immigrant settler from the Philippines. They settled on Musqueam territory (Richmond) in June 2010 and have since called these territories home. Their pedagogy is to have the land and water as our teacher and to always centre community, decolonial practices and Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Their knowledge and experience lies in native plant horticulture, agriculture, food systems and child and youth education. When not working, Trisha takes nature walks with their dog, Tanya, cuddling their cat, Momo, and fiddling about in their balcony garden like a garden fairy.

trisha@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Vivian is a second generation refugee Chinese-Canadian, with ancestors from Guangdong and parents born in Vietnam. Born and raised in East Vancouver on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and  səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations, she earned her BSc in Biology at UBC. She discovered her passion for community stewardship through years of working within nonprofit operations, fundraising, and engagement. When she’s not geeking out over spreadsheets and data systems, she is an award-winning filmmaker, passionate about telling underrepresented stories in the Asian diaspora. Vivian also enjoys playing guitar, bass, and cello, and has a hedgehog named Boba.

vivian@eya.ca
604-689-4446