Blog Post: Meet Tanez, Trailblazer Supervisor

Aaniin Waachay! Tanez ndizhinkaaz, Kattawapiskak ndoonjiba, Mushkegowuk Cree indaaw. Mukwa ndodem. Ekinoomaagozidkwe indaw. Nda-TRACKS ndoniji-nokii.  

Hello! My name is Tanez (pronounced ‘Danis’ meaning ‘my daughter’ in Cree)(she/her). I am from Attawapiskat First Nation, and I grew up in Sutton Ontario. I am Mushkegowuk Cree on my dad’s side, and British, Irish, and German on my mom's side. I am also bear clan.  I grew up along the shores of Lake Simcoe which instilled a love for being on the land/waters canoeing, swimming, fancy shawl dancing, and simply walking about in the natural world. 

Over the years I have seen the lake change, becoming warmer, prone to unsafe swimming conditions, shoreline erosion and destruction, and unreliable ice coverage. This feeling of helplessness in protecting our environment, along with an interest in Indigenous perspectives, led me to my studies at Trent University for Indigenous Environmental Studies, as it combined both environmental science and Indigenous knowledge systems. Which in turn led me to TRACKS. I am now going into my fifth and final year at Trent University for Indigenous Studies! 

These days I am super interested in learning the language of this territory, Nishinaabemowin, and the language of my people, Mushkegowuk Cree. Using native languages to identify and communicate with the world around us is a goal of mine, along with canoe trip leading! This is my second year working with TRACKS, and my first time in the Oshkwazin Supervisor position. I am super excited to be working with TRACKS once again. I appreciate how TRACKS centers Indigenous knowledge systems while intertwining them with Western Sciences, which I think is a very important outlook to carry when engaging in the world around us. I also appreciate the incorporation of Nishinaabemowin within our programs as I believe we all should try to learn or continue to speak the language of the territory we are situated in. 

Miigwech!