
Elders & Expert Teachers
Meet the teachers, elders, healers and leaders who bring their passions and perspectives to Alberta this summer.

Elder, Knowledge Keeper, Indigenous Activist, Storyteller, Kokum
Cheryle Chagnon Greyeyes
Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes is a proud Nehiyaw Esquao (Cree Woman), a member of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan, Treaty Six, and Métis. Her ceremonially gifted Cree name translates to “Healing Woman Who Walks Far”, and she has resided in Calgary, Treaty 7, Alberta, since 1993. Cheryle earned a BA in Communications and a BA in Canadian “Native” Studies from the University of Calgary, and a Diploma in Advertising & Public Relations from Grant MacEwan University, Edmonton. Cheryle received the rank of Corporal in the Canadian Air Force, receiving an honourable discharge after five years’ service.
Cheryle has been an Indigenous activist within Calgary and area for the past two decades, speaking, marching, singing and drumming for women, MMIWG2S/Sisters in Spirit/Justice for Jackie Crazybull, Indigenous Justice, championing the environment and equality, and speaking up for those who cannot.
Cheryle retired as Administrative Coordinator at the Native Centre at the University of Calgary; she was former Leader of the Green Party of Alberta (2018-2019) and a KAIROS Blanket Exercise Facilitator (2017-2020). Recognized as a Traditional Knowledge Keeper, Cree Elder and Pipe Carrier, Cheryle provides service sharing Indigenous protocol, Territorial Acknowledgements, Medicine Wheel Teachings, Indigenous cultural teachings and stories, prayers and ceremony (upon request). She is a member of the Storytellers of Canada and Storytelling Alberta as an Indigenous storyteller and performer. Cheryle is mother of two and “Kokum” (grandmother) to five beautiful grandchildren.
Cheryle's Workshops: Honoured AHG2023 Elder, Medicine Wheel Teachings, Smudge Demonstration

Cree Knowledge Keeper, Survival Guide, Indigenous Tourism Leader
Brenda Holder
Brenda is of Cree/Iroquois lineage and is pleased to follow her heritage as a traditional guide from the Kwarakwante of Jasper. Brenda was born and raised in the Rockies in Jasper National Park and has spent a vast amount of time trekking from valley to valley.
She is a Traditional Knowledge Keeper of plant medicine from her Cree lineage and teaches courses on plant medicine, offers unique and fun hands on workshops on plants and their medicines as well as doing fascinating walks into the boreal forest to explore the amazing medicines on display!
Brenda is also an instructor for survival and bushcraft, teaching her clients traditional living skills according to her culture and traditions.
Brenda's Workshops: A New Twist on Salves and Balms, Formulating with Oleogels and Aquagels, Zoopharmacognacy (Research Project)

Author of over 60 books, CCHA Herbal Elder, Director at North Star College
Robert Dale Rogers
Robert Dale Rogers has been an herbalist for half century and is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild. He is an Herbal Elder of Canada, Fellow of the International College of Nutrition and author of over 60 books, 20 peer-reviewed papers and writes occasionally for Fungi magazine. He taught plant and mushroom medicine for 25 years at Grant McEwan University and The Northern Star College.
Robert's Workshops: Medicinal Plant, Mushroom and Lichen Walk. The Lymphatic System- What Clinical Herbalist Need to Know. Mushroom Medicine- The Future of Functional Fungi.

Botanist, Herbalist Educator, Co-owner of ALCLA Native Plants, Artist
Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed
Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed is a botanist, herbalist, educator and artist. She is the co-owner of ALCLA Native Plants, a native plant nursery based in Mohkinstis, Calgary, AB, which cultivates nearly 200 species of plant native to Alberta. She is also provides plant walks, workshops and consultations under the name Latifa's Herbs. She is a former faculty member at Pacific Rim College in Victoria, BC, where she taught in the Phytotherapy Program. She is formally qualified with an BSc in Botany from the University of Calgary and an MSc in Herbal Medicine form Middlesex University, UK.
Latifa's Workshops: Intermediate Native Plant Cultivation. Cultivating Medicinal Native Plants for People, Pollinators and Wildlife. Plant Walk for Native Plants.

