Dr. Suuqiina
Suuqiina was born in 1950 in Nome, Alaska. He is of Inuit (Alaska Native), Mi'Kmaq (Native American), English, Scottish, Irish, and French descent. He is the Grandson of Chief Suuqiina of King Island Alaska and his mother was a full-blood Inuit. Through his father he is the 14th generation descendant of Stephen Hopkins who financed the Mayflower and also signed the Mayflower Compact and lived in Plymouth. Due to his mother contracting tuberculosis, he was placed in a residential school/orphanage in White Mountain, Alaska, when he was a toddler. Suuqiina lived there in the village, surrounded by his people and his culture, until he was 7 years old. At age 7 he and his biological brother were adopted by the missionaries that ran the orphanage and they were moved to Thief River Falls, Minnesota, where they remained until he was 18. During this time Suuqiina was cut off from his native identity and culture due to the process of forced assimilation imposed upon native children, which was accepted at that time. Through these years he excelled in sports, educational pursuits, art, and he became an accomplished concert pianist. When he entered college as a young adult he was drawn to Native American studies where he once again connected to his lost culture through books. For a few years he traveled as a keyboard player with a rock band opening for many well-known musical groups in the early 70's. It was during this time that he had a transformative experience with Yeshua (Jesus) that altered his path in life. He then felt called to pursue his life's work as a preacher of the Word of God and he served as a pastor for 21 years. Over the years, Suuqiina has also been involved with The International Christian Embassy in Israel, hospital and police chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, the Board of Directors of the Thirteenth Region Board of Directors an Alaska Native Corporation, the North American Representative to a messianic ministry in Tel Aviv Israel and the World Christian Gathering on Indigenous People in Rapid City, South Dakota in 1998. This was a catalyst for Can You Hear The Mountains Tremble- A Healing The Land Workbook authored by Suuqiina and The Healing The Land Seminars that he taught across the United States and Internationally. This work was instrumental and enabled him to conduct reconciliation meetings in Far East Russia and Brazil. He also worked with survivors of the genocide in Rwanda. Suuqiina is also an accomplished Artist whose work has been featured in Denali Alaska State Park, The Alaska Native Heritage Center, The Peabody Museum in Massachusetts, The Nashville Arts League Gallery, Ptarmigan Gallery and The Anchorage Spirit Gallery. http://indigenousmessengers.com

Jenny Konkin
Whole Way House is dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming environment to build meaningful relationships and a community that instills worth, value and dignity. At Whole Way House, the MISSION is to support the vulnerable and isolated on their journey of healing in a safe and welcoming community, equipping them to recognize their inherent worth and purpose. Whole Way House Society provides community building programs and tenant support services for 133 vulnerable seniors and veterans in the Downtown Eastside living at the Veterans Manor in partnership with BC Housing. Whole Way House began its journey serving the residents of The Avalon Hotel. It was purchased by Mario & Mina Angelicola (Jenny & Josh’s grandparents) in the late 1970’s. Ron & Tina Konkin (Jenny & Josh’s parents) managed the building after Mario passed away. Josh & Jenny began managing the Avalon in 2010 and founded Whole Way House in March of 2013 in hopes of carrying on their family’s legacy and as a response to the need for relationship and human connection among the tenants, many of whom struggle with addiction or mental health issues. http://wholewayhouse.ca