Muskoka Group Associates: Who We Are
Muskoka Group was built on the foundation of an idea rooted in purposeful development and the art of possibility. A proud 100% Indigenous-owned consulting firm dedicated to strategy, planning, and communication.
We Our bring a collective of experience and proven experienctise with practical expertise to every project we participate in. has a strong track record of supporting First Nations governments, national Indigenous organizations, and non-profits. We offer more than just advice;We as a collective team as a team member and individually have a strong track record supporting First Nations governments, national Indigenous organizations, and non-profits, we offer more than advice we provide support and insightvaluable insights. We work alongside our clients, associates and committees to bring their vision or insight to life. Our grassroots approach is rooted in relationships and long-term, sustainable solutions, rather than transactions. We providerelationships, long term sustainable solutions, not transactions, providing guidance, support, and thoughtful, meaningful insights from start to finish that are grounded in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Our approach is grounded in knowledge sharing, partnerships, and grounded experience in building long-lasting and cross-cultural relationships.
Wayne Kaboni, Founder & Author
Wayne is a proud Ojibway from Wikwemikong, Ontario, a father of three, and grandfather of two. His life journey has been one of prioritizing social and economic enterprises. As a seasoned entrepreneur, his experience spans various sectors including technology, banking, clothing, beverage, and sports industries.
His legacy of community enrichment has had a significantly positive impact on Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities globally, including the incubation of new Aboriginal businesses, creation of opportunities for youth, leadership development through sports, and serving as a strong advocate for embracing First Nation languages as a tool for cultural memory and learning.
For Wayne, his passion for progressive community and industry development is values-based. It combines the collaborative spirit of moving forward with the development of strong partnerships with local governments, non-profit business support organizations, and industry associations. His openness to share his experiences and learnings has led him to include being a published author and a seasoned internal speaker to his list of accomplishments. He has recently completed his MBA at Thompson Rivers University/Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in British Columbia.
The achievements of Wayne’s career journey to date are vast, long-lasting, and legacy-enriching. It is these accomplishments and his strategic vision that have led to him being sought after for senior leadership roles in organizations. Wayne is currently on the Board of Directors at ETSI-BC, the former Chair and Advisory Council member for the Centre of Training Excellence in Mining, and the former President of the Board of Directors at Conayt Native Friendship Centre. He has also been President of the Longlac Chamber of Commerce; an instructor, coach, and mentor for several youth hockey programs, and extensively active in the hockey and lacrosse associations in Ontario and British Columbia. He has founded several companies and is currently developing a social-impact company.
“Just Be You” is a book written by Wayne Kaboni that aims to help readers develop the skills necessary to change their mindset, build self-confidence, and achieve success in life through a morning reset. This book focuses on affirmations and heartfelt support. It guides us on how to think about daily events, challenges, or mindsets that sometimes hold us back.
The book offers practical insights and strategies for building self-esteem, overcoming personal fears, challenges, and doubts, and cultivating a positive mindset by starting your day with good energy. It's about feeding the brain with a positive way of thinking around it,finding the principles that govern us, and the visualization or finding that reassurance that we need to survive the moments and the challenges of daily living.These thoughts started it off as daily therapeutic processes for me while I was working in a very toxic political environment.
With hope, joy, and a positive outlook in your spirit, you will be guided to reach the destination you have set for your entire life. These thoughts help me get through the day and reset every night so that I can sleep through the night and believe and trust myself, so I hope you enjoy my thoughts and my process and at the end of the day, believe in you as your person and like I always say, just be you.
Kevin Vincent Sandy, Entrepreneur and Associate
Director at Haudenosaunee Lacrosse.
Kevin Vincent Sandy belongs to the Lower Cayuga Nation, Wolf Clan, of the Haudenosaunee, and resides on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.
Mr. Sandy is the Visionary CEO, Otahyoni Management, a business group specializing in governance planning, strategic planning, relationship building, Indigenous cultural awareness training and business development. The company has been in existence since 2001; its head office is located on Six Nations of the Grand River. He’s the Director/Founder of Haudenosaunee Lacrosse, which supports sports and cultural development by facilitating youth sports events and providing opportunities for youth to connect and participate in activities they love. Mr. Sandy believes in the passion and spirit of culture, business and sport. Each has a strong connection community and the people.
He’s a distinct member and recipient of the National Indian Athletics Hall of Fame, September 2023 and Coaches Award, Coaching Association of Ontario, 2016. Kevin is a Co-Founder, Indigenous Lacrosse Association (ILA). He believes in giving back, supporting youth events and loves individuals who are working toward their goals. His coaching philosophy is rooted in his knowledge of his teachings, treating kids with respect, how to respond to situations, and how to play a game.
“Follow your highest excitement, love yourself, do what makes you happy and gives your life joy and meaning – One Life, Live It.”
Martina Jakubchik-Paloheimo, PhD & Associate
Martina is a feminist scholar from Tkaronto who engages in decolonizing research. She is a second-generation white settler whose grandparents were born in Finland and Hungary. She recently completed my Ph.D. in collaboration with members of the Shuar community in what is now known as the Ecuadorian Amazon. Her research focused on supporting the maintenance of Shuar science and territory for the greater benefit of human and planetary health (www.inishanunka.org).
