The Niigaaniin Podcast

Meet our Community Member Samantha Owl! Chris and Kerri catch up with Samantha as she shares her experience through our Niigaaniin Mino Bimaadizidaa journey, and beyond.  To stay up to date, follow & like our social media pages! https://www.facebook.com/niigaaniin/ https://www.instagram.com/niigaaniin/ https://www.niigaaniin.com/ https://www.enjimaawinjidiyaang.com/ https://www.koognaasewin.co...

Listen in as our new co-hosts Veronica and Chris chat with Kerri and we share our connections to water.  To stay up to date, follow & like our social media pages! https://www.facebook.com/niigaaniin/ https://www.instagram.com/niigaaniin/ https://www.niigaaniin.com/ https://www.enjimaawinjidiyaang.com/ https://www.koognaasewin.com/

In this episode of the Niigaaniin Podcast, host Kerri Commanda is joined by Jana Lee and Ryan Lamirande, dedicated ServiceOntario Customer Service Representatives. Together, they dive into the remarkable experiences of bringing essential services directly to the doorsteps of surrounding communities along the North Shore of Lake Huron, Ontario and beyond.  Niigaaniin Services, at the forefront of i...

In this captivating episode, we dive deep into the rich history of Mamaweswen, The North Shore Tribal Council, with our esteemed guest Earl Commanda, the Executive Director of Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin. Embark on a journey through the late 1900s as Earl Commanda shares his experience while Chief of Serpent River First Nation, where he and his colleagues were boots on the ground before and d...

We are excited to welcome Erik Bringleson to the podcast for this episode! In his three-year tenure at Niigaanin Services, Erik Bringleson has been a key figure, forging partnerships and bridging the gap between operations, business relations, and planning, driving the organization's success and growth. In this episode, our host Kerri Commanda and guest Erik discuss Kinoomaagewin's uniqu...

Embark on a transformative journey with Niigaaniin as we sit down with Vyron Phillips, a dedicated team member who has just celebrated his third work anniversary with us! Join us in this special episode where Vyron, a well-known figure on the west side of the North Shore of Lake Huron, takes us behind the scenes of his remarkable work leading Youth programming in schools. In our conversation, Vyro...

In this episode, join us for an inspiring conversation with Alvin Pangowish, a living treasure in Elliot Lake, as he shares his remarkable journey with Anishnaabemowin. From the heart of our community at the Enji-maawinjidiyaang Indigenous Friendship Centre, Alvin opens up about his experiences teaching this sacred language, weaving stories of resilience and cultural revival. His wisdom, passion,...

In this episode, we explore the transformative collaboration between Niigaaniin Services and the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB). This groundbreaking partnership opens pathways to our Land-based programming, Kinoomaagewin Project and Endayaan Endazhi-takookiiyaan workshops for community members who are in the region of Sault Ste. Marie. This offers a lifel...

In this episode, we chat with Rebecca Csaszar, a Niigaaniin Specialist at SRFN. Rebecca shares her journey of starting a community food cupboard and discusses the pressing need for food sovereignty in Serpent River First Nation. Alongside Kerri, they shed light on their organization's ongoing efforts to empower communities with self-sustaining food systems. Discover how Rebecca and her team a...

We're back with an exciting episode!  Join us as we welcome Chastity Morningstar, the Enji-maawinjidiyaang Indigenous Friendship Centre  Start-up Coordinator, for an insightful discussion! Chastity provides a unique perspective on her role as the 30th member to join the prestigious Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendships Centres (OFIFC). Get ready to explore the promising journey ahead a...

Join us in this enlightening episode as Duckie dives into the profound connections between Anishnaabemowin, and the universal human journey. Discover the rich cultural insights and shared experiences that shape our understanding of identity, heritage and the paths we all travel. Don't miss this captivating exploration of language and life. If you would like to get in touch with Duckie, he can...

Join us on a groundbreaking episode as Lexi Southwind takes us on the thrilling journey of how Niigaaniin Services made history with the first-ever mobile ServiceOntario trailer. Experience life on the road, delivering vital services to our remote communities in the RHW. Hear heartwarming stories, discover the trailer's accessibility, and be inspired by innovative solutions.   Don't forg...

