We are honored to have Liz Nitsitange Kwe Akiwenzie as our inaugural Gikendaasowin Maada'ookii (Knowledge Sharer) in Residence.
Liz is a highly respected Knowledge Keeper, cultural educator, and ceremonial grandmother, with nearly 40 years of experience guiding learners in post-secondary institutions, healthcare, and justice sectors. She has worked extensively with colleges, universities, and Indigenous communities across Turtle Island, sharing teachings on ceremonial protocols, cultural healing, and Indigenous ways of knowing.
Rooted in her role as a mother, Kookum (grandmother), and traditional dancer, Liz brings a wealth of lived experience and knowledge. She has dedicated her life to healing the past, living in the present, and creating a better future, offering guidance to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners.
Liz has served as a Knowledge Keeper at Western University, Fanshawe College, and Grandmothers Voice, contributing to cultural curriculum development and supporting Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. Her teachings extend beyond academia, working in healing lodges, correctional services, and wellness programs to support individuals on their healing journeys.
She is currently working on two books, Cultural Stories: More than Brown Skin and A Cultural Education for All Educators, to further share her wisdom with future generations.
To learn from Liz and experience her teachings firsthand, join us at a Full Moon Feast, where she shares traditional knowledge before a meal inspired by Indigenous foods, or attend the Orange Shirt Day Symposium and the Indigenous Education Symposium, where she offers insights on Reconciliation, decolonization, and Indigenous ways of knowing.
Miigwech, and we look forward to learning together.