Cassandra is Cree from Canoe Lake First Nation and was raised in northern Saskatchewan. In 2009, she graduated with her Certificate in Indian Communication Arts from First Nations University of Canada and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Regina (U of R). She was awarded the 2009 James M. Minifie Award for being the most outstanding graduate in the School of Journalism.
"If elected Aboriginal Students' Director for another term, I would like to focus on three key issues: strengthening connections between the FNUniv Students Association and the Indigenous Students' Association; building capacity at the URSU board level as a stronger accountability measure for the organization; and increasing Aboriginal student input at all levels on campus for increased funding and more effective services. We also need to make sure our cultural spaces - including the Aboriginal Student Centre and FNUniv - receive the funding and support they need from the university to continue supporting students, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal.
Cassandra is entering her last year of the Master's of Public Administration program at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy where her research area is Aboriginal post-secondary education and policy. In addition to her full-time studies, she is a Research Associate for the Indigenous Peoples' Health Research Centre. She also serves as the National Aboriginal Caucus Chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students, Co-Chair of the FSIN Environmental Youth Council, Regina YWCA Board Member and is co-founder and President of the U of R Indigenous Students Association.