Join us as we wrap up our community podcast tour with a special guest, Bobbie-Jo McColman, who takes us on a fun exploration of Thessalon First Nation. In this episode, we discuss family names, favourite spots, community activities, and the upcoming Pow Wow on July 1st, 2023.   To stay up to date, follow & like our social media pages! https://www.facebook.com/niigaaniin/ https://www.instagram....

Join us on a thirty-minute journey as the Niigaaniin Podcast continues its tour of the beautiful communities along the North Shore of Lake Huron. In this episode, we have the pleasure of welcoming Amber Niganobe from Mississaugi First Nation. Amber brings her unique perspective as an Aaniish Naa GeNaadMoWit in Niigaaniin Services and her deep connection to her roots in MFN. Together with our host...

We are thrilled to introduce our special guest to the Niigaaniin Podcast, Lee Simpson-Johnston! Lee is not only an incredibly talented drummer for the Genaabaajing Jrz, but he has also embarked on an exciting new journey as a Mino Bimaadizidaa Cultural Facilitator with the esteemed Niigaaniin Services team. In this episode, Kerri and Lee dive into Lee's remarkable life journey, exploring the...

As we travel along the North shore of Lake Huron, our host Kerri Commanda is joined by Curtis Bob, who updates us on the happenings in the stunning Sagamok Anishnawbek Community. Our guest for this episode is Curtis Bob, a renowned community member and former commercial fisherman from Sagamok Anishnawbek. During our conversation, we cover various topics such as the Fort La Cloche Bells, popular fi...

Listen to the tales of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek with Candace Ozawagosh and host Kerri Commanda   To stay up to date, follow & like our social media pages! https://www.facebook.com/niigaaniin/ https://www.instagram.com/niigaaniin/ https://www.niigaaniin.com/ https://www.enjimaawinjidiyaang.com/ https://www.koognaasewin.com/

In this episode, our hosts Kerri Commanda and Chris Solomon, talk about the community of Batchewana, highlighting its landmarks, family ties, and historical significance. For many years, Bawating has been a place for Anishinaabe people to gather so we can trade, fish, swap stories, and share knowledge. True to its name, it is also where the signing of the Robinson Huron Treaty took place on Sept 9...

Known for its beautiful landscapes and deep-rooted family history, Serpent River First Nation is located along the North Shore of Lake Huron between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury, Ontario. In this episode, Kerri Commanda and Chris Soloman talk about the origins of the name Serpent River and share some family history, the background of the Cutler Acid Site, Rooster rock, and more!  If you'd lik...

  In  this episode, Chris Soloman and Kerri Commanda highlight the beautiful Garden River First Nation community and talk about famous landmarks, community leaders, sports and more! Ketegaunseebee is one of the older unchanged settlements along the North Shore of Lake Huron. Naturally, Garden River got its name from the nutrient-dense land that makes it an ideal place to grow crops and its locatio...

Niigaaniin Services provides staff with a monthly Speaker Series to help the staff members better understand how we got to where we are today. These sessions are open to community members and are a fun way to learn about traditional medicines, Anishinaabemwin, legends, stories, Treaties, and more! At the same time, this is also helping our staff better understand our indigenous culture and history...

Niigaaniin Services is making strides to further help Community Members by providing services that don’t exist. We saw an increase in services needed for Community Members during the COVID-19 pandemic and made it a priority to integrate them into our organization. We are now seeing positive changes in surrounding communities. It is only the beginning of moving forward in a good way. Staggering Sta...

Warning this episode includes triggering topics. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line 24/7: 1 800-721-0066. It's been a little over a year since the 215 unmarked children's grave sites were discovered at Kamloops residential school, and we wanted to touch back on this important topic. Since then, there are now 1,800+ unmarked gravesites, and the narrative has changed from being a c...

It has been a little over a year since language classes have been offered to Niigaaniin staff. In this episode, host and language teacher Jessica Shonias checks back in on language initiatives happening at Niigaaniin. At the same time, cohost Kerri Commanda shares her firsthand experiences as a language learner at Niigaaniin. Together as learners and teachers, our hosts let us in on our efforts, h...

In this episode, Waub joins Kerri and Jessica to speak his truth about his journey to being who he is today, both personally and professionally. Waubgeshig Rice is from Wasauksing First Nation and is a national best selling author whose publications include: Midnight Sweatlodge, 2011 Legacy, 2014 Moon of the Crusted Snow, 2018 The French version of Moon of the Crescent Snow is coming out soon. Wau...