She is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) at York University, supporting a collaborative project on human-polar bear coexistence in Hudson Bay and James Bay. Her research aims to support Omushkego Cree kiskêyihtamowin (ᑭᐢᑫᔨᐦᑕᒧᐃᐧᐣ) through a community-led project to identify drivers of, and effective strategies for, human-polar bear interactions as well as Indigenous-led conservation.
She has 15 years of international and Canadian experience with specialized knowledge in mediation, community-based participatory research, conflict resolution, qualitative research, facilitation, peacebuilding, restorative justice, and reconciliation. As an educator, mediator, and circle keeper, she bring a unique and diverse set of experiences to my teaching, research, project management, and training.
Before beginning her PhD, she was an internationally trained mediator, peacebuilder, and restorative justice practitioner committed to reconciliation and environmental justice. She earned a Master’s degree in International Peace Studies and an undergraduate Honours degree in Philosophy with a minor in Environmental Studies. In Ecuador, we also collaborate to support their plant-based medicine projects, community-based eco-tourism initiatives, land reclamation efforts, and the broader goals of our Foundation, Inisha Nunka (Inishanunka.org).
Her experiences abroad, especially in Latin America, have fostered a passion for reconciling our relations with the natural world and each other.
Having travelled to 42 countries worldwide, all my experiences, studies, and friendships have shaped her commitment to social and environmental justice. Martina speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and some Haitian Creole; learning Shuar and Omushkego Cree are longer-term language goals.
Leanne Hall, Associate
FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL SEVGEN GROUP
Dynamic and innovative Executive, Trusted Advisor to Executive Leadership Teams and Board Director. Advisory Portfolio includes: Strategy, Consulting, Reconciliation Action Plans, ESG/Sustainability, Indigenous Strategy/Engagement across many industries including Real Estate, Mining, Energy and Resources, Nuclear, Financial Services, Public Sector, Retail Industries. Have developed over 200 Reconciliation Action Plans in Canada for large corporations since 2018. Innovated and led as CEO for Creative Fire - Canada’s first Indigenous strategy/consulting/marketing/advertising company and first Reconciliation Action Plan consulting practice creating a new corporate reporting cycle in Canada. Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Reconciliation Champion.
Formerly led the National Deloitte Indigenous Practice and a Partner in the Risk Advisory providing professional services across the country for Corporate Canada, over 325 Indigenous Communities, Indigenous Economic Development Corporation and their private businesses. Former mining executive with Noront Resources overseeing ESG, Sustainability, CSR and Human Resources creating award winning corporate programs. Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women 2013 by WXN in the Trendsetter and Trailblazer Category.
Completed the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) Directors Education Program and the ESG Global Competent Boards Program. Committed to building trusting and long-term relationships.
Member of the Board of Directors for: First Mining Gold
Past Board Member: Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) Mining Association of Canada (MAC) Board of Governors, Wilfrid Laurier University Mining Industry Human Resource Council (MiHR) Women in Mining Canada (WIM Canada) Pine River Foundation
As an ally and mother of two Cree young adults, my passionate efforts to support Indigenous communities and Reconciliation are an intrinsic part of my personal and professional life.
Clinton Kaboni, Associate
Clinton Kaboni is a Bachelor of Business Administration student at Thompson Rivers University, majoring in Economics (2021-2025).
He has completed coursework in econometrics, microeconomics, forecasting, and community economic development, with additional graduate-level studies at Howard University.
Clinton has participated in prestigious programs like the American Economic Association Summer Program and the Bank of Canada Governor’s Challenge, contributing to economic research and policy analysis. His projects include investigating labor market impacts on Indigenous communities, Indigenous Data Sovereignty practices, and statistical modeling in sports analytics. Clinton is skilled in R, EViews, Excel, and Python, with experience in communications, leadership, and coaching roles.
He is an award winning, Filmmaker and sports Coach. He has spoken at the World Indigenous Business Forum in Hawaii at the age of 12 with his younger brother as Emerging Entrepreneurs. He is also an esteem Honoree at the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Premiere Award for his accomplishments in Lacrosse and Cross Country.
Clinton has worked on the following projects:
The Labor Market Impacts of the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire on Indigenous Peoples in Northern California (May 2025 – Present) Investigated labor outcomes for Indigenous people using a Difference-in-Difference model and data from the IPUMS American Community Survey. Supervised by Dr. Randall Akee (UCLA) and Dr. Kristen Broady (Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago). Presented findings to Howard and American University faculties.
Data Sovereignty Practices in Indigenous Communities (January 2025 – Present) Evaluated the impact of Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS) adoption on economic and social outcomes using a Difference-in-Differences framework. Analyzed effects on employment, cultural preservation, and well-being using Indigenous Population Profiles Census Data. Presented findings at TRU undergraduate research conference and submitted for review in Future Earth: A student journal on sustainability and the environment. Statistical Modelling of Greatness: An Ordered Logit Analysis of NBA GOAT Tier Rankings (January 2025 – April 2025) Created a GOAT Index using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to rank top 100 NBA players. Applied an ordered logit model to identify key predictors of greatness, achieving strong model fit (Nagelkerke R2 = 0.966). Contributed a data-driven framework to sports analytics.
