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Our StaffOur Staff
Honourable Bill McKnight, PC
Harry Lafond
Ken Horsman Director of Educational Programs
Milton Tootoosis Director of Livelihood/Economic Independence
Jennifer Heimbecker Speakers Bureau and Special Projects Coordinator
Rhonda Gordon Office Manager
Susan Beaudin Treaty Learning Network Coordinator
She worked at the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and is the primary author of the Grades 7 – 12 Treaty Resource Guide and K – 6 Units based on the Saskatchewan Treaties. She continues to work with educators in developing curriculum for schools based on the First Nations and Metis cultures. Susan is self employed as an education consultant for her business Circle of Learning Consulting. Susan is currently working with the OTC as a facilitator for the K – 12 Teaching Treaties in the Classroom workshops. Susan is a mother of two wonderful children, Erica and Aaron, and a proud Kokum to Jules, Brandon, Jaida, Taylor and Jackson. |
Bill McKnight was appointed as the third Treaty Commissioner for Saskatchewan by Order-in-Council in 2007 the position of Treaty Commissioner was established in 1989 in Saskatchewan and the Treaty Commissioner acts a mediator between federal and First Nations’ government to deal with Treaty issues. The mandate of the OTC includes facilitating a common understanding between the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and Canada on a number of Treaty issues including child welfare, education, housing, health, harvesting, lands and resources. 
Harry J. Lafond is the Executive Director of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner. He has a wide range of experience in the community, in politics and in academics, which he brings to the OTC. He has been Chairperson for the Board of Trustees First Nations since 2003. Previously, he served his Nation as Chief (1990-2000). Harry has worked extensively in the area of education as the Director of Education and earlier as Principal of Kihiw Waciston School at Muskeg Lake. 
Ken Horsman attended the University of Regina and received a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Education (With Distinction), and a Master of Education. Ken has also taken course work at the University of Saskatchewan and Washington State University. Ken has been a teacher and a central office administrator in Saskatchewan. He has also held several positions with the Department of Education, including the position of Associate Deputy Minister. 
Milton has extensive experience in human resource management at the tribal, provincial and federal levels of government. His HRM focus has been on attraction, recruitment and retention. Milton has served on numerous committees and boards with a focused attention to youth, community/employment development and economic independence within First Nations communities. 
Jennifer attended the University of Saskatchewan and received a Bachelor of Arts degree (with honours) in Aboriginal Public Administration. At this time she was also presented with the Most Outstanding Graduate award. Jennifer has been with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner since January of 2008 starting her work here as a student intern. 
Rhonda Gordon is originally from the Montreal Lake Cree Nation and a mother to one beautiful daughter and grandmother to a one and a halfyear old baby boy, Emory. She grew up and completed her high school education in Choiceland, Saskatchewan then moved onto Prince Albert, North Battleford and is currently in Saskatoon. Rhonda has worked for several years as an Administrative Assistant for the Prince Albert Grand Council. Obtaining a certificate in Business Computer Programming from the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology in Prince Albert, she then worked in the capacity of Computer Systems Support in North Battleford. Rhonda joined the Office of Treaty Commissioner in February 2010 .
Susan is a Plains Cree/Saulteaux woman from the Cowessess First Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan. She has a Bachelor of Education, Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Administration and a Master of Education degree. She has worked in the area of education for over thirty years as an elementary primary teacher, special education teacher, superintendent, director and assistant professor at the university level. She taught in provincial and First Nations schools in Saskatchewan. She has experience in developing local First Nations curricula based on the Cree and Saulteaux cultures. She has spent many years listening to and learning from First Nations Elders.