Kailee is a new teacher at the Mikinaak Onigaming School. She is also from Ojibways of Onigaming and graduated from Mikinaak Onigaming School in 2014. She graduated from the Early Childhood Education program at Seven Generations Education Institute in Fort Frances, Ontario on June 6th, 2019. She is planning to further her education in teaching by taking her Bachelors of Education this coming summer. Outside of school, she can be found at home taking care of her family or playing sports like baseball and volleyball.

See the Kindergarten class page

See the Kindergarten class page

Margaret has been teaching at Mikinaak Onigaming School since 2014. She got a degree in Visual Art from the University of Windsor and went on to run her own children’s theatre company, specializing in set design, puppet building, workshops, playwriting and performing. She began teaching in the Royal Conservatory of Music’s program called Learning Through the Arts as an artist educator. Her time in the classroom while working in this program inspired her to earn her Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor, specializing in Urban Education. Her interest in social justice and equity issues would lead her to begin teaching in the north. She taught Grade 3 and Adult Education in Big Trout Lake (Kitchenuhmaykoosib), a fly-in community, before accepting a position in Wabaseemoong First Nation as a Junior Kindergarten Teacher. She finally settled in Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, where she teaches grade one and two. She still loves to integrate the arts into the curriculum and especially enjoys singing with her students, hiking, and learning Ojibwe.

See the Grade 1 /2 class page

Julie has been a teacher at Mikinaak Onigaming School since 2013. She grew up in the Rainy River District before moving to Lethbridge, Alberta where she completed her B.A in General Humanities in 2009. After spending time in the work field, she moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario to complete her B.Ed at Lakehead University in 2012. So far, during her teaching career, she has had the privilege of teaching grade 1-5 and has thoroughly enjoyed teaching each grade level. In her spare time she enjoys travelling, being outdoors, and being an auntie. Student success both in and out of the classroom is her true passion.

See the Grade 3/4 class page

Nissa has been teaching at Mikinaak Onigaming School since 2016. Before that, she grew up in Toronto and graduated from New England College with a BA in Communications in 2008. Nissa started teaching as a Program Facilitator at the Bark Lake Outdoor Leadership Centre. Wanting to build stronger relationships with students, she came inside and graduated with a B.Ed. from Lakehead University in 2012. Craving a life of adventure, she then moved to England for two years, teaching first in Essex and then Sheffield - Go Owls! When Nissa came back to Canada, she teamed up with Teach For Canada and soon found herself at Mikinaak Onigaming School. She not only loves to use technology in the classroom but is thrilled to be able to take her students outside as often as possible. Student choice and self-regulation are a focus point for Nissa, and these values are at the center of all her lessons. When not at school, Nissa can usually be found in the woods, with her two dogs, Kallan and Moose. During the summer, she travels as much as possible, exploring beautiful places and trying to avoid large crowds.

See the Grade 5/6 class page

Mike has been teaching at Mikinaak Onigaming School since 2003. He grew up in a small farming community near London, Ontario. Mike attended Fanshawe College in London, earning a degree in Fine Arts. He later chose to continue his education out of the province. He attended the University of Lethbridge, earning a BA in Fine Arts. Mike later decided to work overseas so he moved to South Korea. He worked and traveled throughout Korea for two years. He was then accepted to the University of Windsor for the B. Ed. Program. Mike graduated from the University of Windsor in 2001. Mike started teaching in a secluded northern reserve named Webequie. He worked there for two years before starting his new career location at Mikinaak Onigaming School. To this day he is still moved by the richness and beauty of the local culture and traditions. Mike enjoys working with the students and finds great value in learning along with them.

See the Grade 7/8 class page

Miriam was born in Southern Ontario and as she grew up, her passion for the outdoors, reading and teaching grew steadily as well. In high school she worked with children in the summers, adapting camp programs to integrate children with special needs. It was working with children that brought her a sense of fulfillment and she was drawn towards teaching children throughout her career. As a young woman, she was anxious to travel and followed her dream. At nineteen, she went to Senegal, Africa and taught English there to aspiring youth. Upon returning to Canada she travelled to Alberta and completed her B.A. at the University of Lethbridge. She obtained her ECE diploma in Toronto and then her Bachelor of Education Degree from York University. Feeling the pull to teach Aboriginal children and the need for the beautiful north, she applied to teach in Northern Ontario and has been here ever since. She spends her free time hiking, fishing and exploring nature with her spouse, Craig, and their dog, Phoebe.

