Our Team
Hillory Tenute, CEO
She/They/Kwe
An experienced engagement strategist, Hillory is an Anishinaabekwe with settler descent from the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation located in Neyaashiinigmiing, Ontario part of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory in what is colonially known as Canada. She is the former Executive Director of Indigenous Youth Roots (previously Canadian Roots Exchange).
For more than 20 years, Hillory has provided research, evaluation, and culturally-safe and responsive engagement strategies for Indigenous communities on settler-Indigenous relations, rights implementation, cultural revitalization, social impact, and economic development. In her previous role as the Executive Director at IYR, Hillory leveraged over $24.71 million in public funds and $5.2 million in private funds in just under four years.
Jess Alegria, Senior Consultant
They/Them
Jess, a queer refugee settler on Treaty 6 Territory, has Indigenous ancestry from present-day El Salvador and settler ancestry from colonial-era Europe. While embracing their Indigenous heritage, they do not identify as Indigenous due to generational disconnection, instead prioritizing their responsibilities to the Indigenous peoples and lands they now call home.
With over a decade of experience, Jess has facilitated cultural exchanges, designed and evaluated programs, led operations, and contributed to community social change. Holding a degree in Urban Planning and a research background, they spent eight years at Indigenous Youth Roots (formerly Canadian Roots Exchange), honing their ability to support youth in achieving their goals. Jess is passionate about systems change, organizational design, and decolonization—both locally and globally.