Who We Are

Tinakiwin is a newly registered Anishnabe-led non-profit organization rooted in the territory that is home to multiple Anishnabe communities. The name Tinakiwin speaks to continuous presence — it means “we were always there in that part of the territory” — and reflects our core commitment to Anishnabe sovereignty, Land stewardship, and community-driven governance.

Tinakiwin grows directly out of the work of the Anishnabe Moose Committee (AMC), which was established in 2021 in response to the provincial government’s lack of consideration for Anishnabe knowledge during the moose moratorium process in La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve. What began as a mobilization around the moose issue has since evolved into a broader, long-term initiative: one that carries Anishnabe-led solutions forward, grounded in our governance and culture.

We operate from a 3-pillar structure:

• Research — Anishnabe-led, transparent, and for the benefit of Anishnabeg
• Education & Outreach — Promoting Land-based learning and sharing what we do
• Sustainable Employment — supporting meaningful, land-connected livelihoods across the territory

Our work is guided by a Board of Directors and aligned with Anishnabe governance principles. Our values of transparency, openness, and community ownership are foundational to everything we do.

Where We Come From

The Anishnabe Moose Committee’s first major project — the Preliminary Report, published in November 2022 — was the catalyst for Tinakiwin. It was a territory-wide, community-based effort to document Anishnabe knowledge of the land and the moose decline, and to bring that knowledge into the decision-making process. The report was launched via press conference in Montreal and was followed by a community tour in 2023 to share results directly with each community.

From there, the AMC concluded that a simple moose management plan would not be sufficient — a temporary colonial solution to a much deeper issue. Instead, we began building Anishnabe-led solutions: governance structures, research programs, education tools, and community partnerships rooted in our values and responsibilities to the land.

Key milestones of our past work include:

• Preliminary Report (Nov 2022) — territory-wide community knowledge documentation
• Anishnabe Food Systems Toolkit (2023–2025) — developed with Elders, now available in print for Land-based educators
• Land Studies Pilot (2024–2025) — Anishnabe-led wildlife monitoring using trail cameras, the ODI mobile app, and drones across the territory
• Historical Treaty Research (2024–2025) — ongoing
• Guardian Pilot Program (Fall 2025) — including training, monitoring, and observation documentation
• 5 internships with Concordia University; presentations at Laurentian, uOttawa, Great Lakes conference, Concordia, and many others