Two Anishinabek Lakehead University graduates featured at 3rd Annual Aboriginal Programs Open House

By Rick Garrick

THUNDER BAY—Lakehead University’s 3rd Annual Aboriginal Programs Open House featured a keynote presentation by Stephanie Seymour, a Lakehead University Masters of Science in Forestry graduate and Garden River citizen, on April 25 at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law.

She was raised on the land at St. Joseph Island, which is located about 68 kilometres south-east of Sault Ste. Marie, and has since studied field naturalist courses at Sault College and forestry at Fleming College, University of New Brunswick, Lakehead University and University of Toronto.

“We grew up making maple syrup, which is a great lesson in teaching you patience,” Seymour says. “In my time with forestry I had a lot of great jobs, a lot of great volunteer opportunities and it took me all around the world seeing a lot of different things. The beautiful part about trees is that trees are all around the world, so from northern Ontario to South America to the East Coast, Finland, Italy, Sweden, there’s trees everywhere and it’s really let me do the things I like to do and to grow as a professional and as a person.”

Seymour is currently conducting research for her PhD in Forestry at the University of Toronto. She also works with Ontario Power Generation.

“We’re looking at assisted migration to mitigate climate change impacts,” Seymour says about her research at the University of Toronto. “It’s a whole new world — I really enjoy it. It’s an entirely different environment, but we need to focus on the north too. We can’t forget that the north exists.”

Seymour notes that southern Ontario includes part of the Carolinian forest ecoregion.

“There is a place called Backus Woods, and it is a beautiful selection of old growth Carolinian forest,” Seymour says. “It is a really beautiful place to see. It’s a whole new environment so I’m really happy to explore it.”

Seymour previously served as the Lakehead University Native Students Association (LUNSA) representative on the Lakehead University Ogimaawin-Aboriginal Governance Council while at Lakehead University.

“Stephanie had some really sage advice,” says Denise Baxter, vice-provost of Aboriginal Initiatives at Lakehead University. “I loved the fact that she thought: ‘What have I learned that I can go back and tell my 18-year-old self about school and life.’ And I felt that it really connected with the students here as well.”

Fort William Councillor Tannis Kastern, a Lakehead University Honours Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Learning graduate, delivered the opening comments for the open house, which was held in the John N. Paterson Auditorium.

“I had been a participant in getting the Fort William First Nation flag raised [at Lakehead University in 2017] and it was a proud moment,” Kastern says, noting that her great grandfather Frank Pelletier served as chief for 22 consecutive terms. “When I won in the [Fort William] election last week, that told me that my community believed in me and my work. They all witnessed my hard work to turn my life around, so the reward is going to be putting all those supports and friendships and relationships made over the years back into the community.”

Kastern previously served as president of LUNSA; a voting member of the Lakehead University Ogimaawin-Aboriginal Governance Council; a member of the Chancellor Electoral Committee through the Office of the President at Lakehead University; a member of the Lakehead University Student Union Board of Directors; and a member of the National Circle of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Students of the Canadian Federation of Students.