The Raven team
Paul Lacerte, OBC is a Founding Managing Partner of Raven Indigenous Capital Partners (the first Indigenous owned financial intermediary in Canada). Paul and his daughter Raven also co-founded the Moose Hide Campaign, a national grassroots movement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous men and boys working to end violence against women and children. Paul is a member of the Nadleh Whut’en FN’s Band and belongs to the Carrier Peoples in northern BC. He is a traditional cultural practitioner and spends as much time as possible in his home Carrier territory, learning, laughing, hunting, and gathering. He is the former Vice-Chair of the Vancouver Foundation, a former foster parent, an adoptive parent, the former Board Chair for Reconciliation Canada, and a former representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He was awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2014. He is also a practicing magician and a sub-average hockey player.
Outcomes FInance team
The right people to create impact in communities.
Our team has been recently reconstituted with the skills and experience required to achieve the objectives for the Outcomes Finance unit.
Wahi Diome-Deer
Wáhiakatste is a traditional Kanien'kehá:ka woman from the community of Kahnawá:ke. Like her mother before her, she is a member of the Wolf Clan within the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Committed to the empowerment of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island and around the globe, Wáhiakatste has worked extensively with diverse Indigenous organizations and communities over the years. She has worked on initiatives supporting Indigenous excellence, holistic wellness, and intergenerational healing among others. She joins Raven as the Research, Policy, and Engagement Associate. Outside of her work, Wáhiakatste has engaged in numerous volunteer and leadership initiatives and is passionate about sustainable farming and spending as much time as she can on the land.
Rebecca Waterhouse
Rebecca /Becca (she/her) has the privilege to live, work and play in Perth, ON on Algonquin-Anishinabeg and Huron-Wendat territory. Her ancestry is French and British and she is honoured to be continuously learning and growing by understanding her family’s shared histories.
Becca has nurtured a diverse career in the social innovation and philanthropic sector with the aim of ensuring equal access and opportunity to all resources, for all peoples. As a Social Finance Associate at Raven, Becca ‘s skillset complements the Outcomes Finance team as she offers research and analytical experience in social finance fostered both in her graduate studies and at the Canadian Alternative Investment Foundation/Co-operative, she also brings a tact for project and relationship management gained while at MakeWay and passion for supporting food security at Feeding Canadian Kids.
Marie-Josée Parent
Marie-Josée’s work has always been dedicated to fostering and nurturing the well-being of our communities. From 2017 to 2021 she was elected as City Councillor in Tio’tia:ke/Montreal. She sat on Municipal council and on the Executive council of the City. Before her political mandate, she was Executive Director of DestiNATIONS, an Indigenous Cultural Embassy project based in Montreal. In 2012-13, Marie-Josée completed the Action Canada Fellowship in leadership and public policy. She served as an advisory council member of UNESCO’s Coalition for Inclusive and Sustainable Cities. She also sat on the cultural commission of CCUNESCO. Deeply concerned by climate change, Marie-Josée is a member of the board of Climate Caucus Canada and organized Greta Thunberg’s visit to Montreal in 2019. She is now a board member of the Mental Health Association of Canada - Québec division. Of a long lineage of mixed Acadian and Mi’kmaq ancestry, her family is deeply rooted in the Baie-des-Chaleurs region. Marie-Josée is a proud mother of two and wife of cartoonist Ben Clarkson.
Sydney Ferguson
Sydney is of mixed European heritage. She has the pleasure of living and working in Tkaronto, also known as Toronto, which is traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. Sydney brings with her a diverse background with a passion for making lasting and positive change, especially as it relates to health and wellbeing. When not working, Sydney can be found enjoying time outside in nature with her partner Andrew, their son, and dog, Enzo.
Kaitlin Littlechild
Kaitlin is a member of Sweetgrass First Nation in Saskatchewan and currently resides in Oromocto, New Brunswick. Kaitlin has worked extensively as a communications specialist, consulting on and developing communications strategies, communications plans, and marketing material. Guiding cross-cultural communication and engagement with Indigenous Peoples and communities has been a cornerstone of her work. Kaitlin’s path as an Indigenous writer and editor has given her a diverse portfolio with areas of expertise in public health, addiction, environmental sciences, Indigenous economic development, and business communication. Her own cultural upbringing allows her to view these works with the appropriate lenses of cultural sensitivity and cultural knowledge, and with an understanding of the unique narrative style. Kaitlin serves as the Director of Publications for Editors Canada. She shares her home with her three children and numerous animals, and spends her free time volunteering in her community.