Meet The Team
The Secwépemc Research team has been fully developed and implemented in 2025. This started in February, with the onboarding of Associate Research Directors (ARDs) who collaboratively lead the team and project. The University of Victoria (UVic) Next steps team worked with the ARDs to develop the team with Community Researchers, one of whom also serves as the team’s Language Specialist, and to support nation engagement an Event Coordinator was also contracted. There is also co-operative overlap between the National Next Steps communications and administrative teams.
Bonnie Leonard
Associate Research Director
Bonnie graduated from the University of Victoria (UVic) law school in 1996 and was called to the bar in 1997. She worked as legal counsel in Kamloops before serving a three-year term as Chief of the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS, formerly Kamloops Indian Band). In 2004, Bonnie joined the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council (SNTC) as Director of Aboriginal Rights and Title, becoming Tribal Director in 2010. She managed the Tribal Council’s administrative affairs and led Secwépemc law revitalization projects, including Stsmémelt (Children and Family), and Lands and Resources. In 2019, Bonnie became Strategic Advisor to National Chief Perry Bellegarde at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), providing political and legal advice. She assumed her current role at UVic in 2025.
Sunny LeBourdais
Associate Research Director
Sunny is the elected Chief of the Pelltíq̓t te Secwépemc (Whispering Pines/ Clinton Band). She holds an M.Sc. from Simon Fraser University (SFU) and B.Sc. and B.Ed. from Thompson Rivers University (TRU). Sunny has managed projects for the Okanagan, Ktunaxa, and Secwépemc Nations. She served as Director of Transformation for the Qwelmínte Secwépemc (QS) and Director of Governance at the Secwépemc Nation Building Initiative (SNBI). Sunny coordinated the Stk̓emlúpsemc te Secwépemc’s (SSN) Indigenous Impact Assessment for the KGHM Ajax Mine and served on the BC Minister’s Advisory Committee for the Environmental Assessment Act. She developed the Team Skú7pecen Knowledge Builders program and was awarded a BC Reconciliation Award in 2024. Sunny integrates Indigenous and Western knowledge systems to effect change, honouring Secwépemc laws and traditions. Sunny lives on the Whispering Pines ranch near Kamloops, BC, with her son Raven. She enjoys horseback hunting and fishing in her traditional territory.
Julianne Peters
Community Researcher
Sweleyén ri7 re Tsq̓éscnem̓c, Juli is a member Canim Lake. Her maternal grandparents are the late Ray ‘Zeke’ Peters of Samhaquam, and Antoinette ‘Toni’ Archie of Tsq̓éscen̓, from where her language teachings and cultural beliefs are grounded. Her first language mentors are kikyé7es Toni and Elsie Archie. She completed her Master’s of Indigenous Languages and Linguistics through Simon Fraser University. Julianne’s skillsets include transcribing and translating Secwepemctsín and storytelling. She helped to transcribe/translate the Tsq̓eścen̓’s Kíkwe Law, a Child and Family Jurisdiction Law, emceed bilingually for the NStQ’s Citizen’s Assembly in 2022 & 2023, and performed Secwépemc songs for various events, including O Kanata ne Secwepemctsín at the 2023 Memorial Cup, and recorded a song with Juno Award Artist Susan Aglukark.
Mikayla R.W. Phillips
Community Researcher
Mikayla Phillips is Secwépemc, Nlaka’pamux, and Tsilhqot’in, and member of Xats̓úll First Nation. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, Environmental Studies, and Political Science at TRU in Kamloops, and set to graduate in 2027. Her academic work focuses on environmental sustainability, climate change impacts, and policies that affect First Nation communities. Mikayla is a Student Research Assistant with the Rebuilding First Nations Governance Project through the Centre for First Nations Governance and Carleton University, supporting First Nations moving beyond the Indian Act, strengthening their governance systems through their inherent rights. She also worked as a Title and Rights Analyst with the Scw’exmx Tribal Council, where she supported referrals and consultation processes while working toward shared decision-making and contributed to a First Nation led water authorization process in the Nicola Valley, one of the first of its kind in the region. Mikayla plans to pursue the JD/JID program at the UVic to become an Environmental and Indigenous Rights Lawyer.
Cheyenne Gentles
Administrative & Events Coordinator
Cheyenne is a member of Esk̓étemc First Nation (EFN). In her previous work Cheyenne was part of the team that planned and built Kikékyelc: A Place of Belonging, a 31-unit housing complex that co-houses Indigenous Youth coming from the Child Welfare System and Indigenous Elders. Later she worked on the front lines in multiple support service positions, supporting both youth and families to remain, and sometime rebuild, their connection to culture. Cheyenne believes the work we do today sets the foundation for all those who come after us. Supporting the Indigenous community toward breaking cycles of trauma and working toward healing is an extremely rewarding experience. She looks forward to utilizing the skills she has learned in her previous roles to support our Next Steps team and Secwépemc Nation toward revitalizing Secwépemc Laws and ways of knowing.