Martha Pedoniquotte

Community Capacity Development Coordinator

Phone: 519-373-2860
Email: Martha Pedoniquotte

I am very pleased to join the Indigenous Ministries and Justice Unit (IMJ) of the United Church of Canada as the Community Capacity Development Coordinator (CCDC) for Ontario/Quebec. I am from the Ojibway/Pottawatomi community of the Chippewas of Nawash, formerly known as Cape Croker, located at Neyaashiinigmiing on the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula which is bordered by the beautiful shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay approximately three hours north of Toronto, in Ontario. I am a mother and grandmother and a registered foster home having cared for numerous First Nations children over the past 20 years.

I graduated from Mohawk College in the area of Native Community Care, Counselling & Development receiving honours in both the Community Health Representative stream and the National Native Addictions stream. I am a certified Personal Support Worker with emphasis on palliative care and dementia care. I also hold a diploma in Business from Georgian College and Social Work from Loyalist College. I am a 3rd generation United Church member, my grandparents were members of the Methodist Orangemen at the time of Union, and we identify the Cape Croker United Church as our community of faith. I have served the United Church of Canada in a volunteer capacity with the Aboriginal Ministries Council (now the National Indigenous Council); the executive of General Council and a selected member to the Moderators Advisory Committee; the Healing Fund; the Mission & Service Committee; Indigenous Candidacy Board; the Justice & Reconciliation Fund Committee; as well as serving on the Boards of the Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre and the Five Oaks Centre. I feel that my education, time and dedication to the United Church has equipped me to carry out the duties for the position of the Community Capacity Development Coordinator for Ontario/Quebec.

I have worked as a Victim Support Services Coordinator and Policy Program Advisor for the Independent First Nations facilitating capacity building in the area of family wellbeing and domestic/family violence to northern and southern Independent First Nations. I have also served my community as an elected Band Councillor over 5 terms holding the portfolios of Health; Social Development; Economic Development; Saugeen Ojibway Nation Consultation Advisory; and Board member of Native Horizons Treatment Centre, Huronia Area Aboriginal Management Board and Aboriginal Labour Force Development Canada. As a Business graduate I ran a successful transportation business securing contracts with Education, Medical Services, Maadookii Seniors, Home and Community Care and HAAMB. I continue to focus my attention on the betterment of First Nations issues through a positive perspective of both Western and Traditional practices.

Martha will be working with the Indigenous communities of faith in Ontario and Quebec as we continue the journey of living with respectful relationships.