Iridologist, Herbalist, Women's Health, Owner of Cobblestone Health
Judith Cobb
Judith Cobb has been teaching holistic wellness since 1981. She is a master herbalist, holistic nutritionist, and Certified Iridology Instructor, with multiple certifications in each discipline from a variety of schools. Her passion is teaching, and she takes great pride in presenting information that is timely, practical, and ‘meaty’. She loves taking many varied disciplines (iridology, nutrition, and herbology) and integrating them. This provides students of all levels with a clear understanding of how to use them together to get more powerful results for their own health or for their clients.
Clinically, Judith’s passion lies in working with PCOS, infertility, pregnancy, and menopause.
As an instructor, Judith loves teaching wellness professionals the art and science of iridology.

Metis Herbalist, Plant Medicine Knowledge Holder, Sash Weaver, AHA President, ClH, RH
Kalyn Kodiak
Kalyn Kodiak is White Horse Plains Metis, from the Delorme-Smith line of Pincher Creek. She grew up
in Lethbridge and resides in Calgary, and is a member of Metis Local 87 and MNA Region 3.
As a herbalist and knowledge holder, Kalyn spends her time gathering and sharing traditions within a culturally-sanctioned framework. She holds teaching events, cultural experiences and field trips to create a welcoming learning space for Indigenous people and allies.
Kalyn is a resource on traditional medicines to the Métis communities of southern Alberta, and aen aapikayahk sayncheur flayshii (Métis sash weaver and sash culture teacher). She is a founding member and the current president of the Alberta Herbalists Association, and a past student of Wild Rose College.
KodiakHerbal.com

Menpa, Tibetan Herbalist, Chagpori Tibetan Medical Institute
Karma Rapchoe
My name is karma Rapchoe , I was born in India and my parents came from Tibet . Under the blessing of His Highness The 14th Dalai Lama, I completed my high school and after my high school, I studied Traditional Tibetan herbal Medicine for five years from Chagpori Tibetan medical Institute, Darjeeling, India. After that I practiced for 2 years as clinical Tibetan herbal Doctor under the supervision of some senior doctors . I obtained my bachelor ( Menpa -bKa- bChupa Degree) of Tibetan Medicine in 2013 . Since then I am practicing Tibetan traditional herbal medicine to benefits others and myself.
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Karma's Workshops: Basic concepts of Tibetan medicine system. External Therapies from Tibetan Medicine Texts. Know the Nature of your Body: According to Tibetan Tradition Medicine

Registered Herbalist AHA & AHG, College Instructor, Clinician
Bree Nabholz
Bree is the owner of Wild Yarrow Herbal Medicine Clinic & Dispensary in Edmonton, Alberta. In addition to seeing clients in her private practice, Bree is an instructor at Pacific Rim College and Wild Rose College, where she teaches business, herbal energetics and runs clinical apprenticeships. She works with Naturopaths and midwives to design custom herbal blends for their patients and offers herbal workshops & online herbal medicine courses. Bree sat on the board of the Alberta Herbalist Association (AHA), as well as the Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations (CCHA) for 3 years and is a Registered Professional Member of the AHA and the American Herbalists Guild.
Bree's Workshops: So You Want To Start a Herbal Medicine Practice? Tips From a Clinical Herbalist. Taste As Medicine: An Organoleptic Experience with Herbs. A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Elderberry Syrup .

Master Interpretive Guide, Owner of Full Circle Adventures, Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society, CANSI Instructor
Julie Walker
Since 1987, Julie has hiked extensively in Kananaskis Country, the Whaleback (Bob Creek Heritage rangeland), the Sheep and Highwood river valleys and Banff National Park.
She is a Master Interpretive Guide with the Interpretive Guides Association, and has a BPE with a major in Outdoor Pursuits.
She focuses on helping clients build a deeper connection with our world by understanding wild food harvesting. This knowledge helps develop 'best practices', to reduce human acts that compromise our natural world and food eco-systems.
Julie's vision is to engage and educate landowners, gardeners, foragers and outdoor recreationists about the value of preserving intact wildlands and growing native foods.
For 7 years Julie took the SAIT Culinary staff out on foraging PD days. Her work with Restaurateurs has continues to this day. She has worked with Hank Snow, Alvin Many Chiefs and Tim Patterson sharing traditional knowledge across cultures. Her company, Full Circle Adventures was filmed for Optik TV in a series called, "Growing Concerns."
Julie's Workshops: Ethical Foraging Techniques. Plantwalks with a Master Interpretive Guide.

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