Andrew has been employed at Mikinaak Onigaming School since August of 1998! It has been a wonderful place to make a career and he has literally done it all. From classroom teacher to administration, Andrew has been involved in many changes, worked in partnership with Harvard University, Motorola and INAC, helped to develop and implement FNSSP with Owen and AKRC, finally overseeing the transition to Seven Generations Education Institute. Throughout it all, Andrew’s focus has always been on what is best for our students and now you will find him working on his passion, Outdoor Education, developing trail systems with the students and other teachers. He sees this as a way to give back to the community for all of the Teachings that many Elders have given him, opening up and making the forest accessible to all.

See the High School class page

Karen graduated from Fort Frances High School in 1979 and attended the Social Services program at Confederation College the same year. In 1981 she got a job as a Teacher’s Assistant at Mine Centre School where she worked for five years. She decided “Hey, I can do this stuff,” and applied to the Native Teacher’s Education Program at Lakehead University. She graduated in 1988 from the NTEP program and immediately entered the Bachelors of Arts and Bachelor of Education Program at Lakehead University. After earning her teaching degree she applied at Baibombeh Anishinabe School in Whitefish Bay, where she has resided since. Along the way she has earned a second Bachelor of Arts degree and a specialist in Special Education. She also loved to coach volleyball so she has Level II coaching certification from the NCCP, Regional Referee certification, and can teach Archery. For many years she coached the girls and boys Whitefish Bay Winterhawk volleyball/badminton teams to championships.

Karen has been at Mikinaak Onigaming School since 2010 and has enjoyed teaching various high school classes and loves seeing her former students enter colleges and find careers that they are interested in. Karen enjoys teaching skills, land-based teaching and participating in classes where she gets to be outdoors, camping, snowshoeing, and canoeing.

See the High School class page

This will be Kevin’s second year teaching at Mikinaak Onigaming School. He is a product of the Treaty 3 area and currently resides with his family in his hometown of Stratton. He obtained both his Bachelor of Arts and Education from Lakehead University and since, has a background working with a handful of Treaty 3 communities with teaching, learning and understanding youth being a persistent objective. He is interested in being on the land and learning from it, with hopes to use its teachings to help students connect with the classroom. When he is not in the classroom, you can find him on a court, rink, diamond, or golf course; he remains active in sport, however, the latter venue is becoming more suitable. Kevin also enjoys family time and is thankful for his spouse, Nancy Indian, and his children: daughter, Denlee, and twin boys, Zealand and Linden!

See the High School class page

Mario Ramos has been teaching High School at Mikinaak Onigaming School since 2014. He specializes in Computer Technology. Last year he began teaching the elementary students in the STEM program as well. Mario received his Visual Arts Teaching degree in his native El Salvador and, after moving to Canada, worked at the Thames Valley District School Board in the Information Technology Department. He went on to earn his teaching degree at Queen’s University, specializing in Communication Technology. Mario taught with the TVDSB for several years before accepting a high school position in Big Trout Lake (Kitchenuhmaykoosib). He went on to teach at Mizhakiiwetung School in Wabaseemoong First Nation where he taught Mathematics, Business, Construction Technology, History, Co-op and Communications. He received the “Teacher of the Year” award in 2014 from Wabaseemoong First Nation. He is very happy to have settled in Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation and can often be seen hiking in this beautiful territory.

See the High School class page

Boozhoo, Justine has been teaching at Mikinaak School since 2015. Before that she had been scouted out to be a Native Language, Native Studies Specialist, in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba from 2010 -2015 for the Portage La Prairie School Board. Justine grew up in Sabaskong, now known as Onigaming. She is a Residential School Survivor. Justine moved to Sudbury, Ontario for high school. She worked for the Onigaming Child Care Centre for 17 years as an Infant, Toddler, Pre-School teacher and a supervisor. She obtained her Early Childhood Education Degree through Kenora campus of Confederation College. She then moved on to Teaching the Native Language obtaining her Ojibwe language degree through Lakehead University. Justine gained her Teaching degree from Seven Generations Education Institute in partnership with Lakehead University. She worked for Seven Generations Education Institute as their Language and Cultural Traditions Coordinator. Justine has 26 years teaching experience, being a fluent speaker and writer of Ojibwe culture, traditions and language. She feels strongly and knows the importance of retaining the heritage of her mother’s tongue.

Ronald M. (Mr.Ron) Kelly has been teaching in Mikinaak Onigaming Schools (high school and elementary) since 1978. He has taught grades Kindergarten - Grade 8 in a multi-grade system, including some high school courses. He has been involved in promoting ways to retain and maintain Anishinaabemowin, both in school and at community events. He is able to write in the language and can translate English to Anishinaabemowin, and/or visa-versa. His teachings include story-telling, legends, children's songs, and land-based outdoor activities.