Natalia Gala
Research Assistant
聽Natalia joined the lab in May 2022 after moving to Montreal from Winnipeg, MB. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Winnipeg (2021) and is currently obtaining a BA in Sociology at Concordia University. Natalia's interests compose of Indigenous Health, Substance Use, Opioid Use Disorders (OUD) and improving Access to Care for Vulnerable populations. Natalia hopes to pursue further studies within the field of Medicine and Addictions.
Amanda Shawayahamish
Research Assistant
Amanda is an Anishinaabe woman from Animbiigoo Zaagi-igan Anishinaabek First Nation.鈥�
Having graduated from Concordia University鈥檚 First Peoples Studies Program in 2021, Amanda obtained her master鈥檚 degree from Concordia University鈥檚 Individualized Program, specializing in Anishinaabe storytelling and traditional beadwork in 2024. She was a project assistant at Concordia University鈥檚 Office of Community Engagement, where she co-created the Indigenous engagement guide 鈥淒ewemaagannag/My Relations鈥� for researchers and academics.聽Amanda also has experience in working with persons with disabilities as she was a research assistant on the Nisidotam project and designed the logo.聽 Amanda's interests compose of Indigenous health and wellbeing, and Indigenous research methodologies.聽
Michelle Kowalska
Undergraduate Student
Michelle is an undergraduate psychology student at 涩里番. They are currently assisting Payton with their research project, and want to pursue graduate studies in psychology later. Being of mixed Polish and Kashmiri Muslim roots, Michelle is interested in community and culturally-sensitive psychology practices, and hopes to someday develop research and practices which better cater to the South Asian diaspora.
