Danielle was the Ethical Guidelines and Knowledge Transfer Projects Coordinator for the McMaster/University of Toronto Indigenous Health Research Development Program, NEAHR (then ACADRE) Centre prior to her departure to Ottawa where she was the Senior Policy Analyst/Research Officer of the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) and Managing Editor of the Journal of Aboriginal Health. She returned to McMaster in 2010 as the Director and Program Coordinator for the ISHS office. In 2012, Danielle received the President’s Award for Outstanding Service.

Working to decrease barriers for Indigenous learners and to work with students to serve as mentor in their professional development, as a course supervisor, an instructor or strengthening their leadership skills are all components of her role as Director that she is most passionate and committed. Danielle continues to publish, conduct peer reviews and speak within the fields of equity, competency, power and privilege within health professions education, the broader social determinants of health, and the promotion and integration of Indigenous scholarship within health professions curriculum.  Danielle is a founding member of the National Indigenous Health Sciences Circle (NIHScC). She is a member of the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education Network (LIME), Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC) and the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) all of which assist in the ongoing learning, engagement, and knowledge sharing with leading Indigenous scholars and health professionals.

Danielle’s most recent conference presentations include “Where are you from? Reframing Facilitated Admissions Policies in the Faculty of Health Sciences.” Daniels: In and Beyond the Law. Rupertsland Centre for Métis Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. 2017. “Responding to The Challenge: Innovation in Increasing Diversity of Canadian Medical Education through the Fusions of Indigenous and Western Knowledge at McMaster University's School of Medicine.”  Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) Barcelona, Spain. 2016 and “Yes, this Elective is Biased! Student Knowledge Translation in Education and Career Post Aboriginal Health Elective.” Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education Network (LIME). LIME Connection VI. Townsville, AU. 2015

Catherine Booker is  a Munsee-Delaware woman with both Celtic and African-American heritage. Her primary joy in life is being mom to Carida (7) and Fionnagh (3). She was born and raised in Norfolk County, next to Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and has enduring ties to her Mohawk family there.

Catherine graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford with her Honors BA in Contemporary and Indigenous Studies. She was instrumental in creating an Indigenous Student’s group for the Brantford campus, which allowed people to connect, support one another, and celebrate their cultures. This group was a platform for Indigenous voices to be heard within the institution. She has carried these ideals forward into her work at McMaster, originally as an Indigenous Outreach Educator through Engineering, where she worked with Indigenous as well as at-risk youth, both in the Greater-Hamilton area as well as Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

Catherine values diversity and inclusion, Indigenous learner’s education, and creating mindful space at ISHS, possibly over a cup of tea. She is excited for the unique opportunities and challenges of serving McMaster students and her community as part of the ISHS Team.