Tinakiwin

3 Pillars

Tinakiwin operates from a 3-pillar structure.

  1. Research
  2. Education and Outreach
  3. Sustainable Employment

Research

Our research is a tool for advocacy and self-determination. Anishnabe knowledge remains our primary guide; scientific methods complement but do not replace it. In a world where decisions about our territory are increasingly made in government offices and boardrooms, having data in a language those institutions recognize gives us another tool to defend the territory.

In 2026 and beyond, our Land Studies program will expand territory-wide, building on our pilot phase results. We are working toward a consolidated moose population monitoring framework that communities can participate in and benefit from — with data ownership remaining firmly in Anishnabe hands. New methods, including genetic sampling, are being explored. A Tinakiwin Research Framework and Research Data Management Plan are being developed for BOD approval.

We are also developing a Tinakiwin Research Package — a model that communities and individuals can join as partners, which includes monitoring tools (cameras, fuel, honoraria), training, and data-sharing agreements that respect Anishnabe data sovereignty.

Education and Outreach

Land-based education is central to our mission. We support Land camps across the territory and are building a Land Camp Toolkit — a practical guide so communities can set up their own camps with logistical support from Tinakiwin. Our role is not to run everything ourselves; it is to enable others to carry this work forward in their own territory, in their own way.

In 2026, we are planning a Tinakiwin Launch Tour across all communities (June–July) to visit each community transparently and share updates. This tour is also a key community engagement and membership recruitment tool.

Sustainable Employment

Tinakiwin is committed to creating meaningful, non-extractive employment opportunities rooted in Anishnabe territory and culture. In 2025, we ran a Guardian Pilot Program that demonstrated Territorial Guardians can maintain equipment, document observations, and generate meaningful data across our territory. This program will continue and expand.

Additionally, we have a goal of developing a sustainable tourism and Land-based employment training stream, covering areas such as guiding, snowshoeing, and traditional knowledge transmission.