top of page

About CHIL

The Coalition of Hamilton Indigenous leadership (formerly known as the Hamilton Executive Directors' Aboriginal Coalition - H.E.D.A.C.) has been working to improve resources for the Indigenous community of Hamilton for over 20 years.

Our Mission

CHIL's mission is to decrease barriers and increase equitable access to services and programs for Indigenous community members of Hamilton.

Our Team

Get to know the talented, bright, and creative team of CHIL.

CSM Picture from FB.jpg

Cindy Sue is Turtle Clan from the Mohawk Nation of Tyendinaga (Bay of Quinte) and is the Executive Director for CHIL.

Yvonne is Bear Clan from the Mohawk Nation of Tyendinaga (Bay of Quinte) and is the Community Engagement Coordinator for CHIL.

DA670100-6FF3-46CF-8C44-14D54744D3B5_1_105_c.jpeg
Victoria_Headshot 2022.png

Victoria is Bear Clan from the Mohawk Nation of Ohsweken:'en (Six Nations of the Grand River) and is the Indigenous Data & Policy Analyst for CHIL.

Tristan is Bear Clan Anishinaabe from Fort William First Nation and is the Resource Coordinator for CHIL.

Lyndsay is Turtle Clan from the Mohawk Nation of  Tyendinaga (Bay of Quinte) and is the Administrative Assistant for CHIL.

Michelle is Sturgeon Clan, Anishinaabe-Ojibwe with family ties to Shoal Lake .40 and is the Research Assistant for CHIL.

CHIL LOGO (BLUE)_edited.png

Laurie is Wolf Clan, Cayuga Nation from Six Nations of the Grand River.  Laurie is the Indigenous Project Lead for CHIL's Action Research on Chronic Homelessness project.

Meaning Behind the Image

The background is an indigenized Skyline of the City of Hamilton representing the ways in which our community has made Hamilton home.

The Waterfalls represent the fact that the City of Hamilton is known as the waterfall capital of the world with an impressive total of 156 waterfalls within the city limits; while also highlighting our community’s connection to water.

The Water represents our Bay with the canoe holding the water in which we had travelled and still travel today.

The Stairs represent the connection to both lower and upper Hamilton.

The Indigenous landmark created by David General (artist from Six Nations) – Eagles Amongst Us - is represented in the “east” side of the skyline.

The Figure Heads at the top of the image represent CHIL, as a family and our connections to community.

The Sweetgrass Braid surrounds and connects us all, including our environment to the land, the land to the waters, the waters to the people.

Finally, the Sacred Fire that burns at the heart of the City, this represents Our Heart Beats and Our connection to Creator and this place, where we now live.

------------------------------------------------

Acknowledgement to the designer:

The beautiful and thoughtful graphic design behind the Coalition of Hamilton Indigenous Logo is the artwork of Brent Beauchamp.

Brent is Onondaga-Anishinaabe born and raised on Six Nations.

Brent's artistic skills range from traditional drawing to 2D animation and graphic design.

Brent's creativity is deeply rooted in indigeneity and provides a lens for others to see how beautiful and colourful Indigenous culture really

is.

Nia:wen, Brent.

Our 
Logo

bottom of page