They/She

Malaya Kisa-Knickelbein serves as an Intermediate Consultant with Lichen Consulting Inc., contributing to project coordination, facilitation, communications, research, and organizational development across a range of community-centred initiatives. Their work supports culturally grounded engagement processes, creative communications, relationship-building with organizations, communities, and partners across Inuit Nunangat.

Malaya brings a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to consulting, drawing on experience in Inuit arts, culture, communications, and community development. Their strengths include community outreach, cultural programming, facilitation support, communications strategy, creative storytelling, and the development of accessible and culturally safe materials. Through both creative and consulting work, they are committed to supporting Inuit self-determination, uplifting community voices, and fostering respectful, reciprocal relationships.

Alongside their consulting practice, Malaya maintains an artistic practice under ikirasaq, working across beadwork, traditional hand-poke tattooing, digital art, curatorial practice, hand-pressed printmaking and glass engraving. Their creative background informs their approach to engagement and communications, particularly in projects rooted in cultural continuity, storytelling, and community knowledge.

In addition to their work with Lichen Consulting Inc., Malaya currently serves as Director of Arts at Inotsiavik Language and Culture Inc. in Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, where they support cultural revitalization initiatives through arts programming, communications, proposal writing, traditional tattooing, and community outreach. Previously, they worked with Qaggiavuut! Nunavut Performing Arts Centre as the Office and Communications Manager and with the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages as the Junior Communications and Digital Marketing Coordinator, contributing to communications, outreach, logistics, and digital storytelling initiatives across Canada. From 2023 to 2024, Malaya worked with Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada as Knowledge Translation Coordinator for the CheckUP! project, collaborating with Inuit youth and service providers to develop culturally relevant sexual health resources for Inuit communities.

Born in Iqaluit and raised across the three regions of Nunavut, Malaya grew up surrounded by seamstresses and printmakers from Pangnirtung, Nunavut. Their work is shaped by family knowledge, lived experience, and a strong commitment to supporting cultural continuity and meaningful spaces for Inuit expression to thrive across Inuit Nunangat and beyond.