Caring Society Staff Information

Cindy Blackstock, PhD

Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada

Associate Professor, University of Alberta

A member of the Gitksan Nation, she has worked in the field of child and family services for over 20 years. An author of over 50 publications, her key interests include exploring, and addressing, the causes of disadvantage for Aboriginal children and families by promoting equitable and culturally based interventions.

Current professional interests include holding fellowships with the Ashoka Foundation and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.

Tammy Morgan

Executive Assistant to Dr. Cindy Blackstock

Originally born and raised in Napanee, Ontario, Tammy Morgan is a mother of 4 children and has lived in Ottawa for 22 years.

Tammy has been Cindy’s Executive Assistant and Office Manager of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society since 2006. "I enjoy working for Cindy, she inspires me everyday to be a better person."

Marlyn Bennett, BA, MA, PhD student (U of Manitoba)

Director of Research

A member of Sandy Bay Ojibway Nation in Manitoba, Marlyn has worked in the field of child welfare as a researcher for over 14 years. Marlyn is the Director of Research for the Winnipeg based office of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and the Principle-Editor-in-Chief of the First Peoples Child & Family Review. She is currently an Interdisciplinary PhD student. Her doctoral studies focuses on the transition toward adulthood by First Nations youth leaving First Nations child welfare care in southern Manitoba. Marlyn received a Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarship from SSHRC and was recently awarded the 2011 Qualitative Research Group award for community-based research by the University of Manitoba’s Qualitative Research Group.

Marlyn’s professional interests include missing children and the sexual exploitation of children. She serves on the boards of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, Sandy Bay Child and Family Services and is the Chair of the Board of Animikii Ozoson Child and Family Services, as well as the President of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba.

Andrea Auger, MA

Touchstones of Hope Coordinator

Andrea Auger is Ojibwe from Pays Plat First Nation and was raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She graduated from Lakehead University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in French and a Bachelor of Education, specializing in French and English at the high school level. Since the completion of a Master of Arts degree in French in 2008 from Carleton University, Andrea has been working at the Caring Society as the Touchstones/CAB Coordinator. At the Caring Society she is working on Touchstones of Hope initiatives with many different organizations and engaging in other activities to promote and engage in the 7 Ways to Make a Difference. Over the years, Andrea has worked with children and youth in many different settings and has focused on French as a second language and Aboriginal peoples. She hopes to continue her work in child welfare, education and eventually pursue a PhD degree. 

Jennifer King, MSW student (U of Victoria)

Education and Public Engagement Coordinator

Jennifer King is an Anishnabe woman of mixed descent. Her family comes from the Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound. Jennifer has a special interest in First Nations children’s issues, Indigenous methodologies, and addressing violence against Aboriginal women. She holds a BA from Carleton University and has a background in research and policy focusing particularly on gender issues. In addition to her work at the Caring Society, Jennifer is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work degree through the University of Victoria.