Our Team

Gordon Larin

Executive Director

Hello!

My name is Gordon Larin, I’m of European settler descent and live in the Southern Gulf Islands on the traditional lands of the Hul’q’umi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples.

After eight years as the treasurer for First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation, I became the Executive Director in February of 2020. I often say that I am both learning and un-learning in this role as a settler and ally. I am actively approaching challenges with an intersectional perspective as an ally, and working to amplify the voices of historically and systemically excluded groups, creating opportunities for meaningful, broad representation that integrates social justice values.

I do advocacy work on HIV issues and in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and I’m invested in making sure the right people are at the table when decisions are made.

Sara Christine

Lead, Operations and Policy

‘Niit / Hello, I’m Sara!

I was excited to join FPCF in the summer of 2022, having recently graduated from UVic in 2021. I embrace the way our team works, and I honour the values of the Foundation.

I am Gitselasu – People of the Canyon – from the Ts’msyen Nation (inside the Skeena River) on my maternal side, and both my mother and I were removed from our families and adopted. I am Danish on my paternal side, and I am the first generation born here, as my paternal family immigrated to Turtle Island in the 1950s. I was raised Anglo-British/Scottish on Vancouver Island and spent my high school years in Hobart, Australia.

In recent years, I have started to reclaim my Kitselas heritage, and share what I learn with my children. I am learning Sm’algyax with them, and they are also learning Sencoten. I was a member of The Soulful Sisters, an Indigenous-women’s drum circle, as well as the Standing Nation Drum group through UVic. I am passionate about taking care of our environment and our people, and advocate for those who have been silenced to have a voice.

Emily Cabrera

Lead, Partnership Development

Aanii/Niltze,

My name is Emily Marcela Cabrera (she/they) and I am of mixed Indigenous and european ancestry. My mother’s family is Ojibway from Fort William First Nation located on the lands of the Anishinabek in Thunder Bay, Ontario and also hold Scottish and Irish heritage. My father’s family is from Anahuac (Mexico) and reside throughout the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. I grew up disconnected from my culture and join my family in responsibly and authentically rebuilding our connections.

Today, I live as a guest on the lands of the Lək̓ʷəŋən People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, alongside my teenager and two small birds.

I joined the team in July 2022 as the Lead of Partnership Development. I have worked many years in fundraising, but all in settler-led, traditional philanthropic spaces. The opportunity to forge a new path within an Indigenous-led space, centering community and relationships, was something I didn’t know was possible and it’s uplifting to see a growing platform for Indigenous-led philanthropy. I feel grateful to share this space with my colleagues and to bring all my skills, expertise and worldviews to my work.

Alix Goetzinger

Lead, Storytelling and Communications

Sii.ngaay ‘láa! SGaana Gaahlandaay haan.uu dii kiiGa ga, isgyen Alix Goetzinger yaatxaayda kiiGa . Kayahl ‘Laanas XaaydaGa Gidins sda.uu hll íijii. Xaayda Gwaay.aay sda.uu hll íijii.

Good Day! My traditional name means Killerwhale Spirit, and my english name is Alix Goetzinger. I am from the Kayahl ‘Laanas Eagle clan of the Haida Nation, and I grew up in the village of HlGaagilda on the island of Haida Gwaii. I’m currently living in the beautiful unceded territory of the Ts’msyen people.

I joined the team in February 2023 as the Lead for Storytelling and Communications. In my previous work I spent time as a cultural ambassador, which strengthened my connection to our Haida histories. When Indigenous people tell stories, we begin as far back in the timeline as we can, and recount everything. We speak about every obstacle faced, every birth of our ways of being, doing and thinking that created our understanding of the world.

I am so excited to help to bring the work of First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation to life through storytelling!

Haawa dalang ‘waadluuxan gaa.uu hll kil ‘láa ga! Thank you for listening (reading)!