Our Team

Carmen is mixed European and Secwépemc from High Bar First Nation on their mother’s side, and Chinese and Japanese on their father’s side. They grew up in the agricultural flats of Burnaby on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples. Carmen is a farmer by training and cooperatively cultivates and stewards a half-acre of land with a small group of friends. They enjoy building greenhouses, making dumplings, and befriending cats. Carmen lives in Mount Pleasant with their partner Arden, and can be spotted riding a motorcycle along the coastline or playing softball in the summertime.

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

David is a dual UK/Canadian citizen who grew up in the urban-rural fringes of London. A settler on unceded MST territories, he landed on the west coast following a Master’s in Gender and Sexuality at University of London and a year-long bicycle journey across Europe and Asia. David is passionate about restoring ecological balance and loves connecting with nature in and out of the city. He lives in East Van where he enjoys growing food and medicine, fibre art, and playing the piano.

david@eya.ca
604-716-7933

Deandra is a settler from Indonesia with mixed Chinese and Southeast Asian ancestry from both parents. She grew up in a small town called Malang in East Java and moved to the Coast Salish territories in 2015 to pursue a degree in Natural Resources Conservation at UBC. Deandra is a passionate educator and a life-long learner who enjoys gaining knowledge on horticulture and Indigenous medicinal plants. In her spare time she likes to hike, do plant walks with her friends, or bury her head in a book.

deandra@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Jess is a second generation settler who’s ancestors come from England, Scotland, and Trinidad. She grew up on traditional unceded lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ territory and studied Biology and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria, where she found a love for talking to people about plants and a passion for creating accessible spaces for people to create personal connections with nature. When she isn’t talking about plants, you can find her practicing yoga, reading, riding her bike, knitting, or hiking, snowboarding, and exploring the natural areas of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ territory.

jess@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

Maria Paula is an Ecuadorian citizen who grew up in the coastal city of Guayaquil. A recent settler in unceded Coast Salish territories, Maria Paula came to Vancouver in 2017 to study a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography, Environment, and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia. In addition to her Geography studies, she pursued a minor in Creative Writing. Maria Paula is passionate about climate action, communication, community engagement, and enjoys cooking, dog-watching, and practicing yoga and photography in her spare time.

mariapaula@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Mehar is a first-generation Pakistani settler, born and raised on the traditional unceded territories of the Katzie, Semiahmoo, and Kwantlen Nations. As a kid, she was always climbing trees and learning how to garden from her father, and in 2016 she moved to Coast Salish territories to pursue an undergraduate degree in Urban Forestry at UBC. Mehar is an advocate for community empowerment and equity and bringing people closer to nature and its gifts. These days you can find her experimenting with new cake recipes, hiking with friends or daydreaming underneath her favourite tree.

mehar@eya.ca
604-689-4446

Nasya is Nisga’a and Leq’a:mel and grew up among many plants and bears in the Nass Valley in Northern BC. She now studies Land and Food Systems on unceded Musqueam Territory, and is interested in learning about plants as medicine for people and the land. Nasya is excited to pass on the teachings of plants from her own Nations, as well as lessons people and plants have shared with her on Haida and Ahousat Territories. She spends her free time searching for places with strong coffee and funky lichen.

nasya@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