Jalissa is a multi-racial member of the Acho Dene Koe First Nation living on the traditional ancestral territories of the Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations. Jalissa is dedicated to supporting and advocating for efforts of cultural revitalization and decolonization, approaching the work with clear intentions to support Indigenous equity, success, and belonging.
Jalissa earned her M.A. in the Humanities from Simon Fraser University and her B.A. from the University of British Columbia in religion, literature, and the arts. Her post-secondary learning focused on cultural diversity in literature and what it means to be human. Jalissa’s professional experience includes being an Indigenous student advocate, a post-secondary Indigenous educator, and an Indigenous consultant. When not working, Jalissa can be found spending time with family, enjoying nature, or crafting with her (way too large) collection of beads.